China, Tajikistan Team Up for Free Heart Screenings for Kids This August

From August 5 to 8, 2025, Chinese specialists, in partnership with the Tajik Ministry of Health and Social Protection, will conduct free medical examinations for children and adolescents under 18 with congenital heart defects at the China-Tajikistan Medical Diagnostic Center.

Following the assessments, 10 children and adolescents diagnosed with heart defects will undergo free surgical procedures in China, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

Yang Hongwei, head of the center, said that priority will be given to patients from families unable to afford the costly operations.

“Last year, we provided free diagnostics to dozens of patients and sent 10 for surgery in China. Six received successful operations, while four others were treated successfully without surgery,” Hongwei said.

She added that, in collaboration with Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection, this initiative will become an annual program due to the growing number of children born with congenital heart conditions.

Medical experts emphasize that early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to improving outcomes for children affected by these defects, which can develop early in pregnancy due to genetic and environmental factors.

Common signs of congenital heart defects include bluish lips and fingertips, fatigue, breathing difficulties, irregular heartbeat, feeding problems, weight loss, and delayed development.