The Afghan Red Crescent Society said it has referred more than 450 children with heart defects to various hospitals for treatment in the past three months.

Mudasir Hamraz, the spokesperson for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, said that currently 62 children are being treated in different hospitals across the country.

Hamraz stated: "In the past three months, 457 children have been referred to domestic hospitals for treatment. If we look at the overall period of three to four years, around 5,000 children with heart defects have been referred to domestic hospitals by the Red Crescent for treatment and surgery."

Meanwhile, families of children with heart defects are asking the Afghan Red Crescent Society to expedite the process of providing treatment for their children.

Ibrahim, a one-year-old child with a heart defect, is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. His relatives say that Ibrahim's father is a teacher at a school in Maidan Shahr and does not have the financial means to treat his son.

Ziaullah, Ibrahim’s uncle, said: "When he was born, we did the check-up. We registered him four months ago, and now it has been four days since he was admitted for surgery."

Habibullah, the father of another child with a heart defect, told TOLOnews: "Our request of the Red Crescent is to provide quicker treatment for sick children so they can recover from this illness."

One of the doctors at a hospital in Kabul says that 30 to 40 patients are referred to them every month, and three or four patients undergo surgery daily.

Dr. Mohammad Zareef Faiz told TOLOnews: "Each month, around 30 to 40 patients are referred to us according to the Red Crescent's request and budget. All of their expenses are covered by the Red Crescent."

According to the Afghan Red Crescent Society, the cost of treating each child ranges from $700 to $2,300.