IJN Foundation & Nu Skin Malaysia: Marking 15 years together in supporting underprivileged with congenital heart defects

Did you know heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Malaysia? With its surgical procedure, perioperative care and long-term health care needs, it can surely lead to  substantial costs.

Imagine heart patients that are underprivileged, not only would they have to endure and manage the physical burden of the disease, but the finances required can weigh them and their family down too.

Heart disease is difficult enough when it strikes adults, but it can be especially tragic in children. It is reported that an estimated 8 to 10 of 1,000 live births suffer from congenital heart disease (CHD), a heart condition that is usually caused by heart defects present at birth. A serious heart defect can put an enormous emotional and financial strain on young families at a vulnerable time.

Mend a Heart and Save a Life Together

Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) Foundation was established in 1995, to provide financial assistance on treatment costs for the needy and deserving heart patients and to cover their needs at IJN, such as for travel, accommodation, and daily expenses.

One of the ways IJN Foundation raises funds is by collaborating with corporate organisations as their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partner, from contributions by corporations and individuals, and by raising funds via various activities and events. This is to ensure that funds are available when it is needed the most.

Marking 15 years of partnership with more than 360 lives saved through this collaborative effort

In 2008, IJN Foundation established a partnership with Nu Skin Malaysia to form the Nu Skin - IJN Foundation Paediatric Heart Treatment Project with the aim of funding corrective heart surgeries for needy children from impoverished families.

For Nu Skin, the partnership which has been established with IJN Foundation for more than a decade, has been truly meaningful, with the change that it has brought to the children's lives. Every year, over 50,000 children in Southeast Asia are born with congenital heart defects, but due to lack of resources only few can afford proper treatment and care.

In view of the large and growing number of children suffering from heart defects, Nu Skin Southeast Asia Children’s Heart Fund (SEACHF) aspires to reduce the long waiting list of heart patients in need of surgeries and treatment and to make sure that every child gets to live a normal healthy life.

Healing the hearts of children from all across Southeast Asia

SEACHF combines grants from the Nu Skin Force For Good Foundation, as well as donations from the company’s brand affiliates and employees from countries like Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia. In 2022, 909 children’s lives were transformed under SEACHF, where a total of 51 children with congenital heart defects were funded together with IJN Foundation.

IJN Foundation is proud of this successful and strong partnership with Nu Skin, and hopes to continue the meaningful work done together with them. The foundation looks forward to Nu Skin's continued support to enable more children to get assistance for their heart treatment. Year 2023 marks this 15-year of partnership. Nu Skin Malaysia has pledged to support the treatment and surgery cost of at least another 75 children.

On top of that, the foundation also hopes that more corporations will follow in these footsteps and together take part in helping underprivileged children.

This content is provided by IJN Foundation