Manny Pacquiao Teams with Caribbean Hospital, Charity to Provide Free Cardiac Care for Kids

CAYMAN ISLANDS — World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines is partnering with a leading Caribbean hospital and charity to bring free cardiac care to children from his homeland.

Pacquiao, who together with his wife founded the Emmanuel and Jinkee’s Heart Foundation, has sealed a partnership with Have a Heart Cayman Islands and tertiary care hospital Health City Cayman Islands. The details of the collaboration were disclosed during a recent visit to Grand Cayman, where he toured the hospital.

Emmanuel and Jinkee’s Heart Foundation in the Philippines is a nongovernmental organization that assists the community with medical care, as well as educational, shelter and relief needs, and the mandate of Have a Heart Cayman Islands is to partner with local and international organizations to subsidize and provide lifesaving heart surgeries to needy children from the Caribbean and around the world.

Pacquiao, the current reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, was noticeably captivated by the beauty of the Cayman Islands and the warmth of its people. He announced that the first two children requiring heart surgery will travel from Cebu, Philippines, to Health City Cayman Islands this year and more will follow, he assured.

Pacquiao, who is a senator in the Philippines, said, “I may be a world-class champion in the ring, but with all the help and kind support of Have a Heart Cayman Islands, hand in hand, we will all be champions of these children’s hearts.”

The award-winning champion also was impressed with the commitment of the medical staff at Health City. “I met the doctors and I am so happy and rejoiced after they explained to me what they did,” Pacquiao said. “They spend so much time here at the hospital and hardly go home as they help people from all over the world. I am so happy to be part of this movement.”

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“It is an honor to partner with a living legend to bring life to many future legends across the world,” said Harry Chandi, chairman of Have a Heart Cayman Islands. “Partnerships like these are not only a blessing to children, but they keep us motivated to raise resources that help deliver world-class medical care to people who need it the most.”

Dr. Chandy Abraham, CEO and head of medical services at Health City, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to deepen Health City’s partnership with Have a Heart Cayman Islands and begin a new relationship with a champion athlete.

“We are in the business of giving hope to children — hope for long and healthy lives,” Abrahama said. “Through this alliance, we can do more to support our mission of high-quality, affordable care for all.”