With scores of Ayyappa pilgrims falling prey to heart attacks during the arduous trek to the Sabarimala shrine, the state government has sent out an appeal to “devoted” cardiologists across South India to offer free medical service to the pilgrims. As per official statistics, at least 50 Ayyappa devotees with heart ailments suffer cardiac arrest during their pilgrimage to Sabarimala every year.
Though the state government had set up two cardiology clinics and 13 oxygen parlours along the Pampa-Sannidhanam route to the temple in the last season, they were not of much use because of the lack of enough cardiologists willing to render service. It was in this background that the health department decided to explore the option of engaging cardiologists who are devotees of the Lord.
The Kerala Medical Services Corporation and Travancore Devaswom Board will join hands together for providing transportation and accommodation to the cardiologists who will volunteer their services.
“Since a large number of devotees from neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh trek to Sabarimala temple, a mix of doctors from all these states would help to ensure easy communication,” feels KMSC managing director Biju Prabhakar.
“We started the mission by approaching the Andhra government and received an exciting response from them,” he added. “Narayana Hridayalaya has expressed willingness to depute two cardiologists who are Ayyappa devotees to Sabarimala.”
Health minister, Adoor Prakash, department officials and Narayana Hridayalaya CEO Dr Anilkumar Mulpur held talks regarding the proposal in Sabarimala on Saturday.