Media Release
Mangalore, Aug 20: “We cannot do great things in life, we can do small things with great love” it was this sentence that virtually came to life in the cathlab in Fr. Muller hospital in Mangalore. Around 15 people benefitted as a result of cardiac mission from the United States. This mission was a result of collaboration between Fr Muller Hospital and St. Francis Hospital in Long Island in United States. Well known electro physiologist Dr. Vinod Jayam was the head of this mission. Dr Jayam was brought to Mangalore by a well known Mangalorean Geriatrician in Long Island Dr Marian Kamath.
Electrophysiology, a sub speciality of cardiology deals in corrections of heart rhythm, improving failing heart rhythm, stents in the arteries and defibrillators. Dr Jayam, is an eminent and a highly skilled electro physiologist at St Francis Hospital, a premier cardiac centre in the Long Island. He works with a team of Drs. Levine, Hoch and Greenberg who are considered to be great physicians in the United States.
15 patients from lower economic background benefitted from the mission. The intervention which would have cost Rs 90,000 to 1.2 lacs was done free of cost, thanks to the project. The mission was organized by the cardiologists of the city led by Dr Prabhakar, cardiologist at the Fr. Muller Hospital.
Dr Marian Kamath a Mangalorean who worked for 32 years in Long Island says “the joy of doing something for the native land gives me immense satisfaction. This is the least I can do to the city of my upbringing”. “the whole mission was possible due to timely response of the team at Fr. Muller who put together the required resources” he says with gratitude for arranging such a programme at a short notice. Dr Vinni Jayam expressed his pleasure over team of skilled doctors, dedicated nurses and efficient personal of the hospital, who play an essential role in providing health care to the needy”. “I never saw a dejected face in the hospital” he observed.
In a unique case where the rhythm of the heart was around 180 to 190 which incapacitated the heart was corrected. This case was the first of its kind in Fr Muller Hospital. The age group of the patients treated was between 21 to 80 years. The team also met students and exchanged the views about the latest technology in cardiac care. As part of the mission, medical equipment worth $ 70,000 was donated to the hospital by Medtronics, a medical equipment company in the United States, dealing in medical devices for the various parts of bodies i.e. pace makers, defibrillators, cardiac catheters, stents, diabetics pumps, spinal stimulators, pain pumps etc.
The mission assumes importance as there are increasing cases of cardiac disorders especially in the young. The problem is further compounded due to high cost of medical intervention, prohibiting people to under go treatment. Expressing gratitude over the mission Fr. Patrick Rodrigues said “furthering such mission would help poor patients who cannot afford cardiac care and noble efforts of dynamic Dr Marian Kamath and Dr Vinod Jayam are commendable, in getting the project to Mangalore which was otherwise destined to be held in Bangalore.” Thanking the benefits of the mission.