Monaco Humanitarian Collective celebrates 300th child to receive surgery in presence of goodwill ambassador, footballer Olivier Giroud

On 26 July, members and loyal donors of the Monaco Humanitarian Collective gathered at the Cardiothoracic Centre to celebrate little Fanta from Mali, the 300th child to receive surgery in the Principality of Monaco. The goodwill ambassador for this fantastic solidarity network, footballer Olivier Giroud, was there to mark the occasion, demonstrating once again his commitment to helping vulnerable children.

MCH-Olivier Giroud-©CCM-Philippe Fitte - Olivier Giroud, Monaco Humanitarian Collective (MCH) Ambassador, with Fanta, the 300th child to receive surgery thanks to the MCH, and Dr François Bourlon, paediatric cardiologist at the Cardiothoracic Centre. © CCM/Philippe Fitte

Olivier Giroud, Monaco Humanitarian Collective (MCH) Ambassador, with Fanta, the 300th child to receive surgery thanks to the MCH, and Dr François Bourlon, paediatric cardiologist at the Cardiothoracic Centre. © CCM/Philippe Fitte

Fanta Coulibaly, aged four and from Mali, is the 300th child to receive surgery thanks to the Monaco Humanitarian Collective (MCH). Fanta has a heart condition which is not treatable in her own country. The solidarity network enabled her to be brought to the Principality where she could receive the best possible care. Fully cured, she will soon be returning home to her family.

To celebrate the 300th operation, the Prince’s Government’s Department of International Cooperation, which manages the project, and the Monaco Cardiothoracic Centre invited volunteer members and donors of the MCH to celebrate with Fanta and the project’s goodwill ambassador, footballer Olivier Giroud.

A loyal donor himself, who regularly visits the Principality to meet the young patients and the medical staff, Olivier Giroud announced that he would soon launch a new crowdfunding campaign* via his social network accounts to support the project.

Five other children, aged between two and four, from Senegal, Niger and Mali, were also there with their host families, all volunteers, as well as the organisations responsible for the administrative aspects of the programme, Rencontres Africaines and the Monaco Red Cross.

The Monaco Humanitarian Collective was established in 2008 to mark the fiftieth birthday of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, with the aim of operating on 50 children with heart or occasionally orthopaedic conditions that cannot be treated in their own countries. Princess Grace Hospital and the Monaco Institute of Sports Medicine and Surgery (IM2S) are also partners of the project.

For more information, see: www.mch.mc .

* The crowdfunding campaign will offer donors gifts (balls, shoes, football shirts, etc.) signed by Olivier Giroud in exchange for their donations.