When those who keep society informed are equipped to better understand and protect their own health, the message of prevention travels much furtherRecognising the media’s pivotal role as the fourth pillar of democracy and its influence in shaping public awareness, Manipal Hospitals, Kolkata launched its month-long ‘Healthy Heart Bengal’ campaign with a dedicated heart-health initiative for journalists and media professionals at the Press Club, KolkataThe programme brought together CPR training, comprehensive heart-health screening, technology-enabled health assessment and an interactive session with leading cardiologists, marking the beginning of Manipal Hospitals’ month-long observance of World Heart Day.
The initiative commenced with a CPR training session conducted by DrIndranil Das, Senior Consultant and HOD – Accident and Emergency Care, Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass, and DrSujoy Das Thakur, Consultant and In-Charge – Emergency Medicine, Manipal Hospital, MukundapurThe session focused on recognising cardiac emergencies, initiating CPR promptly and understanding the importance of immediate intervention until professional medical assistance becomes available.
Speaking on the importance of CPR preparedness, DrIndranil Das said, “In a cardiac emergency, the first few minutes can make a critical differenceCPR is an essential emergency-response skill that can help maintain circulation until advanced medical care is availableTraining members of the media community is especially meaningful because they engage with and influence diverse sections of societyBy empowering journalists with the confidence to respond during an emergency, we can also create a wider network of CPR-aware citizens.”
DrSujoy Das Thakur added, “CPR is a simple skill, but its effectiveness depends greatly on how quickly it is initiatedCardiac emergencies can happen anywhere, and awareness about recognising the signs and responding appropriately should extend beyond healthcare professionalsThrough this training, we hope to encourage more members of the community to learn CPR and become better prepared to respond when every second counts.”
The CPR session was followed by a comprehensive Heart Health Screening for media professionals, with all tests conducted through the Manipal Hospitals Tele Health KioskThe technology-enabled kiosk assessed 22 health parameters, including blood pressure, SpO2, pulse, body temperature, BMI, body composition and blood glucose, along with ECG, Lipid Profile, HbA1c and Haemoglobin testing, and provided smart health reports within approximately 15 minutesThe screening was complemented by medical consultation and enabled participants to access Manipal Hospitals’ specialists, prescriptions, doorstep medicine delivery and home-care services, supporting a seamless continuum of care beyond the initial assessment.
The health screening was also followed by an interactive Heart Health Session, where Manipal Hospitals Kolkata’s cardiologists discussed preventive cardiac care, cardiovascular risk factors, heart health among younger individuals and the need for greater community-level awareness.
Speaking about the launch of ‘Healthy Heart Bengal’, DrP K Hazra, Director and Head of Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria, said, “World Heart Day comes at a time when Bengal is preparing for one of its biggest celebrations, Durga PujaSince Puja falls in October this year, we at Manipal Hospitals Kolkata have decided to dedicate the entire month of September as ‘Heart Month’ under our Healthy Heart Bengal campaignWe are beginning this journey with the media because you are the fourth pillar of democracy and play a powerful role in creating awareness and influencing positive health behaviourFrom the Teachers’ Heart Summit to the Healthy Heart Pujo Team initiative, which will engage communities across nearly 75 Puja associations, the endeavour is to take heart-health awareness beyond hospital settings and into neighbourhoods across BengalThe larger vision is to create a healthier, more informed and heart-conscious Puja ecosystem, making cardiovascular health a shared community priority.”
Highlighting the activities planned for the media community, DrDilip Kumar, Director, Department of Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass, said, “This programme brings together three essential pillars of cardiac care, awareness, preventive screening and emergency preparedness, giving journalists an opportunity to prioritise their own health through comprehensive heart-health checks, CPR training and direct interaction with cardiologistsJournalists work under demanding schedules and often tend to overlook their own health, which makes initiatives like this particularly importantThrough Healthy Heart Bengal, our aim is to take preventive heart care beyond the hospital and make it more accessible and relevant to different communitiesThe Manipal Health Kiosk further supports this vision by enabling quick, technology-driven health assessments and smart reports, while timely consultation and continuity of care ensure that screening leads to informed and actionable health decisions.”
Speaking about the Healthy Heart Neighbourhood initiative and the planned Teachers’ Heart Summit under the ‘Healthy Heart Bengal’ campaign, DrSoumya Patra, Senior Consultant – Cardiology and Director – Cath Lab, Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur, said, “Heart health must become a community conversation, and prevention works best when it reaches people where they live, work and learnThrough Healthy Heart Neighbourhood, we aim to engage around 75 neighbourhood communities around Manipal Hospitals with activities such as heart-health camps, exercise and diet sessions, health assessments and awareness programmesThe Teachers’ Heart Summit will extend this conversation to the teaching community and students through CPR training, healthy-heart sessions and discussions around exercise, diet and cardiovascular riskOur aim is to build communities that are better informed and better prepared to protect their heart health.”
Addressing the increasing concern around heart attacks among younger individuals, DrArijit Ghosh, HOD – Interventional Cardiology Manipal Hospital Broadway, aid, “Heart attacks are no longer a concern that can be associated only with older age groupsWe are increasingly seeing younger individuals presenting with cardiovascular risk factors and, in some cases, acute cardiac eventsStress, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, unhealthy dietary habits, diabetes, high cholesterol and inadequate physical activity can all contribute to cardiovascular riskYoung people should therefore not ignore warning symptoms or assume that age alone protects them from heart diseaseKnowing your risk factors, undergoing timely health checks and adopting healthier lifestyle choices can make a significant difference.”
Adding a cultural and community dimension to the campaign, DrShibsankar Sarkar, Consultant – Department of Cardiology, Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, said, “Durga Puja is an integral part of Bengal’s identity and is made possible by a vast ecosystem of people, from Kumartolis and dhakis to pandal builders and the lighting teams of ChandannagarThrough our Healthy Heart Pujo Team initiative, we want to bring heart-health awareness to this community while also recognising those who contribute to making Bengal’s Puja celebrations specialThe initiative will combine CPR and healthy-heart sessions with felicitation, reinforcing the message that those who create Bengal’s celebrations should also have the opportunity to prioritise their own health.”
Through Healthy Heart Bengal, Manipal Hospitals Kolkata aims to take the message of cardiovascular prevention beyond the hospital and into workplaces, neighbourhoods, educational institutions, the media community and the wider Puja ecosystemBeginning with the media, the campaign seeks to build a stronger culture of heart-health awareness, prevention, timely intervention and emergency preparedness across Bengal.
