Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, proudly announced that the Health Department’s ambitious “Hridayapoorvam” campaign, focusing on Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) awareness and training, is set to become another groundbreaking health initiative from the state.
During the campaign’s launch on Monday, Mr. Vijayan emphasized the critical importance of this widespread CPR training. He highlighted that with proper instruction, anyone could gain the ability to act as a life-saver during an emergency.
He noted that many instances of sudden cardiac arrest and tragic deaths could potentially be averted through timely resuscitation. Kerala has initiated this vital CPR training program to ensure that no life is lost simply due to the absence of immediate and adequate first aid.
Expressing concern over the rising prevalence of cardiac ailments in the state, the Chief Minister stressed that alongside promoting lifestyle changes and disease prevention, it is equally crucial to empower the public with fundamental life-saving skills.
The campaign aims to equip young people and frontline workers with the ability to recognize sudden cardiac arrest and administer CPR effectively. Training sessions are currently underway at 200 locations throughout Kerala. The government plans to extend this essential training to school students, government employees, and residents of rural communities in subsequent phases.
Health Minister Veena George echoed these sentiments, recalling recent distressing reports of individuals collapsing and dying suddenly. She explained that the Health Department launched “Hridayapoorvam” after fully recognizing the immense potential of immediate CPR to save lives in such critical moments.
Ms. George shared a significant statistic: the mortality rate for patients arriving at hospitals after cardiac arrest, which was previously around 30%, has now been dramatically reduced to under 6%. She affirmed that by empowering the general public with CPR skills, even more lives can be saved and improved.
The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Speaker A.N. Shamseer and saw the participation of various dignitaries, including Ministers, MLAs, officials from the Health and Legislative Assembly, and leaders from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA).