‘I Am Heart Smart’! ‘Guardians of Heart’ Campaign to create 25000 Heart Smart Teachers by KMC
- ‘I Am Heart Smart’! “Guardians of Heart’’Campaign-an effort to create 25000 Heart Smart Teachers by Kasturba Medical College Hospitals
Mangaluru: World Heart Day takes place on 29th September every year and is the World Heart Federation‘s and the world’s biggest platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke. This year, the global campaign focuses on looking after our own hearts, and the hearts of our loved ones: “MY HEART, YOUR HEART”. It’s about saying to ourselves, the people we care about and individuals all around us, “What can I do right now to look after MY HEART… and YOUR HEART?”
It also resonates with the professional cardiology and healthcare audiences who dedicate themselves to looking after ALL OUR HEARTS. The main call to action for this year’s campaign is to make a promise. A promise as an individual to get more active, say no to smoking or eat more healthily … as a health care professional to save more lives … or as a policymaker to implement a noncommunicable disease (NCD) action plan. A simple promise… for MY HEART, for YOU HEART, for ALL OUR HEARTS.
And for that matter, locally here in Mangaluru- Kasturba Medical College Hospital had come up with an unique way of celebrating “World Heart Day” by not organizing a Marathon, or Walkathon like they used to do every year, but this in order to save resources, KMC Hospitals had organized a conference to unveil ‘Guardians of Heart’ a unique initiative to collaborate World Heart Day and Teachers day and create ‘Heart Smart Teachers’, which was launched at Hotel Gold Finch-Mangaluru on Saturday 29 September 2018 at 11 am. And since Teachers can encourage, motivate and inspire students to adopt a healthy lifestyle, this “World Heart Day” unique seminar was specially organized for them by KMC in their efforts to create – Healthy Heart Smart Teachers – Healthy Kids – Healthy Family – Healthy Nation.
A unique collaboration of two signature days in September, “World Heart Day” and “Teachers Day”, the campaign aims at creating 25000 ‘Heart Smart Teachers’ to create awareness on Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) among the younger generation. The corporate campaign is being rolled across various centres of Manipal i.e. Vijayawada, Mangalore, Goa, Jaipur and Dwarka ( New Delhi). This unique crusader was unveiled by Saghir Siddiqui, Regional COO, KMC Hospitals Mangaluru. along with Dr. Padmanabha Kamath, HOD Cardiology Department, KMC Hospitals Mangaluru, Dr. Jeedhu Radhakrishnan, Emergency Medicine, KMC Hospitals Mangaluru, and Surendraprasad- AGM KMC Marketing.
Addressing the audience Dr Padmanabha Kamath said, “This is a unique project initiated by us that nowhere in the world you’ll find it, and we are glad that we are doing it instead of a Walkathon or Marathon, which is simply waste of resources. We have made history by organizing this unique project especially meant for teachers. For teachers, there is no retirement, because even after retirement they remain to be teachers, either by helping out at their school in teaching students or give tuition at home. Today’s seminar will benefit the teachers a lot because we have chosen a few important topics in Health Care”.
He further said, “Currently Cardiovascular diseases is affecting people across all age groups. Heart disease in India occurs 10 to 15 years earlier compared to West. Average age group is 25 to 35 years. Sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, stress are the prime culprits for cardiac arrests. Adapting to a healthy lifestyle at a younger age can definitely save us from most of the lifestyle diseases. Heart Disease can be reduced by Educating, Inspiring, Motivating and Regular Checkups. “
Extending vote of thanks and speaking on the occasion Saghir Siddiqui, Regional COO, KMC Hospitals said, “Through this unique initiative we plan to educate teachers who can be the best messengers to students. India is already the diabetic capital of the world today and we are steadily progressing towards becoming the capital of heart diseases as well. Therefore, the disease needs to be tackled at grass root level and imperative to create awareness among the younger generation. Heart smart teachers will spread healthy heart concepts to kids who in turn will educate their parents and the chain reaction of Heart Smart Teachers – Healthy Kids – Healthy Family – Healthy Nation can be achieved,”.
A comprehensive health program was conducted to make this campaign a success. Expert talks were delivered by KMC doctors to create awareness among teachers to handle critical medical emergencies. Dr. Jeedhu Radhakrishnan spoke about tackling sports injuries, burns and seizures. Dr Jeedhu spoke and demonstrated on the topic related to First Aid and Hospital Care, which included Medical emergencies; Chain of Survival; Stroke; Seizures; Bleeding during Injuries; Tourniquet; Shock; Bleeding Nose; Burns; Amputation; Eye Injuries; and Broken Bone and Sprain. He said “Why First Aid?’, because it is to Preserve Life; Prevent Further Harm and Promote Recovery. His demonstration of CPR and First Aid techniques were enjoyed by the audience.
Like my name, Alfie sounds rhythmically with the slogan “Selfie with Alfie”, but briefing about the deaths occurring due to people addicted to selfie, Dr Jeedhu said, “Do you know that “Selfie Syndrome is an Infection Gift of IT to Health Care”. India stands first in Selfie related deaths- between 2014-2016 about 76 deaths have taken place, while in Pakistan only 9, and in USA just 8. About Selfie, how about this one- Me, Myself and My Killfie?”. Dr Jeedhu Radhakrishnan also mentioned that if anyone teachers want to be trained or become a volunteer, and “Be A Savior” because ‘Time Saved is Life saved”, to call him at 8978972113
Dr Padmanabha Kamath – HOD Cardiology Department KMC Hospitals spoke on Sudden Cardiac Deaths in Children, while Dr. M.N. Bhat, Cardiologist KMC Hospitals Mangaluru spoke on “Chest Pain in Children and Adults”. GRBS session was handled by the KMC Nursing department. There was also a quiz for the audience, and winners got nice prizes. St Aloysius PUC teacher won the quiz prize. Cardiologists also educated teachers on sudden cardiac deaths among children and chest pains. Heart Smart passes and family health cards were distributed. Hariprasad, a Senior Executive in KMC Marketing welcomed the audience and also compered the programme. Rakesh Darshan-Deputy Manager KMC Marketing and Ms Swathi Raviraj, an executive in KMC Marketing made suitable arrangements and took care of hospitality.
With this campaign, Manipal aims to explore the possibility of changes that teachers can bring about in students, who in turn can pass the message to their families. In addition to this Teachers would be attending educative workshops and Manipal will facilitate unique series of candid interactions with Cardiac super-specialists who will be educating Teachers about various heart medical emergencies faced and how best it can be addressed. Current projections suggest that India is witnessing the largest cardiovascular disease burden in the world. One-fifth of the deaths in India are from coronary heart disease and by 2020, it will account for one-third of all deaths.
About Manipal Hospitals:
As a pioneer in healthcare, Manipal Hospitals is among the largest hospital network in India serving over 2 million patients annually. Its focus is to develop an affordable tertiary care multispecialty healthcare framework through its entire multispecialty delivery spectrum and further extend it to home care. With its flagship quaternary care facility located in Bangalore, India, 8 tertiary care, 7 secondary care and 2 primary care clinics spread across India and abroad, today Manipal Hospitals successfully operates and manages 5,200+ beds. Manipal Hospitals provides comprehensive curative and preventive care for a multitude of patients from across the globe. Manipal Hospitals is first in India to be awarded accreditation by the AAHRPP for ethical standards in clinical research activities. It is also NABL, NABH and ISO certified. Manipal Hospitals is also the most respected hospital company in India and the most patient recommended Hospital in India by the consumer survey.
