Kerala Guv to Unveil Jubilee of Malayala Manorama’s Hridayapoorvam
Malayala Manorama’s Hridayapoorvam Image credit The Raisina Hills
Hridayapoorvam Cardiac Healthcare Initiative Covered 2,500 Heart Surgeries
By Raisina Correspondent
Kottayam, January 12: Hridayapoorvam, a landmark cardiac healthcare initiative of the media house Malayala Manorama, is marking its silver jubilee on January 13, Monday.
The initiative, which began in 1999 in association with Madras Medical Mission, has so far covered 2,500 heart surgeries, all performed free of cost on patients who cannot afford expensive surgeries.
Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar will inaugurate the silver jubilee celebrations of Hridayapoorvam at the Mammen Mappillai Hall in Kottayam, at 3:30 pm on Monday. Tessy Thomas, India’s missile woman and Vice Chancellor of Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, will preside over the function.
Madras Medical Mission Chairman and cardiology department head, Dr Ajith Mullassery, will unveil the ‘Hridayapoorvam@25’ postal cover. Doctors of the Madras Medical Mission, who spearheaded the Hridayapoorvam medical camps, will also be honoured by Governor Rajendra Arlekar.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George will inaugurate a panel discussion on cardiac healthcare at 10.30 am on Monday. Para-medical staff of the Madras Medical Mission will be honoured by Malayala Manorama Chief Resident Editor Harsha Mathew.
A mass run to spread awareness about cardiac healthcare in connection with the World Cardiac Day was held in connection with the event in all 14 districts of Kerala on January 12.
Hridayapoorvam, which means with heart, an initiative for conducting surgeries on poor patients, who are diagnosed with heart conditions that require surgery, was launched in 1999 by India’s leading newspaper group Malayala Manorama with a Rs 25 lakh aid.
Madras Medical Mission agreed to conduct the surgery for 20 more patients. Malayala Manorama Chief Editor Mammen Mathew reflected on Hridayapoorvam, stating, “What began as a modest initiative in 1999 has now expanded to include 82 free cardiac screening camps and 2,500 free heart surgeries. My father, who named it Hridayapoorvam, was deeply committed to ensuring that the programme’s benefits reached those most in need.”
He also said that “the sense of fulfilment we feel as we celebrate its silver jubilee reinforces our responsibility to expand its scope further”. “The smiles of countless children who have been cured through these surgeries inspire and motivate us to continue this journey with confidence,” added Mathew.
Since the first camp on October 22 in 1999 in Kollam where surgeries were performed on 30 patients, the initiative has travelled a long distance, providing succour to thousands. Till date, 82 heart surgery camps have been held, where 2500 surgeries have been performed, 1500 of them on children at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, but at no cost to the patients.
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