Remote Village Woman Overcomes Odds to Survive Heart Attack

A heartwarming story of resilience and life-saving intervention unfolded in Bogase, a remote hilly village in Chikkamagaluru district. A woman in her late 60s, living alone, suffered a heart attack on Saturday. With no healthcare access and poor mobile connectivity, she endured severe chest pain and walked several kilometers to find a network signal to contact her children in Bankal, 45-50 km away.

After reaching an area with mobile coverage, she alerted her family, who rushed her to the nearest hospital. There, her ECG was transmitted via the Cardiology at Doorsteps (CAD) Foundation’s satellite ECG network. The system detected a heart attack and issued a critical alert, prompting her referral to Mangaluru for advanced care.

By the time she arrived late at night, she was in physical distress and facing financial challenges. Dr. Padmanabha Kamath, cardiologist at KMC Hospital, Mangaluru, and founder of the CAD campaign, performed an emergency angioplasty under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, relieving her financial burden.

Dr. Kamath expressed, “Beyond performing the procedure, the real fulfillment came from helping someone from such a remote community. Her courage and determination were truly inspiring.” Reflecting on his decade-long journey with CAD, he added, “This initiative has deepened my understanding of ECGs and heightened my empathy for underserved communities.”

This incident underscores the importance of accessible healthcare networks and the indomitable spirit of those in remote regions.

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