Why Does Heart Month Matter to Vietnam?
- Nick Hoyt
- Feb 12
- 2 min read
Heart Month was established in February of 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to raise awareness about heart disease, which was—and remains—the leading cause of death in the United States. Having suffered a heart attack himself, President Johnson recognized the urgency of addressing cardiovascular disease, and with strong support from the American Heart Association, this initiative was launched to educate the public on prevention, early detection, and research advancements. Since then, February has been recognized as Heart Month, encouraging heart-healthy habits, screenings, and funding for life-saving cardiovascular research.
You may wonder how American Heart Month is relevant to our friends in Vietnam. The reality is that heart disease is a global health issue, and in Vietnam, congenital heart disease is increasing. Some studies estimate that up to 2.5% of Vietnamese children will be diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Recognizing the magnitude of this crisis, the Vietnamese government has designated CHD as a national health priority.
However, Vietnam faces significant challenges in addressing this burden. Unlike the U.S., where treatment is widely available, Vietnam lacks the infrastructure, workforce, and standardized training programs to meet the overwhelming demand for pediatric heart surgery. This is why our work at Healing Hearts Vietnam remains so critical.
Did You Know:
Vietnam has only 27 pediatric cardiac surgeons serving a population of 100 million—barely more than the number in Virginia, a state with only 9 million people.
The Central region of Vietnam (population ~20 million) has just one main cardiovascular center in Hue, performing fewer than 300 congenital heart surgeries per year—meeting less than 30% of the actual demand.
An estimated 14,000 children in Vietnam require heart surgery each year, but only about 5,000 receive it.
You Can Make A Difference:
With more congenital heart patients reaching adulthood, Vietnam faces an urgent need to expand and standardize its medical training to ensure these individuals receive proper operations and lifelong care. That’s why your support of Healing Hearts Vietnam is so important.
Contributions of any amount help save lives. Your generosity during Heart Month directly funds life-saving heart surgeries for children who would otherwise go untreated. Join our family of donors today to be the answer to the cries of a parent's heart.
Reference:
Cao, K.D., Le, V.T.K., Ngo, T.K. et al. Status of congenital heart disease surgery in Vietnam. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-024-01872-w
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