Heart screenings for children made mandatory in Karnataka schools: Health Minister
Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday announced that the government will soon classify certain ailments responsible for sudden deaths as ‘notifiable diseases’, while also introducing mandatory heart screenings for children below the age of 15 at the school level.
Speaking to the media at Vidhana Soudha after receiving a report from a committee headed by Dr. Ravindranath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, the minister said the new initiatives aim to detect heart conditions in children early and prevent fatalities.
“As part of this initiative, heart check-ups will be made compulsory for students under 15. This will help identify cardiac conditions at an early stage and provide timely medical intervention,” Rao said.
To spread awareness about heart attacks and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), related content will be included in school textbooks from the next academic year, the minister added. Until then, awareness will be raised through moral education lessons.
Highlighting the increasing number of sudden deaths occurring outside hospitals, Rao said post-mortem examinations will be made compulsory in such cases to determine the exact cause of death. He also announced that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) will be installed in public spaces like railway stations and bus terminals to provide immediate response in cardiac emergencies.
The state also plans to implement mandatory annual health check-ups for government employees and contractual workers, the minister said. Similar requirements will be extended to employees of private companies, he added.
“All recommendations made by the expert committee will be discussed with the Chief Minister before taking final decisions,” Rao stated.
Expansion of 'Puneeth Rajkumar Vijayajyoti' Scheme
In another major announcement, the minister confirmed that the Puneeth Rajkumar Vijayajyoti Scheme, which is currently operational in 86 hospitals across the state, will be extended to include taluk-level hospitals. The scheme aims to support timely diagnosis and treatment of critical illnesses.
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Worker’s body reaches Ranchi from Saudi 4 months after death; family rejects over compensation
Ranchi (PTI): The body of a migrant worker from Jharkhand’s Giridih district killed in Saudi Arabia in October last year has arrived at Ranchi Airport, but his family refused to accept it over pending compensation, officials said.
Shikha Lakra, team leader of the state migrant control cell, told PTI that, before taking the body of Vijay Kumar Mahato, the family is demanding compensation from the private company where he used to work in the Arab country.
Mahato was killed in an alleged crossfire between the police and criminals.
“Since it was a bullet injury case, the matter is before a court in Jeddah. The final compensation may depend on the court’s decision,” Lakra said.
“The Indian Embassy informed us about the body’s arrival, and coordination was done with district authorities. Our role is limited to coordination in cases involving overseas employers and foreign jurisdiction,” she added.
Giridih Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav said the authorities will try to convince the family to perform the last rites.
“We have already sanctioned Rs 5 lakh under the government scheme for migrant’s deaths abroad. The compensation payment might take some time,” he said.
The body is currently at the mortuary of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.
The Family members said they will only accept it if the company provides written assurance regarding compensation. “Without that assurance, we will not receive the body,” said Ram Prasad Mahato, the deceased’s brother-in-law.
Mahato, a native of Dudhpaniya village in Madh Gopali panchayat under Dumri block, was employed as a tower line fitter. His family said he was struck by a bullet during a gunfight between local police and an extortion gang and later succumbed to his injuries.
Social activist Sikander Ali said Mahato is survived by his wife, two young sons aged five and three, and elderly parents.
