PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant led the people of Goa in condoling the death Goa’s top cardiologist Dr Manjunath Desai who headed the GMC’s cardiology department.
Sawant who is out of station took to micro-blogging site Twitter to pay tributes to Desai.
“Saddened to learn about demise of eminent Cardiologist Dr Manjunath Desai of Goa Medical College & Hospital. His medical skills saved lives of thousands of patients. My deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti,” Sawant tweeted on Sunday morning.
A seemingly stunned Health Minister posted three successive tweets reacting to the news of Desai’s passing away.
“Deeply saddened & shocked to hear about the demise of Dr Manjunath Desai. It is not only a loss to Goa Medical College & Hospital, it is a personal loss to me. He was an exceptional and wonderful person inside-out who has touched so many lives & saved many precious lives,” the Health Minister said in a tweet.
A follow up tweet by the Health Minister said: “We will miss Dr Manjunath! From the bottom of my heart, I offer my sincere condolences to the family of Dr Manjunath. I pray that the Almighty gives them strength to bear this great loss.”
In yet another follow-up tweet, the Health Minister said: “I just cannot get over this. No words to express or console the family. I still cannot believe Dr Manjunath is not between us. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Om shanti!”
Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat said Goa has lost an angel in Dr Desai. In a tweet he said: “Goa has lost an Angel today! Shocked by the passing away of one of the most respected, kind hearted young Cardiologist of Goa. Thank you Dr Manjunath Dessai for saving so many lives. He will remain in our hearts forever. My condolences to his family, friends & patients.
According to a colleague Dr Jaganath Kolwalkar, Dr Desai deserves the lion share of the credit for the setting up and swift evolution of the Cardiology department at the Goa Medical College and Hospital.
“He conducted the first angiography ever done at the GMC and was responsible for adding several pieces of infrastructure, instruments and machines to make the department what it is today,” Dr Kolwalkar said.
Across social media platforms the news of Dr Desai’s passing away kept circulating as soon as it broke with scores of doctors, politicians and people from a cross section of society posting tributes and condolences.
Dr Shekhar Salkar urged the State government to consider naming the Cardiology department/ ward/ cathlab after Dr Dessai in recognition of his role in setting it up.
Among others who paid tributes to Dr Desai included Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate, Tribal affairs minister, Govind Gaude, Union minister Shripad Naik, Minister Milind Naik, legislators, State chiefs of all political parties and scores of prominent doctors from across the State.
