Doctors check a patient at a free health camp on Sunday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Sept. 28: World Heart Day was observed in the city with various events and awareness camps, with Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) having more reasons to celebrate the occasion than most.

M.M. Deka, the principal-cum-chief superintendent of GMCH, said the hospital successfully completed the second phase of free coronary artery bypass surgeries on Saturday and eight patients were successfully operated upon.

“For a public hospital like GMCH, it is a big achievement. Patients who underwent the bypass surgery are responding well to post-operative medication. The GMCH has so far conducted 13 bypass surgeries free of cost. The GMCH wants to spread the message of hope to hundreds of heart patients who cannot afford to go to private hospitals for treatment,” Deka said.

The North East chapter of the Cardiology Society of India organised a daylong function at Ambari to sensitise the public on the causes and prevention of cardiological ailments. A free health camp was also organised. The GNRC Hospitals also organised vawareness camps, on the occasion.

Bhabananda Das, eminent cardio-surgeon and chief of the cardio-thoracic vascular surgery unit of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, addressed a news conference at GNRC Hospitals and said the number of heart patients is increasing because of the changing lifestyle. He said the need of the hour is prevention rather than cure.