Children from Qinghai set for life-saving surgery

Twenty-four children with congenital heart disease from Qinghai province arrived at TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital in Tianjin this month to undergo free corrective surgeries.

Accompanied by their parents and by staff from the Qinghai Charity Federation, the children, with ages ranging from 1 to 15, include ethnic Tibetan, Hui and Han patients. Five hail from Huangnan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, a region paired with Tianjin for assistance.

In August, a medical screening team led by Liu Xiaocheng, Party secretary and president of TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital, traveled deep into Qinghai and worked at altitudes as high as 5,002 meters for more than 20 days. They screened 480 local children and identified the 24 who were eligible for surgery. Hospital clinicians will complete pre-operative examinations and tailor surgical plans for each child.