NPO Heart Kids Japan Expands Free Pulse Oximeter Lending Project for Children with Heart Disease Post-Discharge, Calls for Further Support After One Month

NPO Heart Kids Japan, located in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, and led by Representative Director Koichi Sugimoto, initiated a donation project on February 25, 2026. This project, part of the Chiba-no-WA Community Development Foundation's 2025 Project Designated Grant Program, aims to provide free pulse oximeters to children with heart conditions receiving home medical care. The organization reported 157 lending cases within one year of the program's inception in February 2025, indicating a higher-than-anticipated demand. The goal is to increase monthly lending from an average of 20-30 units to 40-60 units. Donations to this public interest promotion corporation are eligible for tax benefits. Congenital heart disease affects approximately 1 in 100 births. Children with severe cases, especially those with cyanotic heart disease, require oxygen saturation monitoring due to risks like poor weight gain and infection. Infant-specific pulse oximeter probes are expensive and not readily available in general electronics stores, and there is no public support for their purchase or rental. Data from February 2025 to February 2026 shows that 0-year-olds account for about 65% of users, with a prominent demand for infants aged 0-3 months post-discharge. Congenital heart disease is the most common condition among users (approx. 36%), followed by respiratory diseases and families with premature babies or NICU experience. Koichi Sugimoto, the representative director, previously worked as a pediatric cardiac surgeon in Australia and Canada for about six years, where he observed community-supported healthcare models for children with heart disease. A donation of approximately 30,000 JPY can provide one family with the necessary equipment. The project received support from 10 individuals within its first month.