FOUR Cambodian children who were suffering from congenital heart diseases have undergone successful heart operations and are recuperating at the Penang Adventist Hospital.

The children – boys Than Thong Fai and Hai Sambath, both three, and girls, Seng Rinmeta, nine, and Sop Pharat, 14, arrived in Penang on Jan 16.

The seventh batch of Cambodian children to be operated on at the Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH) under the "Gift of Life 2001" programme, they were accompanied by Dr Khol Chanbonamy and nurse Koe Seyla.

Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) sponsored the return air tickets amounting to RM 21, 847 for their journey from Siem Reap to Penang.

Seng’s father Sar Sarin, speaking on behalf of the parents, thanked Mercy Malaysia, donors and PAH doctors and nurses for giving the children a new lease of life.

He said the children were now more energetic and had better appetites.

"Hai’s fingertips are no longer blue," he said.

Mercy Malaysia is a medical volunteer relief organization set up in 1999 to provide medical and humanitarian services at home and abroad.

Its member comprise medical and non-medical volunteers from the public and private sector.

The "Gift of Life-Penang" programme is a joint project between Rotary International, Rotary Club of Penang and PAH.

Rotary International contributes RM 7,600 for the cost of each surgery while the PAH Heart Patients’ Fund and the child’s family pays the balance.

Public donations received by the Rotary Club of Penang are channeled to the PAH Heart Patients’ Fund.