Qatar Charity (QC) has started performing open-heart valve surgeries for children with congenital heart disease in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Some 21 surgeries have successfully been conducted, while another 81 are scheduled to be performed, at a total estimated cost of more than QR1.3mn.
Some 60 surgeries will be conducted during the coming period in co-ordination with the Ministry of Health and the Heart Hospital management.
Seeking to extend the appropriate support to carry out these surgeries, QC has purchased the necessary equipment, provided medical care to patients at the hospital and taken care of the laboratory tests, in addition to undertaking to provide the required medicines to patients during the period of medical care, according to a press statement.
The deputy minister of health in Kyrgyzstan expressed gratitude to Qatar, the donors and Qatar Charity for supporting all development, educational and health projects in the country, and for carrying out qualitative projects such as open-heart surgeries, which were desperately needed.
This came in a meeting held at Heart Hospital in the Kyrgyz Republic after performing the surgeries, in the presence of Qatar's ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, Abdullah al-Sulaiti.
The deputy health minister also indicated that this type of surgery is very expensive and it is difficult to provide heart valve devices, as they are not available in the country, and therefore, are purchased from abroad.
“Qatar Charity and the embassy of Qatar in the Kyrgyz Republic are working on a permanent collaboration to provide the necessary support for the brothers in the Kyrgyz Republic,” said al-Sulaiti.
He also indicated that open-heart surgeries are among the most important health projects, because they help save children's lives.
In addition to this project, QC’s health projects for Kyrgyzstan include building health centres and delivering assistance like respirators, provided during the coronavirus pandemic, and protective equipment for medical staff, in addition to other health and social projects such as providing wheelchairs for persons with special needs.