Mumbai, Sep 28 (IANS): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a first-ever comprehensive 'Heart Health' screening programme for Mumbai's policemen in collaboration with Asian Heart Institute, here on Wednesday.

The programme, designed 'to care for the police who care for Mumbai' will provide free heart health assessment to thousands of cops at the AHI, as part of the World Heart Day celebrations on September 29.

According to statistics, 30 percent of policemen who die on duty, succumb to heart disease and the AHI initiative will go a long way to helping them, said Fadnavis on the occasion.

Leading cardiac surgeon and AHI Vice-Chairman and Managing Director (Dr.) Ramakanta Panda and his medical team comprising Vijay D'Silva, Nilesh Gautam, Santosh Dora and Tilak Survarna chalked out a plan for heart health screening of 5000 cops above age of 40 in the first phase.

It was kicked-off by heart health check up of 1000 policemen on Wednesday at the Naigaon police establishment while CPR training was imparted to 120 members at AHI.

Lauding the initiative, Fadnavis said Panda and his team have picked up "a much-needed cause, and prevention of heart disease is key especially in a city like Mumbai where everyday poses a new challenge".

The 'digital records' will be analysed to identity those cops having heart health risks and would be shortlisted for further tests.

"Some 10-15 million people die of heart disease in India annually and Indians are thrice as likely to get heart disease compared to the west. India has to focus on prevention as we cannot afford an expensive healthcare burden," Panda said.

Moreover, Panda said 70 per cent heart attacks happen at home of which around 90 per cent are fatal. But if the person can be revived immediately through CPR, his/her life can be saved.

In the US, one-third of the population is trained in CPR and AHI will train 5,000 Mumbaikars in CPR, including 1,000 police personnel from a target of 25,000 Mumbaikars gradually.

AHI Director Sonal Panda launched a CPR app which will create a network of volunteers trained to revive the heart through CPR and will prove invaluable during a cardiac emergency.

Present on the occasion were Joint Police Commissioners Sanjay Saxena and Anup Kumar Singh who highlighted the stressful job with long duty hours and irregular eating schedules of Mumbai police.