Hanoi>> Many critically-ill children in Vietnam will soon receive the life-saving heart surgery they have been waiting for thanks to a generous commitment made by American International Group (AIG), one of the largest insurance organizations in the world. Martin Sullivan, President and CEO of AIG, announced during the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in November that the company would donate $300,000 to EMW’s Operation Healthy Heart (OHH) program over the next three years.

“AIG makes this contribution with the hope that it will improve life for the children of Vietnam and help the country continue to grow and prosper,” Mr. Sullivan said. “We’re proud to have this opportunity to contribute to this worthy effort in Vietnam where we have both a long history and a growing presence today.”

The majority of the donation will provide surgeries for children on the OHH waiting list in the southern province of Vung Tau near Ho Chi Minh City. In the next three years the donation is expected to assist in funding surgeries for over 250 of the neediest children. In addition to funding surgeries, a portion of the grant will be used to upgrade facilities at Cho Ray Hospital, or another cardiac facility, in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as train cardiac surgeons and do other capacity building work at the chosen facility. The current public health system can only accommodate 3,500 pediatric heart surgeries a year, leaving as many as 20,000 children on the waiting list. Without surgery, more than 80% of these children will die.

OHH has provided life-saving financial and medical assistance for surgeries to over 1,200 children in Vietnam and is currently active in more than 20 provinces. EMW presently funds 10% of all pediatric heart surgeries performed in Vietnam.

AIG has a long history in Vietnam, dating back to the 1920s. They were the first U.S.-based insurance company to receive the life insurance license (in 2000) and the general insurance license (in 2005).

Where A Donation Goes

A donation of $1000 will provide heart surgery to one critically-ill child.

A donation of $100 will cover costs to transport children to hospitals that offer a free heart surgery program for children under six years old.

A donation of $50 provides follow-up care—medicine and food—for a month to a child recovering from surgery.