Chest pain, but a lifeline found in the village itself

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A heart attack is often associated with rushing to the city, searching for a major hospital, and racing against time. However, a solution is now emerging to overcome this chain of challenges. Through the ‘STEMI Project’, diagnosis at the village level, immediate referral, and rapid treatment have become possible. As a result, 239 patients received timely treatment and their lives were saved over the past year.

The ‘STEMI Project’ is being implemented under the NCD (Non-Communicable Diseases) programme. The main objective of the project is to reduce sudden deaths caused by heart diseases.

During the financial year 2025–26, a total of 37,354 patients were screened under this programme in the district. Out of these, 239 cases of STEMI were identified. With the help of this initiative, the health department has successfully saved the lives of patients diagnosed with serious heart conditions.

The programme is being implemented under the guidance of civil surgeon Dr Kamalakar Mudkhedkar and district health officer Dr Abhay Dhanorkar. It is executed through the district NCD cell led by district public health manager Dr Javed Qureshi and his team. District programme manager (NHM) Dr Vinayak Munde, NCD assistant Vijay Ingle, along with Yogesh Matsagar and Pawan Ahire, are contributing to its implementation.

What is the ‘STEMI Project’?

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a severe type of heart attack in which a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart becomes completely blocked. As a result, the heart muscles do not receive oxygen, and if treatment is delayed, it can cause permanent damage.

Under this programme, free ECG screenings are being conducted for people above 30 years of age at all primary health centres, rural hospitals, sub-district hospitals, and district hospitals. Patients diagnosed with heart disease are also provided free further treatment at designated hospitals.