According to preliminary research by Child’s Dream Foundation (CDF), 6 out of 100 children under 6 years old in areas of the Mekong Sub Region lose their lives to diseases which are mostly preventable and treatable.
Disheartened by this unfortunate fact, RYTHM Foundation decided to lend its support to CDF’s Children Medical Fund, which aims to provide life-saving operations and medical interventions for infants and children. Aged between 0-12 years old, these are underprivileged children from Myanmar and Laos who have been diagnosed with critical congenital birth defects.
In August 2017, a contribution of USD 30,000 was made by RYTHM Foundation to fund the medical treatment of six patients. This group of patients are aged between 3 months to 4 years old, and suffer from conditions such as cardiac disorder and spinal bifida.
In the coming months, the contribution will be used to fund medical and travel costs for these six patients and their accompanying parents or caregivers. Patients will undergo life-saving operations in Thailand, followed by various follow-up treatments. The entire process will usually take between 2 to 4 weeks.
Throughout this period, CDF’s medically trained team also assists as translators to ensure the treatment process will not be hindered by language barriers. The team also plays a critical role in providing emotional support to the parents or caregivers, as they often suffer from immense stress during this trying time.
RYTHM Foundation has been partnering with CDF since 2016 in community development projects. Prior to this, the partnership was primarily focused on building schools in remote and isolated areas in Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. The contribution by RYTHM Foundation to the Children’s Medical Fund this August marked its first collaboration with CDF in healthcare initiatives.
