Since in 1997, our foundation has united a large team of medical professionals and donors to save the lives of children born with congenital heart disease in Thailand, regardless of nationality. We have proudly supported a total of 9,319 children undergoing heart surgery, including 245 foreign children born in Thailand. This has been made possible through the kindness and compassion of the Thai people.
The situation for children with congenital heart disease in Thailand has significantly improved. The collaborative efforts of doctors, nurses, and related professionals nationwide, along with the unwavering support of donors, have reduced the waiting time for heart surgery. Most children now wait no more than three months, while those with complex heart conditions wait approximately six months. However, a significant number of children with congenital heart disease remain in the border regions of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, where access to pediatric cardiac surgery is limited or non-existent.
To address this, our foundation has expanded its assistance to children in the Thailand-Myanmar border region. We conducted outreach programs in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, on January 29, 2023, and will conduct another from July 8-10, 2023. Many children suffering from congenital heart disease have traveled across mountains and forests to receive medical attention at Mae Sot Hospital. Some journeys take 3-7 days, and many children stay at the hospital for days beforehand to ensure they don’t miss the medical team. In the past six months, we have provided life-saving surgeries for 47 Thai and foreign children from the Thailand-Myanmar border region at our foundation’s pediatric cardiac surgery center at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital, in collaboration with the Child’s Dream Foundation and the Burma Children Medical Fund. Almost all have returned home safely.
On October 13, 2023, our foundation will collaborate with the Thai Red Cross Society, Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine, and the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane to conduct a medical outreach program for children with congenital heart disease in Laos. This initiative is dedicated to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and will also focus on developing the capabilities of the medical and nursing teams at Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane. The goal is to establish a comprehensive system for the treatment of congenital heart disease in children within five years.
The compassion of the Thai people extends far beyond our borders.
