For over 26 years, since 1997, the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Foundation (PCSF) has been on a mission to provide timely life-saving treatment to children with congenital heart disease in Thailand. Nearly 10,000 children have benefited from this, significantly reducing the previous 2-3 year waiting list for surgery. Currently, the situation for children with congenital heart disease in Thailand has improved considerably. Coupled with a three-fold decrease in the birth rate compared to 1997, most Thai children with heart conditions now access treatment and surgery within 3-4 months.
However, many stateless children of various nationalities in neighboring countries lack access to such care. Many live in remote mountainous or jungle areas along border regions. This led to the creation of the “Children’s Heart beyond Borders” project at the Pediatric Heart Center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital in Bangkok. This hospital has been a partner with PCSF since 2004, providing free heart surgeries to over 2,978 impoverished children – 2,651 Thai children and 327 foreign children.
The Children’s Heart Beyond Borders Project at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital:
1. Leverages the capacity of a private hospital for humanitarian work, preventing the displacement of Thai children needing cardiac care.
2. Initially, screening and diagnosis (Echocardiogram) of stateless children will be conducted in border provinces.
3. Surgical treatment is provided at the Pediatric Heart Center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital, by PCSF in incorporation with Child Dream Foundation.
4. Follow-up is available within border provinces.
Collaboration across multiple sectors, both domestically and internationally, has made the impossible possible. Stateless children with heart disease, once without hope, have received new, healthy hearts.
