Tibetan Children Receive Free Heart Treatment in Beijing

A group of 26 Tibetan children suffering from congenital heart defects have arrived in Beijing to receive free surgery to correct their health problems in September.

The children's heart defects were discovered during a large-scale health examination conducted in August in Tibet Autonomous Region, according to a statement issued on Sept. 8 by the China Charity Federation (CCF), sponsor of the examination and the surgery.

Over 3,500 children from northern Tibet were examined, with 59 of them identified as having congenital heart defects, the statement said.

Deng Tongshan, the CCF's vice president, said that the group decided to cover the costs of surgery for the children after hearing of their plight.

The CCF plans to continue the program over the next several years, as it wishes to allow children from needy families to have a "bright beginning for their lives," Deng said, adding that he hopes more people and organizations will contribute to the program.

Source: Xinhua