Charity organization Save a Child’s Heart with support from donors and in collaboration with the ministry of health has airlifted a group of six children with heart conditions to Tel Aviv for heart surgery.

Gershon Kedar, the Israel Ambassador to South Sudan said the in-kind support from Save a Child’s Heart is in line with the growing bilateral ties between the State of Israel and South Sudan.

“This group of six children follows 15 children who have already been to Israel under the auspices of Save a Child’s Heart, they all went to Israel sick and they all came back healthy,” said Kedar during a press conference on Wednesday at Juba International Airport.

Kedar said Israel is cooperating with South Sudan in several areas including agriculture, education and health, adding that there is another group of 7 children who will soon be going for heart surgery to Israel.

The Jewish envoy also donated two electrocardiograms to Al-Sabah Children’s Hospital and Wau Teaching Hospital in a bid to ease screening for children seeking heart treatment.

Atim Suzan David, whose 3 year- old -child is among the group traveling to Israel appreciated Save a Child’s Heart, the government of South Sudan and the government of Israel for the support.

“I am very happy for the support, we have been waiting for quite long but the day has finally come, we really thank the government of Israel and the government South Sudan for helping our children,” said Suzan.

Wol Mayar Ariec, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the bilateral ties between Juba and Tel Aviv are strengthening through such cooperation.

“We have the best ever growing bilateral relations with the State of Israel, we are cooperating in many areas, for example agriculture innovation, education, health and capacity building in areas of mutual interest and more,” said Ariec.

Yolanda Awel Deng Juach, the Minister of Health said that Save a Child’s Heart has been facilitating children twice in a year for free heart surgery, adding that South Sudan and Israel have very strong bilateral ties.

“We have got children to be flown out to Israel, it is continuous support that we have been getting from the foundation Save a Child’s Heart, in Israel there are groups of donors supporting South Sudan,” said Juach.

Juach noted that performing surgery on one child in Israel costs between 30,000 to 100,000 U.S dollars.