Help for Congenital Heart Disease: Afghan children get free treatment in China

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Free surgery for a boy with congenital heart disease. Jawad, a five-year-old from Afghanistan, was able to get treated at a hospital in Xinjiang in northwest China. His case is part of a program by the Chinese Red Cross Foundation. Chuck Tinte has more.

The program is to help children who suffer from congenital heart disease among countries along the Belt and Road. 79 Afghan children are expected to get free surgery in China this year.

Jawad is one of 25 who came to China last month. His father came with Jawad to Xinjiang.

MOHAMED JAWAD'S FATHER "We found he had a heart problem when he was only 4 months old. Jawad misses home so much since he came to the hospital."

Zhang Yujie, Jawad's nurse has spent time with the little boy after his surgery.

ZHANG YUJIE NURSE "It is hard to communicate with Jawad as we can't speak the same language. Sometimes he cries; it is so difficult to comfort him."

Jawad's condition was one of the more serious among the 25 kids.

ZHANG YUJIE NURSE "He has had two operations. The only thing we can do to make him feel the love is to hold him and hug him. I am a mother so I want to give him enough love as he suffers with the heart disease."

He was still unstable even after the operation.

MOHAMED JAWAD'S FATHER "He has been in the ICU for ten days since the surgery. I can't calm down until doctors send him back to the ward."

All the 25 children are now back in Afghanistan. Another 54 kids who suffer from congenital heart disease are expected to come to China later.