April 5th 2018

Making the cardiac care accessible throughout Nepal has been one of the principal objectives of the Jayanti Memorial Trust. In this context, Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre (MCVTC) and Jayanti Memorial Trust (JMT) in association with Karnali Academy and Health Science (KAHS) have jointly conducted a cardiac camp in Jumla. Jumla, hidden away in the foothills of the Sisne Himalaya, the remote area of Midwestern area of Nepal with the altitude of 2730m lies on the bank of Tila River, 953.8 km away from Kathmandu.

In Nepal, the capital city has the best health facilities, but standards at the clinics and hospitals decline the further you get from the capital. Thus, in mountainous areas, like Jumla the health facilities and the care are far from desirable. The cardiac care is generally inaccessible to the locals of Jumla. Henceforth, aiming in making the proper cardiac care accessible and addressing the health issues at its best, we jointly held the free cardiac health camp in the Jumla by a team led by Prof. Dr. Bhagwan Koirala.

In total, two senior cardiac surgeons, two cardiologists, two medical officers, one nursing supervisor, two nurses, two technicians and four project supervisors headed for the camp. The two days camp was conducted within the premises of Karnali Academy and Health Sciences.

The findings of the camps conducted on 5^th and 6^th of April were:

1. Total number of patients screened for any cardiac ailments were 1255.
2. 60% of total patients constituted female population of 761 and remaining 494 were male population
3. 30 patients were identified with cardiac problem.
4. 108 patients were found to be hypertensive in the age bracket of 26 years and above, out of which 59% of male were diagnosed with hypertension.
5. 15 patients were found for their secondary test, among which 4 were (SP) MVR +TV Repair cases, 1 with DVR closure and the other one with PDA ligation, and remaining with (SP) ASD and VSD closure cases.
6. 908 patients were found with other ailments, such as, children below 18 with pediatric cases, elderly above 20 with gastritis, urology, ENT, orthopedic, thoracic, COPD, and bronchitis. 
7. Only 13% of the total patients accounted for an elderly above 60 years. Similarly, in terms of life expectancy, the research shows, Karnali’s five districts have an average value of 63.64 years compared to the national average of 68.80, and through this cardiac camp we were able to discern the same.
8. 16 patients were referred for their tertiary treatment in Kathmandu out of which 3 patients are already taken care of.

Diagnostic tests done: 

1. 701 patients underwent ECG test
2. 205 patients underwent ECHO test

Medicines provided: 

1. 838 patients were provided medicines for free of cost.
2. The medicines provided were – Cardiac and Non-cardiac medicines.

Summary: 

Overall, we consider the camp was highly successful. This made the cardiac screening and care accessible to the locals of Jumla, at their door-steps. Many patients with financial support and thus in need for further support were offered special schemes of health subsidies, thereby, reducing the financial burden. We believe through this camp, we were also able to make the locals of Jumla aware of the health subsidies provided by the government and the trust as well. Lastly, the camp was followed by Continuing Medical Education where three topics were presented and discussed.

Acknowledgement: 

On this note, we would like to sincerely extend our gratitude to Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular & Transplant Centre, Karnali Academy & Health Sciences and Quest Pharmaceuticals for the support. Also, we would like to thank The University of Colorado and Thoracic S. F for the financial support provided to conduct this camp. The camp would not have been a success without a combined effort of technical support from MCVTC, local arrangements from KAHS and distribution of the medicines for free of cost for hundreds of patients by the Quest Pharmaceuticals.