KOTA BHARU, Since 2015, over 90 children with congenital heart disease in Kelantan and Terengganu have received assistance through the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM) Cardiothoracic Welfare Programmme, Healing Little Hearts (HLH), from the United Kingdom.
USM Pediatric Cardiologist Dr Mohd Rizal Mohd Zain said more than 100 successful surgeries have been performed.
He said HUSM is the only hospital in the East Coast with the expertise to perform pediatric heart surgeries.
‘The HLH programme operates on a volunteer basis, funded by public donations and contributions,’ he said.
‘The programme, running June 2 to 6, focuses on helping children with heart disease in Kelantan and Terengganu,’ Dr. Mohd Rizal told reporters at HUSM today.
Dr Mohd Rizal said the current visit includes a medical team from HLH comprising six specialists, including surgeons, intensivists, pediatric cardiologists, nurses and perfusionists, collaborating with HUSM specialists and staff.
‘The five-day programme involves eig
ht to ten patients, each paying a minimal cost of less than RM3,000 for surgery. The actual cost, covering equipment and medication, often exceeds RM20,000 per patient. However, financially disadvantaged patients are referred to the HUSM Medical Social Work Unit for assistance and cost reduction,’ he said.
Selected children undergoing heart surgery through this programme no longer need to be referred to the National Heart Institute (IJN), reducing the waiting time for treatment.
He said the programme is supported by various organisations, including Yayasan Noor Al-Syakur, the USM Doctors Alumni Association, the Malaysian Congenital Heart Association and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
Meanwhile, van driver Othman Zakaria, 48, expressed his gratitude for the HLH programme, which ended a seven-year wait for heart surgery for his daughter, Siti Nur Dayana Othman.
‘The surgery was delayed due to financial issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. HUSM had referred the case to IJN, which required RM10,000, but
with HLH’s help, the surgery cost is below RM3,000,’ he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
