Mending children's hearts together

We may give it a little thought throughout the day, but the heart works round-the-clock for us. Given the heart's never-ending workload, it is truly a wonder that it performs so well, for many people.

However, the prevalence of heart disease in Malaysia is increasing. What was once considered a concern to the elderly has now brought our attention to the younger ones, those born with a congenital heart defect.

In 1995, IJN Foundation (IJNF) was established with a mission to raise philanthropic support for the care of heart patients seeking treatment at the National Heart Institute or Institut Jantung Negara (IJN). For the foundation to continue its philanthropic mission to benefit the less fortunate, it relies heavily on the generosity and empathy of corporations and kind donors.

With heart disease being Malaysia's leading cause of death and the incidence of heart defects estimated to occur in at least 1 in every 100 live births, it is even more vital that funds are available to assist more patients. Access to funds is especially critical to those from underprivileged families and, ultimately, to save more lives.

On 19 January 2018, IJN Foundation became one of the earliest changemakers for Bank Islam Sadaqa House, a charity crowdfunding platform.

The social finance initiative — a hybrid between technology and Shariah solutions - acts as a meeting point between donors, changemakers, and beneficiaries over-sighted by Bank Islam.

Aimed to deliver a positive and sustainable impact, Sadaqa House played a significant role in supporting IJNF's mission and providing much-needed financial assistance to paediatric congenital heart disease patients from underprivileged families to undergo heart surgery at IJN.

Through the collaboration with IJNF, it is Bank Islam’s ardent hope that contributions made by generous donors through Sadaqa House can ease the financial burden of families to the children, enabling their loved ones to receive treatment in a timely manner.

Bank Islam and IJNF share the same pursuit: to provide a better quality of life for children from underprivileged families because these children deserve an opportunity to grow healthy and enjoy education like any other children. As of 2022, donors who have contributed via Sadaqa House Bank Islam have assisted 144 children with heart defects together with IJNF.

Embodying the true Malaysian spirit, Sadaqa House practises an inclusive approach in its initiatives, with both Muslims and non-Muslims being welcomed and served by Sadaqa House as donors and beneficiaries. This approach stems from Bank Islam's belief that opportunities should be open to all in propagating a philanthropic culture amongst Malaysians.

Creating awareness on social issues and Sadaqa House initiatives

Do check out Sadaqa House Facebook live programmes HERE as they dive into interesting social awareness topics.

Are you interested in being a part of a notable initiative? Visit https://www.sadaqahouse.com.my for more info.

This content is provided by IJN Foundation