Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed inspects facilities at Dr. Magdi Yacoub Heart Center in Aswan, Egypt.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, launched this Thursday morning the “Little Hearts” campaign, which is sponsored by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, in partnership with the Sharjah Charitable Society, at the Dr. Magdi Yacoub Heart Center in Aswan, Egypt.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi stressed that the United Arab Emirates and the Emirate of Sharjah forever remain committed to supporting and treating patients, and extending a hand of support and care to those in need around the world.

The Sharjah Deputy Ruler pointed out that the ongoing charitable work and humanitarian projects come in accordance with the vision and directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who passionately believes and calls for every individual’s right to have a healthy, stable and safe life.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said: “By launching the heart surgery campaign and other campaigns by by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, we aim to treat patients who are unable to bear their expenses and costs of therapeutic operations in Aswan in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The campaign begins today on July 4, and will continue for a full year.

Saving lives, making a difference

“During the campaign, treatment will be provided in more than 1,000 medical cases, provided that the campaign continues its operations in Arab and non-Arab countries to which medical aid reaches and is supervised by the Sharjah Charitable Society.”

The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council thanked the generous donors who are part of the treatment campaign for heart and eye patients, with their generous donations through charitable programs such as “Alam wa Amal” (Pain and Hope) and “Al Reeh Al Mursela” (The Sent Wind). He prayed to Almighty Allah to accept the noble deeds by the generous donors and reward and bless them for their efforts.

On this occasion, Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi and the audience watched a special presentation that covered the establishment of the Aswan Heart Center by a group of doctors led by Dr. Magdy Yacoub, who has completed fifteenth year of service to humanity and medical initiatives efforts that span Egypt and African countries. The Aswan Heart Center is in also planning to expand its network of service to other cities including in the capital Cairo, which would cater to three times the number of patients than the center in Aswan.

The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, also learnt about the free cardiac therapeutic services that the hospital provides to patients and children in particular. The hospital annually performs more than 10,000 cardiac surgeries, in addition to training programs targeting high school graduates to fill the shortage of nursing personnel.

The Center also trains school students to deal with emergency situations to save lives, as statistics indicate that 40% of deaths in Egypt are caused by heart disease.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi toured various facilities and departments of the Aswan Heart Center. He was briefed about the methods used in various types of heart surgeries, such as catheterization, open-heart operations, and treating heart holes in children using modern technologies.

He also visited the paediatric intensive care department at the Aswan Heart Center and met with the patients and their parents who benefited from cardiac operations and whose treatment costs were borne by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority.

The Sharjah Deputy Ruler was briefed about the efforts made by the authorities in collecting donations and delivering them to the beneficiaries, through the exhibition held in the Aswan Heart Center, which showcased the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority’s contributions to the charitable work sector through initiatives like the “Pain and Hope” program, launched in the year 2006 to contribute to the costs of treating patients suffering from various serious diseases.

‘Pain and Hope’

Since its launch, the “Pain and Hope” program has helped in treating more than 4,130 cases, with a total donation value amounting to more than Dhs121 million. The number of cases this year reached 85 cases, with a financial value estimated at approximately Dhs 3.5 million dirhams. The program receives treatment requests from patients and each case is carefully evaluated to ensure that assistance reaches people in need.

The program has also contributed to a group of charitable projects in and outside the UAE, such as building hospitals equipped with the latest medical equipment, providing treatment services, and establishing field clinics for refugees in various camps in addition to supporting health campaigns such as the Pink Caravan, and financing a medical examination vehicle for early screening for cancer, especially breast cancer, in cooperation with certain associations.

‘Sent Wind’

The Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, in cooperation with the Sharjah Charitable Society, also launched a charitable radio program entitled “The Sent Wind,” which is broadcast during the holy month of Ramadan every year.

With the help from generous donors and patrons, the Society undertakes works and charity projects in remote areas of the countries around the world, reaching as many 110 countries.

The “Sent Wind” program recorded great success by continuing for the fourteenth year in a row, treating patients, building wells, establishing production projects, and building schools, in addition to the contributors through the program sponsoring many charitable projects such as building mosques, medical clinics, digging wells, housing, and others.

The “Little Hearts” campaign, launched by Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed and sponsored by the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, will provide medical care and treatment to about 500 heart patients from Aswan in southern Egypt, in cooperation with the Sharjah Charitable Society and the Magdi Yacoub Heart Center, a non-profit organisation which provides free, high-level medical services in Egypt and throughout the region in the field of cardiovascular diseases through its affiliated Aswan Heart Center.

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the main causes of death in Egypt. One thousand children are born with congenital heart diseases every year, due to the lack of necessary health capabilities.