Authorities in Da Nang City, central Vietnam have honored German professor Dr. Erich Johann Lejeune with its inaugural ‘Dedication to Da Nang’ award in recognition of his nearly 20 years of contributions to the local healthcare sector.

The award was presented on Tuesday during a ceremony at Da Nang Hospital, where a new biplane digital subtraction angiography (DSA) system was inaugurated.

The system was funded by Heart for Heart – Foundation for Life!, the Germany-based non-governmental organization founded by Prof. Lejeune.

Nguyen Van Quang, secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee, and other local officials attended the event, where he handed the award to the German professor.

Since 2006, Prof. Lejeune and his wife have donated advanced medical equipment to improve cardiac diagnostics and treatment at Da Nang Hospital. That year, Heart for Heart – Foundation for Life! sponsored the hospital’s first DSA system, marking a milestone in cardiovascular care.

In 2013, responding to rising demand for congenital heart disease treatment, the organization helped establish the hospital’s congenital and structural heart diseases department and funded a second DSA system worth VND26.87 billion (US$1.05 million). These efforts have provided life-saving interventions for thousands of patients.

The foundation continued its support in 2023 by donating modern equipment to improve congenital heart disease diagnosis and screening. As a result, the number of detected cases surged.

Recognizing the growing need for cardiac care, the organization committed over one million euros (US$1.09 million) last year to equip the hospital with a third DSA system, the most advanced of its kind in the region.

According to the Voice of Vietnam, these contributions have enabled the hospital to perform more than 3,500 cardiac interventions for both children and adults. The hospital has also conducted free screenings for over 350,000 children, detecting nearly 3,000 cases of congenital heart disease.

“This contribution further affirms the compassion and love that Prof. Lejeune and his wife have for cardiovascular patients not only in Da Nang but also throughout the Central and Central Highlands regions,” said Dr. Le Duc Nhan, director of Da Nang Hospital.

Beyond donating equipment, Prof. Lejeune and his wife have connected the hospital with world-class medical experts.

Dr. Nhan noted that German specialists, including Prof. Heinrich Netz and Prof. Trong-Phi Le, played a key role in training his hospital's staff when the congenital and structural heart diseases department was first established, significantly improving treatment quality.

Looking ahead, Prof. Lejeune announced that in 2026, Heart for Heart – Foundation for Life! will mark its 20-year presence in Da Nang by providing another DSA system and additional medical equipment.

He also pledged to continue bringing top medical professionals to the city to further advance cardiology services.

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