Bhatkal: Registrations for the Indian Nawayath Forum's (INF) free two-day comprehensive cardiac health check-up camp, titled "One Heart – One Life", have closed after all 1,050 slots were filled ahead of the event scheduled for July 18 and 19, organisers said on Tuesday.
The camp, to be held at M.M. Siddique Hall on Bunder Road, 3rd Cross, Bhatkal, is being organised by the umbrella body of Bhatkal Muslim Jamaats functioning across different Indian states and cities. It is aimed at promoting preventive cardiac care through early detection, timely intervention and greater public awareness about heart disease.
Addressing a press conference, INF General Secretary Adil Nagarmat said the overwhelming public response reflected growing concern over the increasing incidence of heart disease and sudden cardiac deaths, particularly among young adults.
He said the INF had been studying the issue for nearly one-and-a-half years to better understand the rising number of sudden cardiac fatalities among seemingly healthy young people. The initiative, he said, is intended to encourage timely screening and early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.
"This initiative is purely a public service and not intended to promote any hospital or medical practitioner. We want people, especially the youth, to undergo timely screening and seek expert medical advice without hesitation," he said.
The camp will bring together leading cardiologists from Karnataka and Kerala, supported by a medical team of around 30 to 35 healthcare professionals.
The specialist cardiac consultations on July 19 will be conducted by Dr Ali Faizal, Founder of MyHart Centre for Cardiac Care, Kozhikode, and a senior interventional cardiologist with over 25 years of experience; Dr Yusuf Kumble, Managing Director and Senior Interventional Cardiologist at Indiana Hospital & Heart Institute, Mangaluru; and Dr Salman Salahuddin, Senior Interventional Cardiologist at Aster MIMS, Kozhikode, along with their experienced cardiac care teams.
Initial medical evaluation and screening on July 18 will be carried out by senior physicians, including Dr Adithya Bharadwaj, Dr Latha of Indiana Hospital and Dr Sirajuddin of MyHart, Kozhikode. Based on their clinical assessment, medical history and investigation findings, only participants requiring specialised cardiac evaluation will be referred to the cardiologists on the following day.
Camp Convener and INF Secretary Syed Ghufran Lanka said registration, which opened on July 8, was completed before July 14, far exceeding the organisers' initial expectation of 400 to 500 participants. Preliminary data showed that 141 of the 1,050 registered participants have pre-existing heart disease and will be examined directly by the cardiologists on July 19, while the remaining participants will first undergo physician-led screening.
He said nearly 90 per cent of the mandatory pre-camp blood test screenings at the designated laboratories in Bhatkal had already been completed. Participants who are yet to undergo the tests have been asked to complete them before 7 p.m. on July 16 at either Welfare Laboratory, Welfare Hospital, or Medilab Diagnostic, Bhatkal. Blood test reports will be made available only at the camp and reviewed by the attending physicians during consultation.
Lanka expressed confidence that nearly 90 per cent of participants would not be found to have serious heart disease after the initial screening, underscoring the importance of preventive health assessment and early intervention.
Organisers have requested registered participants to report to the venue at least 20 minutes before the token time communicated to them digitally, park their vehicles only in the designated parking areas, maintain discipline throughout the programme, and wait patiently for their turn to facilitate the smooth conduct of the camp.
INF executive committee member Tanveer Motia was also present at the press conference.
Note: The press release has a blank after "Dr. Sirajuddin of MyHart, Kozhikode, and ____" indicating another physician's name is missing. I have intentionally omitted that incomplete reference rather than guessing, which is the appropriate approach for publication.