Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases in India, recently a decline in the number of cases in Mumbai followed by Delhi with a fall in mortality rate has been observed. However, the chain of spread is not broken, which seems to bring severity in other cities too as COVID is all set to stay in India.

But how to live with the COVID conundrum as some people are getting sick and others are not; understanding the relationship between comorbidities and COVID 19; some countries are more affected than others – the reasons behind it; were some of the pressing issues addressed during the HEAL-Thy Samvaad organised on 2^nd July 2020.

While deliberating on how to live with COVID-19, Dr KK Aggarwal, Padma Shri & renowned interventional cardiologist said,“COVID-19 is not going away soon as India is a densely populated country. Although, there is a decline in the number of cases of Mumbai & Delhi, yet other cities may be on spurt as we can’t siege it. It may stay for 2 years or more, but we needn’t fear. So, we need to understand and learn how to live with it. For this, we need to be cautious, wear mask compulsorily, and maintain social distancing; avoid gathering in close spaces as the exposure will be less in open space.”

Doctors are at higher risk:

On the frontlines of this COVID-19 pandemic are healthcare workers with the substantial task of diagnosing and treating an exponentially growing number of acutely ill patients, often having to make critical decisions under physical and psychological pressure. Hence, they (doctors) are at high risk holding the highest mortality rate due to their repeated exposure to the virus.

Adding to this Dr KK Aggarwal said, “Obviously, doctors are at higher risk because of their repeated exposure to the virus, while the absence of isolation rooms in India is also one of the causes. To ease the burden upon the hospitals and to save the doctors, home quarantine is the solution. As more than 80% of COVID-19 cases have mild symptoms, so it can be managed at home with the help of telemedicine — this way, we will save the doctors. We can also try this at the community level rather than visiting the hospitals. We can fix a house for COVID-19, and put all positive patients of the community there with masking. Hence, home isolation seems to be the solution. More so, telemedicine and home isolation are the gifts of COVID-19 to the medical fraternity.”

Deliberating on why some people are getting sick and some are not, Dr JC Suri, Chairman, JCS Institute of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine says, “Of the people getting infected with COVID-19 and falling sick, 80% are with mild symptoms, 15% with severity to be admitted to the hospitals and 5% with extreme conditions to be admitted in ICUs. When the virus enters our body, it is dealt with body resistance. This resistance is of two types — the innate immunity and the acquired immunity. If one’s innate immunity is strong, one can fight back the virus, if not, it will move towards severity. There are so many factors that impact innate immunity — sleep is one of them, a sound sleep of 7-8hour works as a natural immune booster. If young are falling sick, there is a genetic factor. There are demographic factors also as we have seen the high mortality rate in Spain, Germany and the USA.”

 HEAL-Thy Samvaad — a fortnightly series of dialogues on the stemming health issues in our society organised its 2^nd episode on 2^nd July 2020 by the ‘healthcare advocacy’ group — HEAL Foundation in association with ICCIDD and with the support of the Consortium of Public Health Impact Partners (CPHIP).  For details visit: www.healfoundation.in

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Delhi: HCFI organizes a health camp. The Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI), a leading national NGO, organized this health camp at the HCFI MeraClinik – a Dr Vijay Aggarwal Initiative in Kotla Mubarakpur.

It was organized in memory HCFI trustees of Shri Q R Aggarwal and Dr (Col) K L Chopra.Health camp was organized for raising awareness on the importance of preventive screening and healthy lifestyle in winter. Over 100 patients were screened for blood pressure, blood sugar, ECG, and other vital parameters.

This camp is part of HCFI’s regular initiative towards ensuring access to preventive healthcare and raising awareness on the importance of timely health screening. It was organized in memory of HCFI Founding Trustees – Shri Q R Aggarwal and Dr (Col) K L Chopra.

Over five medical practitioners were present at the camp along with Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI and Confederation of the Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania (CMAAO). Apart from the health check-ups, people were also made aware of the need for preventive care in winters to avert heart-related complications. Hands-only CPR 10 training was provided to all the attendees for revival after sudden cardiac arrest. Dr.Prachi Garg, Director Medical Affairs, HCFI also participated.

About HCFI: Heart Foundation of India was Founded in 1986 as a National Charitable Trust with the basic objective of creating awareness about all aspects of health for people from all walks of life incorporating low cost infotainment modeules under one roof. HCFI is the only NGO in the country on whose community based health awareness events, Government of India has released two commemorative national stamps ( Rs one in 1991 on run for the heart and Rs 6.50 in 1993 on heart care festival- first perfect health mela). Government of Rajasthan also released one Cancellation stamp ( February 2012 during first mega health camp at Ajmer)]

Besides, the foundation has many firsts to the society. Key among these are: First ever public conference on Heart Care in Delhi in 1988, First World conference on Cardiology and workshop on Color Doppler Echocardiography in India in 1987 (Inaugurated by Late President Giani Zail Singh), First-ever Run for Your Heart in India in December 1991 (Flagged of by then Honorable Prime Minister of India Sh P. V. Narsimah Rao), First ever Walkathon on HIV-AIDS 18th in November 1994 and first ever Perfect Health Parade and Dil Ka Darbar etc.

Contact:Head Office,E-219, Greater Kailash I,New Delhi – 110048

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