Charity project to aid children with heart disease

Qatar Foundation (QF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the UK-based charity Chain of Hope to provide quality medical treatment for children with heart disease. The signing ceremony took place at Qatar Foundation’s headquarters and was attended by Dr Fathy Saoud, President of Qatar Foundation, Dr Hanan al-Kuwari, Managing Director of Hamad Medical Corporation and Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, President of the Chain of Hope charity. The three organisations have collaborated  to achieve the best outcome for the young patients who come from developing countries and do not have access to such critical care.The agreement will pave the way for 20 children with life-threatening cardiovascular birth defects and severe conditions to come to Qatar and receive world-class treatment from the paediatric cardiac surgery team at HMC under Sir Madgi Yacoub’s leadership. The children will be identified through Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub’s Chain of Hope, whose work is informed by projects undertaken by Qatar Cardiovascular Research Center. Commenting on the new initiative, Dr  Fathy Saoud said: “The role that Qatar Foundation is playing in advancing medical care for these children represents the essence of our mission to secure a better life not only for the nation, but for the region, and the world. Healthy children are crucial for building the country’s bright and prosperous future. We will continue to provide them with access to top-tier education and optimal healthcare so that they grow up to be the leaders of tomorrow.”Dr al-Kuwari, expressing her appreciation for being able to provide corrective surgery and treatment to these children said: “Hamad Medical Corporation is proud to be working with Qatar Foundation and supporting Chain of Hope by enabling children with congenital heart disease and their families to come to Qatar and benefit from our life-saving care.”Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub said: “I am extremely grateful to our partners at HMC and Qatar Foundation, and in particular to Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, whose enthusiastic support for this project has been instrumental in making it a reality.” The Chain of Hope charity was set up by Sir Magdi Yacoub in 1995 with the aim of establishing high quality paediatric cardiac services in developing countries, and  providing children from disadvantaged backgrounds with life-saving specialist treatment in host countries. The project began more than three years ago and initially focused on providing much-needed medical help to children in Iraq. The MoU has expanded the scope of the project to include conflict zones across the region, with humanitarian assistance being an important element of the combined effort. Three children have already received operations in Qatar under the programme. They are Mustapha Guennouni from Morocco, Armish Khan from Pakistan and Fatima Saif from Yemen, who remains under the care of HMC’s dedicated team of professionals. She will return home within the next couple of days.