Incidence of heart problems in children living in the Canary Islands, is much higher than in the rest of Spain, explained Dolores García, president of the Canary Islands Heart and Life Association, today. In the Canary Islands, the average is 14 cases out of 1,000 births, whereas in the rest of Spain, the average is just 8 out of every 1,000.

García revealed these statistics in a press conference to announce the signing of a 4 year agreement between the association and the Tenerife Council, to provide 2 residences for child heart sufferers who need to travel to Madrid for extended periods of treatment. "The main objective of this agreement is to reassure the parents of children with heart problems, that they have all our support," explained García, who also thanked Tenerife Council, "who are helping us in this effort."

The residences, which are both located in the Madrid suburb of Fuencarral,will be staffed by volunteers from the Canary Islands who live in Madrid. They aim to offer "not only a place to stay, but also psychological and emotional support," for parents "not only faced with their child´s illness, but also with having to find their way around a strange city." There are plans to acquire a 3rd residence in the Legazpi district for adults from the islands who need to go to Madrid for transplant operations.