THEGOAN NETWORK
MARGAO: Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai on Thursday dashed off a letterto Health Minister Vishwajit Rane with a plea to including preventive heartcheck-up in the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) scheme.
In his letter, Sardesai said the inclusionof preventive heart checkups under the DDSY scheme would allow all Goemkars togo and conduct a checkup without any financial burden.
“In the midst of the pandemic, havingearly detection of heart diseases would allow us as a state to be prepared andprioritize our most vulnerable citizens to the infections. Further, it wouldalso help us as a state identify our priority citizens and frontline staff tobe scheduled in the first phase of the vaccine rollout. Early detection ofheart diseases can help save many Goan lives”, he said.
Saying that the state as well as the peoplelook forward in hope towards a successful vaccine rollout, the Goa ForwardChief wished the Health Minister the best to ensure all Goans have free andeasy access to the vaccines.
“However, as we continue to mitigateagainst the challenges of Covid and our daily rise of infections due to relaxedprotocols and rules within the state “ I would like urge you to includepreventive heart checkup in DDSSY scheme”, he added.
He pointed out that part of thepreventive heart checkup in DDSSY scheme should and must include examinationsby physician and cardiologists, ECG checks, stress test, along with 2D ECHO andstrain ECHO.
“While in Fatorda, we are taking theinitiative to ensure Goans have free access to a heart check up by simplycalling a helpline “ we urge to government to take up this issue with theupmost priority so that all Goans across the state can have access to a free preventiveheart checkup”, he said.
Sardesai added: “We have lost 750 of ourbeloved people to Covid. Let us ensure we see no more deaths by being proactiveand allowing our citizens to have access to health checkups. We must give ourpeople the opportunity to learn and know about any hidden diseases they are notaware of.”
He, however, said that the Goa ForwardParty will provide free access to the public within the best of its capacityand ability to ensure all Goans can live a safe, and healthy life if thegovernment does not consider the proposal.
