From Telemedicine to Heart Clinic on Wheels
Gauri Kaul Foundation (GKF) an NGO was started in April 2021 following the success of Gauri Healthy Heart Project. This project was started in Kupwara in North Kashmir with the mission of spreading the message of “NO HEART ATTACKS”, by optimizing the treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, high levels of lipids and existing heart diseases especially heart attacks etc. This was started by holding camps in district hospitals and peripheral Heart Centers of 6 districts of Jammu and Kashmir. We began on 29th September 2020, the World Heart Day. The findings of the study were published and communicated to the health authorities. The most important finding was an alarmingly high incidence of uncontrolled hypertension (63.5 %) in people already on drug treatment from health centers both Government and private.
GKF began with a vision to improve the quality and availability of healthcare related to cardiac issues in J&K with a mission to set up an infrastructure to carry out prompt diagnosis and initiate and optimise treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidaemias and pre-existing heart diseases and link these services to the broader landscape of health institutions and services available in the area. It was registered on the 13th April 2021.
The Foundation started with setting up a state of art Heart Centers. One in Srinagar Gauri Heart Centre, Chanapora, followed up by another center with identical infrastructure in a remote village Hawal, Pulwama district, on 28th August 2022. It is the Prasad Joo Khan Heart Centre named after a towering personality of that region. The village is located on the Mogul Road which goes past the highest point of the Peer Panchal mountains and connects the valley to Rajouri and Poonch. It also drains patients from those far-flung areas besides the districts of Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam.
In addition, the Foundation set up 2 Telemedicine Centers: One in Machil, near the LOC in Kupwara district in collaboration with Rashtriya rifles and one in the migrant township of Jagati in Jammu. Machil gets disconnected from the neighboring Kupwara town during the harsh winter months. These centers have been performing healthcare activities through a team of doctors and paramedics. To add to these activities the Foundation initiated the program to support for people with old age through the Gauri Old Age Mission (GOAM).
Since research is an essential part of improving the healthcare, an initiative was started by GKF, which led to the formation of a dedicated research unit, Gauri Research Centre (GRC). This research center is the only non -government lead group to be accredited by the CDSO, a part of the Drug Controller General of India. The GRC is already into clinical research with a dedicated staff based at the Gauri Heart Centre since 2022.
The Foundation has an eminent team of trustees from various walks of life and has recently appointed 3 advisors. Prof N K Arora of the INCLEN Trust International, Prof Denis Xavier, Head division of Clinical Research and Training, St John Medical college and Research institute, Bangalore and Prof Mohammad Salim Khan, HOD Community Medicine GMC, Srinagar to guide us in our future endeavours.
Our continuing medical education programs are a regular feature and this year we have a “Spring CME” Focussed on atherosclerosis, Acute Coronary Syndromes and Heart Failure on 12th of April. Our weekly educative programs on common health care issues and social and cultural aspects of Jammu and Kashmir are published in well-known newspapers besides the podcasts and TV interviews on the Doordarshan.
GKF is excited to announce the launch of Indian Oil Heart Clinic on Wheels on the 10th of April in a remote village Hawal, Distt. Pulwama Kashmir. This is the first of its kind mobile heart clinic capable of performing and guiding treatment of heart ailments to remote and underserved areas, not only in Jammu and Kashmir but extend it to the whole country from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari, eventually. This project conceptualized by GKF has been financed entirely by the CSR of Indian Oil Corporation. IOCL has extended financial support of Rs 78 Lacs for the project. The revenue part of the expenses will be handled by GKF.
This innovative unit is built on an ambulance with all the advanced diagnostic equipments like, ECG, portable echocardiography with doppler, ambulatory BP equipment for complete non-invasive cardiology assessment. It also has the capabilities to perform important blood biochemistry and point of care tests on the spot to detect heart failure (NT-Pro BNP), heart muscle injury (Troponins) preexisting diabetes (Hb A1c), blood coagulation profile including INR and D Dimer and Inflammatory marker (hs-CRP). Besides blood samples will be collected and tests done in the hub centre “Prasad Joo Khan Heart Centre” in Hawal.
This mobile clinic can move to the remotest location. In this project we plan to take this clinic to our predesignated villages in South Kashmir for providing advanced cardiac health care closer to those who do not have it. Our target districts in South Kashmir are Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian covering a population of approximately 15 lacs. This mobile unit set up with our trained doctors and paramedics would go to pre destined areas and examine patients with risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidaemias and previous heart ailments and carry out indicated tests and give them appropriate treatment.
The generic drugs from Janayushidi for treatment will be provided free of cost. Patients will be followed up periodically and contact maintained digitally. GKF would liaise with all the bodies both governmental and voluntary ones to make an impact of this important endeavour. The intra venous substance users of these areas will be screened for infective endocarditis a well-known complication seen in drug abusers.
In addition, we will also perform surveys in schools to diagnose rheumatic heart disease, birth defects and obesity. We will screen children between the age of 5 and 15 years with full general examination including measurement of height and weight, waist hip ratio followed by ECG and echocardiography. This project will cover both government and private schools. The prevalence of Rheumatic heart disease and birth defects from these remote hilly areas of Kashmir, with a high prevalence of sore throat is just not available. Our findings would be compared with the published data from other parts of the country and prophylactic measures instituted.
The Indian Oil Heart Clinic on Wheels is being launched and dedicated to the people of South Kashmir on April the 10th from our remote centre in Hawal, Pulwama. The Chief guest for the function will be Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi, sitting MP from Anantnag, Rajouri and Poonch. The guests of honour would be Mr Waheed Ur Rahman Para, MLA Pulwama, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson J K Waqf Board, DC Pulwama Mr Basharat Qayoom, IAS , Mr Ashutosh Gupta (ED and SH, IOCL, Punjab state, Mr Arif Akhtar (Gm- HR. CSR IOCL) and Mr M A Pathan (Formerly CEO IOCL). Besides, the locals of the surrounding villages especially the school teachers would be invited to get appraised about this facility which is essentially meant for them.
Prof Upendra Kaul,
Founder Director GKF
