15 Years of Operation Healthy Heart - Journey to heal 7,000 ailing hearts

 From the first cry at birth, a person's maturation and healing - both in mind and body - are the result of relentless and sustained efforts.

A 15-year journey to heal more than 7,000 ailing hearts.

Launched in 2008, the mission of "Operation Healthy Heart" is to save children who have the misfortune of being born with congenital heart disease.  This humanitarian program is implemented by the Viettel Group in cooperation with the Vietnamese Charity Fund of Vietnam Television. It is one of the longest running community projects in Vietnam dedicated to the well-being of the people.

The audience in the studio of the "Operation Healthy Heart" gala.

After 15 years of operation, the program has raised over VND210 billion to cover the treatment costs of over 7,000 needy children with congenital heart disease. It has conducted 98 screening programs for more than 160,000 children in cooperation with over 40 hospitals, and supported capacity building for 7 hospitals and heart centers nationwide. From the north to the south, from mountainous areas to the plains, the footsteps of more than 20,000 program staff have been seen in many villages and hamlets to seek and screen children's health.

The 15th Anniversary Gala of "Operation Healthy Heart" featured young people who were beneficiaries of "Operation Healthy Heart" 15 years ago. Among them is Ly Chu Bang, who has become a pharmacist with a dream to help patients who were in need like him in the past. There was also the healthy-looking boy, Luong Gia Huy, a dynamic high school student. At the gala, Huy was reunited with the doctors from the Vietnam National Children's Hospital who operated on him.

The strength of the community comes from a simple idea of goodwill.

The program took guests back in time to 15 years ago, when the idea of Operation Healthy Heart was in its infancy. According to journalist Tran Dang Tuan, 15 years ago, an average of 6,000 to 8,000 babies were born each year with congenital heart defects, and the number was increasing.  The cost of each operation was around 50 million VND, but many patients came from impoverished families, even extremely poor households in remote areas, unable to afford even a small amount, resulting in unfortunate loss of life. Worldwide, very few TV stations can dedicate a program and a specific time slot each week to charity. Therefore, it was imperative that a humanitarian program be created to unite compassionate hearts to help children with congenital heart disease.

Journalist Tran Dang Tuan at the "Operation Healthy Heart - The Rainbow Heart" gala.

Colonel Duong Van Tinh, former Deputy CEO of Viettel Group, recalled, "In the early days, we faced difficulties in identifying infants with congenital heart disease and compiling medical records for them. To overcome this, we instilled in the Group's employees the commitment that participation in this program would contribute to 'eradicating hunger and reducing poverty' and exemplify the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers. Therefore, we have assigned Viettel outlets nationwide to collect information on these children, go to their homes to check, and even help with transportation to take them for medical screening so that medical records can be prepared more conveniently".

Professor Dr. Nguyen Thanh Liem, former director of the Vietnam National Children's Hospital, said that the cooperation between Viettel Group and Vietnam Television has saved many lives and contributed significantly to the development of surgical capacity in Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha attends the program.

Speaking at the program, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said he had donated one month's salary to the Operation Healthy Heart Fund and was impressed to learn that 1,200 Viettel stores nationwide had become points for receiving the profiles of young patients. In the coming period, the Party and the State will allocate adequate resources to support screening and proactively take care of young children's health.

Deputy Director General of Vietnam Television (THVN) Do Thanh Hai presents a commemorative plaque from the Operation Healthy Heart program to outstanding contributors.

By the end of the live TV program, more than 411,380,000 VND had been donated through 20,569 SMS messages. In total, the Tam Long Viet Fund now manages over 31 billion VND from various sources. These increasing figures continuously demonstrate the unity of compassionate hearts.

According to statistics, there are currently 8,000 - 10,000 children diagnosed with congenital heart disease every year, who struggle with the illness every hour and every day. Every message to them is an effort to make them smile back. Composing a message with the syntax "TTCE" sent to 1407 will contribute 20,000 VND to the Operation Healthy Heart fund. The hotline 1407 will be open until December 31, 2023.