Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, June 29: To strengthen their campaign to aware the common populace about the ill effects of cardiovascular diseases, Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu in collaboration with management of Gurudwara Sant Bhai Bahadur Singh Ji held a day long cardiac awareness cum health checkup camp at Dharamsal Khari Poonch.
The camp was inaugurated by SSP Poonch Shafket Hussain, Dr Sushil Sharma along with ADC Tahir Mustafa, Harcharan Singh, Hardev Singh, Sunil Sharma (president Bar Association Poonch ) , Naresh Chander Raj (Ex Councillor MC), Mohinder Singh (Ex Councillor MC) and others prominent members of the area. The camp offered free medical consultations, distribution of essential medicines, and on-site diagnostic evaluations, aiming to detect and manage conditions early, especially among underserved populations.
While interacting with the people, Dr Sushil stated that cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of mortality globally, and India is no exception. “While urban India has witnessed significant advancements in cardiac care, rural India lags dangerously behind. In 2025, despite the existence of several healthcare policies, cardiovascular health in rural regions remains a pressing concern .With over 65% of India’s population living in rural areas, the burden of CVD is disproportionately high in these regions. As per the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2024 report, cardiovascular diseases account for nearly 28% of total deaths in rural India. This alarming statistic is driven by a lack of timely diagnosis, poor access to trained specialists, and inadequate follow-up care. We need to work together to bridge the cardiovascular care gap in rural India and improve health outcomes for millons of people,” Dr Sharma said.
Other who were part of this camp include Dr Parvez Ahmed Khan (CMO Poonch), Dr Anil Mahajan, Dr DP Gupta, Dr Anitipal Singh, Dr Rahul Sudan, Dr Jaspreet Singh Raina, Dr Harpreet Singh and Dr kamaljyot Singh. Paramedics and volunteers include Randhir Singh (Shanty) Rajkumar, Shubham Sharma, Maninder Singh, Paramveer Singh, Rajinder Singh, Vikas kumar, Sumit Sharma, Nirvair Singh Bali, Sukhjyot Singh, Nirjyot Singh and numerous volunteers of the Gurudwara.
