Doctors in northwestern China have performed lifesaving surgeries on 17 Afghan children with congenital heart disease, the first of many expected to receive help through an ongoing Red Cross program.

　　It comes after a Chinese medical team visited Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, late last month to prepare desperately ill youngsters to be flown to China for free advanced treatment.

　　The first group of 21 children, aged 2 to 14, arrived at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University on Aug 30. As of Monday, 17 had undergone successful operations and were recovering well, according to Zhang Haibo, head surgeon for the program.

　　The Red Cross Society of China, which runs the humanitarian program, has said it aims to initially help about 100 children. Meanwhile, the Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan estimates nearly 7,000 Afghan children with congenital heart disease are in urgent need of treatment.

　　As the first 21 children recover from vital treatment and get ready to return to Afghanistan, another group is preparing to head to China.

　　来自中国新疆的医护专家们已为17名阿富汗先天性心脏病患儿免费实施了手术，通过中国红十字启动的“天使之旅”——‘一带一路’大病患儿人道救助计划阿富汗行动帮助他们重获新生。

　　中国红十字援外医疗队8月赴阿富汗首都喀布尔，对当地儿童开展先天性心脏病筛查救助，并将筛查出符合手术指征的先心病儿童分批次接至国内实施免费手术治疗。30日，首批21名年龄从2岁到14岁不等的患儿在监护人随行陪同下抵达新疆医科大学第一附属医院，入院全面检查后，其中17名患儿顺利完成手术并恢复良好。

　　中国红十字援外医疗队此次一期计划对100名先心病患儿进行人道主义救助，根据阿富汗红新月会提供的数据，目前该国约有7000名先心病儿童等待救助，人道需求十分强烈。

　　随着首批21名患儿术后康复准备启程回家，另一批患儿也正准备飞往中国进行手术。

　　Oma Gulson, 2, of Afghanistan, is treated after an operation for her congenital heart disease at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University on Monday. Her care falls under a Red Cross Society of China humanitarian program.

　　9月4日，新疆医科大学第一附属医院，一位护士照顾已经接受先心病手术的2岁阿富汗患儿Oma Gulson。她的此次治疗全部依托于中国红十字会人道主义救援行动。