A children's health group yesterday called on children with congenital heart disease (CHD) not to neglect participating in sports because of their illness.
Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the Cardiac Children's Foundation, Lue Hung-chi (
"Often, parents and teachers of CHD kids tend to keep the kids from joining physical activities."
"By doing so, they unfortunately hinder the normal development of the children. It also indirectly generates a sense of isolation from their peers.
"This sense of alienation can stay with them as they age and hampers their interaction with other people."
Lue said that as long as the intensity of CHD children's exercise is well-monitored -- and limited according to the severity of the sufferer's condition -- most of them "should be able to enjoy the `basic right' of sports in and out of the classroom."
Lue added that eight out of every 1000 people are born with congenital heart disease. "In other words, of the 250,000 to 300,000 babies born in Taiwan each year, approximately 2,000 to 2,400 are diagnosed with the illness."
According to the Department of Health, congenital heart disease ranks as one of the leading causes of death among Taiwan's children.
Congenital heart disease, accidental death, malignant cancer and congenital deformity are the four major killers of children in Taiwan.
The foundation will host a sports event this Saturday to celebrate its 30th anniversary and to promote CHD kids' involvement in physical activities. The sports event will feature medical and physical education experts who will show parents and children how to regulate the kinds of activities a CHD child can participate in.
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