MANGALURU : As the Sabarimala pilgrimage season approaches, Mangaluru-based Cardiology at Doorstep (CAD) Foundation has donated two ECG machines to the ‘Devotee Doctors of Sabarimala,’ a volunteer group of Kerala-based doctors who provide medical services to pilgrims. This donation brings the foundation’s total to 1,000 ECG machines given to healthcare facilities across India since 2018, according to Dr. Padmanabh Kamath, senior interventional cardiologist and founder of the CAD Foundation.

The ECG machines will be used to screen pilgrims at high-traffic points on the pilgrimage route, including the government health center in Pampa and the Sannidhanam site. The machines are scheduled to be operational by November 11 to help reduce risks, as cardiac issues are a common concern on the steep trek. During last season’s pilgrimage, a significant number of fatalities, primarily due to cardiac and respiratory issues, were recorded along this route.

Dr. Kamath highlighted that the foundation’s mission is to save lives by equipping health centers and volunteer doctors with resources for early cardiac intervention. CAD Foundation has also previously provided ECG machines to various healthcare facilities, including Jan Aushadi Kendras, health and wellness centers, and community health centers. Dr. Kamath, who is also a professor and Head of KMC, Mangaluru, offers cardiac case guidance via a WhatsApp helpline to doctors and medical students in rural and semi-urban areas.