LHASA, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Since 2011, more than 4,000 Tibetan children with congenital heart disease have received free treatment under a charity program, according to Tibet health authorities.
The latest beneficiaries are 15 children from Xigaze (Shigatze), the second largest city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, who had surgery in Shanghai in September, Dai Jingbin, a coordinator with the program told Xinhua on Friday.
"It's the third group of little patients from Xigaze. We have treated 65 Tibetan children since 2012," said Dai.
The China Charity Federation began the program aimed at children from poor families in areas dominated by ethnic minorities in Feb. 2011, and now 17 provinces and cities, along with several businesses, have participated in the program, according to the regional health bureau of Tibet.
Zhoima, 10, had a successful surgery in Shanghai two years ago and is now fully recovered. She is delighted by the changes since her treatment.
"In the worst situation, I could barely walk, but now I can jump and sing out loud," she said. "I'm so grateful to the doctors and everyone who helped me and my family in Shanghai. I hope I can be a doctor too some day."
Incidence of child congenital heart disease in Tibet is 10 times higher than other parts of China due to the region's elevation. It is estimated that more than 10,000 children suffer from the condition in Tibet, but the cost of treatment is often beyond their families' means.
"We are hoping to bring a happy childhood to the children and to help more families in the region," said Pu Jiancai, the program coordinator in central China's Hunan Province.
Pu said Hunan planned to offer free treatment to 100 Tibetan children each year.
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