For healthy young hearts

(Baonghean)Despite the unpredictable weather caused by Typhoon No. 5, over the past few days, thousands of families have brought their children for screening for congenital heart disease at the Dien Ky Commune Health Station (Dien Chau District), the Do Luong Children's Protection Center, and the Nghia Trung Commune People's Committee (Nghia Dan District). These screening points (sponsored by Bac A Bank and TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company) have seen thousands of families bring their children for examination. The staff of the Nghe An Children's Protection Fund and doctors from the Cardiovascular Center - E Hospital (Hanoi) have made great efforts to fulfill their responsibilities, significantly contributing to a successful start for the heart surgery program for children with congenital heart disease.

“Your heart is normal,” “Go to the ultrasound room for a heart checkup,” or “You need surgery…” – these were familiar phrases during the three days the team of doctors from the Cardiovascular Center – E Hospital (Hanoi) screened children for congenital heart disease. Behind those accurate conclusions were the joyful smiles of parents knowing their children and grandchildren were healthy, or the tears shed over their unfortunate fate… Hundreds of children needing treatment or heart surgery in Hanoi come from disadvantaged families, and at this time, the outstretched arms of Bac A Bank and TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company are truly meaningful, because through this program, many children have the opportunity to live healthy lives and integrate into the community.



Ultrasound examination for diagnosing heart disease in children in Dien Chau.

On the first day (August 16th) of the screening in Dien Chau, despite the very hot weather, it was still very convenient for families to bring their children to the screening point, so 324 children from Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, and Quynh Luu districts were screened on that day. On August 17th, because the screening point in Do Luong served the districts of Thanh Chuong, Do Luong, Anh Son, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, and Ky Son, many people from far away arrived late, but the doctors still enthusiastically provided examinations outside of regular hours. Thanks to this, 398 children were screened at this point, and treatment and heart surgery were indicated for 27 cases.

August 18th was the last day of the screening program in Nghia Trung commune (Nghia Dan district), coinciding with heavy rain. Despite the downpour, thousands of families braved the rain to bring their children and grandchildren for examinations from very early in the morning. Mr. Phan Huy Hai, Head of the Labor, War Invalids & Social Affairs Department of Nghia Dan district, said: “To facilitate the screening process, the department compiled a very detailed list of cases and coordinated with officials from each commune to directly manage and guide the implementation of the regulations for the screening. Therefore, even though there were a large number of children from Nghia Dan district, the regulations were followed correctly and the schedule was maintained.” This cluster, due to the screening being organized for the districts of Tan Ky, Nghia Dan, Thai Hoa town, Quy Hop, Quy Chau, and Que Phong, had a very large number of participants. Because the ethnic minority people in Quy Chau and Que Phong districts had to travel quite far, they arrived at the screening point late. However, the Cardiovascular Center - E Hospital still assigned several doctors to stay in Nghia Trung to examine them. Despite the unpredictable weather and the large number of people seeking examination, thanks to the efforts of the Cardiovascular Center - E Hospital and the timely support from various levels and sectors at the Nghia Trung screening point, nearly 1,000 children were screened on the last day of the program.



Associate Professor - Doctor Le Ngoc Thanh, Director of the Cardiovascular Center - E Hospital (Hanoi), personally conducted screening for congenital heart disease in children from Do Luong.

Associate Professor - Dr. Le Ngoc Thanh - Director of the Cardiovascular Center and Deputy Director of E Hospital in Hanoi, said: “Because this is a humanitarian activity, we have instructed the medical staff in the team to not shy away from difficulties, regardless of the time, and to work at full capacity. Therefore, in just 3 days, we conducted screening examinations for 1,713 children and prescribed treatment and surgery for over 100 cases. In the future, the Cardiovascular Center hopes to have more opportunities to come to remote districts of Nghe An province to provide medical examination and treatment services for the people.”

It is known that in 2012, Bac A Bank and TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company sponsored 1 billion VND to implement a heart surgery program for children with congenital heart disease from disadvantaged backgrounds in Nghe An province. Mr. Nguyen Huu Minh - Director of the Provincial Children's Protection Fund said: “After conducting screening examinations at the facility, the Children's Protection Fund will coordinate with relevant levels and sectors to assess family circumstances, select eligible children, and from September to November, perform surgeries for the designated children. In this phase, children with congenital heart disease who benefit from the program are those from poor and near-poor households, disadvantaged backgrounds, families with preferential policies, families with meritorious services to the revolution, children in mountainous areas, remote areas, border areas, and islands...”.

There are still many children with congenital heart disease who need the support and contributions of organizations, businesses, and philanthropists... Hopefully, through the Heart Surgery Program for Children with Congenital Heart Disease sponsored by Bac A Bank and TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company, in the future, more children in Nghe An will have the opportunity to live healthy lives thanks to these practical and meaningful actions.

Hoang Vinh