Cardiac OPD ClinicAfter a search lasting a few years, we had finally found a facility to associate with. JMJ Hospital in Alto Porvorim, Bardez, Goa shared our vision, and was compatible with GAHF, and our mission. We successfully established a Cardiac Outpatient Diagnostic Clinic to provide affordable cardiac care. This was made possible by a large donation from Dr. Daniel Neville Mascarenhas, interventional cardiologist, and due to the successful fundraising efforts of GAHF Inc. and the generous donations from Goans and well-wishers. The clinic was formally inaugurated on May 12, 2009.
We were housed in two rooms provided by the Archdiocese of Goa and the sisters of JMJ Hospital. We remain very grateful to the Archdiocese of Goa and the JMJ nuns for supporting us in our venture. The Archdiocese planned to complete the long awaited demolition of the old clergy home, and construct a new building for the retired priests on site. We needed to vacate the premises, so that the demolition of the old building, and construction of the new clergy home could proceed. Dr. Mascarenhas, and Cesar and Mimi Menezes of the Menezes Polyclinic at Altinho, Panaji, met and as a result, Cesar Menezes offered rooms at the Polyclinic that we could use for relocation of the clinic from JMJ Hospital. Through the kind gesture of Cesar and Mimi Menezes, we now have a new home for our GAHFT clinic. It is a perfect fit for us, and one that will be mutually beneficial for both the GAHFT clinic and the Menezes Polyclinic. The Cardiac Clinic is a facility with state-of-the-art equipment. It provides stress testing, echocardiography, and necessary basic testing facilities for non-invasive cardiac diagnosis. GAHFT has launched a program to educate people of all ages about vulnerability to heart disease and the need for preventive care such as the importance of diet and a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Ana Karina Jacques M.D., a certified cardiologist, provides a cardiac consultant role and Ms. Julia Monteiro is responsible for managing the clinic. The next step in our evolution was the perceived need to have a state of the art ICU for the admission, monitoring and stabilization of unstable cardiac patients. After a very successful campaign to solicit donations, we purchased state-of-the-art equipment and updated the ICU at the CMM Polyclinic. We did try to optimize utilization of the ICU by collaborating with the Menezes Polyclinic but unfortunately, the ICU was grossly underutilized. Discussions with the nuns of JMJ (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) Hospital located in Alto Porvorim, Bardez, Goa lead us to transfer the ICU equipment to JMJ Hospital, where we foresee a much better utilization. JMJ Hospital now has a new one bed ICU. The ICU was inaugurated on October 2, 2020 and has been named in honor of Dr. Joao Manuel Pacheco De Figueiredo who was the First Dean of the Goa Medical College. His family made a substantial donation to GAHFT. Pictures of JMJ Hospital and its ICU and Menezes Hospital
The donor recognition board fabricated in early 2015 is currently installed on the wall of the GAHFT clinic at the Menezes Polyclinic. The board displays the names of donors that have donated $3,000 (Rs.150,000) and above – with varying amounts placed in four categories. In some cases, the donors have chosen to memorialize their loved ones. All donors are welcome to visit the cardiac clinic. In order to facilitate the visit, please contact Ms. Julia Monteiro at the clinic at 832-242-2893. We are very grateful for the generous donations that have made this project possible. Cardiologist Dr. Neville Mascarenhas and endocrinologist Dr. Maria Gomes (Shawnee Mission Medical Center) from the U.S.A. continue to see patients at the clinic when they are in Goa. Due to Indian Government regulations relating to taxes on unspent foreign remittances, we had to spend some of the money we transferred from GAHF Inc. to GAHFT or pay a substantial amount in taxes. As such, in lieu of just replacing the old Echocardiography machine we decided to replace it with a modern 6 probe echocardiography machine. This machine is state-of-the-art and the first of its kind in Goa. 4 probes will be used by cardiologists and the other 2 probes by radiologists. Aside from our GAHFT cardiologist, we currently have a radiologist using the new unit which helps in increasing our revenue. Other cardiologists and radiologists can use our machine at the appropriate cost. The old 4 probe echocardiography machine has been transferred to the Menezes Hospital in Margao, Salcette, Goa where its deployment will add to GAHFT revenue. Please see picture above in the rotating mode. We now have the presence of GAHFT in 3 locations - Menezes Polyclinic, JMJ Hospital and Menezes Hospital.
The Cardiac Clinic is something that we can point to with pride and a deep sense of fulfillment. Our reward is the healthy lives of the people this Clinic serves. Since the opening of the clinic in mid-April 2009 until February 2024 the following are the patient statistics:
Pictures of medical camps held by the GAHFT clinic
Video Testimonials from patients
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
