Vietnam’s lower income children with innate heart diseases will now be given life-saving surgeries thanks to a recently decided government decision. Children living in sponsored service centers will be given free-of-charge heart surgery while children listed for heart surgery will be given food and travel costs during their surgical time. The resolution was signed by Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and will take effect on November 20th of this year.
According to a Vietnamese news resource, the financing of heart surgery for Vietnam’s needy children is entirely contingent upon contributions given by organizations or private individuals. As a result, only a small portion of Vietnam’s low income heart defective children are given free heart surgery.
A Vietnamese charitable organization also partnered with the Vietnam Youth Federation last month to implement a program titled: “Connect millions of hearts for Vietnamese poor children.” The program aims to gather financial resources for free heart surgery and other charitable causes for Vietnam’s lower income children. About 2,000 children are anticipated to receive free heart surgery between the 2013 and 2015 period, while offering 1 million additional medical examinations and heart disease screenings for children. The project will also provide nutrition support to 3,000 poor children, 50 charitable houses and 10 day boarding houses for needy children and adults.
International charity organization Global Giving, one contributor to the country’s needy children, contends that heart disease is the most common birth defect around the world with 90% of children in developing countries having little access to necessary health care services.
Creative Commons Love: Hai Trinh on flickr.com
Written by Rachel Pozivenec