A year since Save Hearts Initiative (SHI) was launched by directorate of health services Kashmir (DHSK), 12000 cardiac emergencies, mostly from far-flung areas of Kashmir have been addressed through effective and timely interventions, helping to save lives.
DHSK today commemorated the first anniversary of SHI, that was launched on 21 December 2017.Under this initiative, more than 12000 patients with heart ailments have been managed till date, a statement from the directorate said. Among these cases, 2500 were of myocardial infarction, 500 thrombolysis, over 200 heart blocks, 65 primary cardiac interventions along with other heart ailments. These cases have been managed by experts in the field at various district and sub-district hospitals of Kashmir, before being referred to tertiary care hospitals for advanced interventions, the statement said.
The initiative has been widely appreciated locally as well as put side the State, for its vision as well as success. It has also helped in reducing mortality due to myocardial infarction, especially in young population.
Giving a breakup of the cases, the statement said that 64 percent of cases were from peripheral hospitals and 84 percent had delayed presentation due to delay in diagnosis and transportation.
Dr Rehana Kausar who heads the academic wing of SHI said that in the past one year, 22 training sessions for medical officers have been carried out at DHSK’s division of epidemiology and public health Barzulla, In addition, the division has trained over 500 doctors in reading ECG, identifying abnormalities, immediate treatment and referral at peripheral level with constant, real-time inputs from cardiologist working in tertiary care hospitals of Kashmir such as SMHS Hospital and Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).
SHI works through two 24 x7 WhatsApp groups and some expert is available at any given time to guide an emergency.
Dr Kunzes Dolma, director health services Kashmir while appreciating the efforts of cardiologists from SKIMS and SMHS, and all members of SHI, including physician specialists, medical officers, paramedical and supportive staff of peripheral hospitals, hoped the enthusiasm will continue to save more and more lives.
She said that Kashmir was the only directorate across the country wherein thrombolysis along with other primary interventions during golden hour of any cardiac emergency are being done at district or sub-district hospital level. She added that establishment of emergency rooms in all district and sub district hospitals, along with availability of skilled staff and emergency drugs, has played a key role in handling cardiac and other medical emergencies. “This will go a long way in saving hearts of the patients which is the sole motto of the Save Hearts Initiative,” she said.