On 20th of January 2008, Mumbai will participate in Asia’s Largest Marathon - Mumbai Marathon 2008. Celebrities, corporate executives, students, social workers and others running will come together and run for a cause.

On this occasion Asian Heart Institute (AHI), India’s leading Cardiac Care Hospital has partnered with the event organizer and chief sponsor, Standard Chartered Bank, to provide medical emergency support to the participants.  

Under this medical partnership with the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, Asian Heart institute would be setting up 2 Base camps – one at the start and finish line. These camps will be equipped with 40 & 20 beds, IVs, defibrillators, ECG machine, Doctors (Cardiologists / Intensivists / Cardiac Surgeons), Nurses, Paramedical staff.  

In addition, 10 Medical Aid Stations will be installed along the way of Marathon to provide Emergency First Aid. These stations will be manned by Physiotherapists and other support staff. Also 10 Ambulances each with a doctor and nurse from AHI will be situated at various locations between the medical stations, trailing between them whenever required.  

Dr. Ramakanta Panda, Vice Chairman and Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgeon, Asian Heart Institute said, "It is a common myth amongst most cardiac patients that exertion through regular exercise and sport is harmful for their heart. We at Asian Heart feel that routine exercise is of prime importance and these fitness sessions undertaken for the cardiac patients of the marathon are undertaken under the critical observation by our expert team of doctors and will help them successfully compete in the marathon.”

Dr. Aashish Contractor, Head of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Asian Heart Institute, said, “We take great pride in announcing that a 51 year old AHI patient who had undergone CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) in Feb.’07 would be running HALF MARATHON (21 KMS).

He also added that 70-80 AHI patients who have undergone a cardiac procedure in the past, would be taking part in the Dream Run (6 kms). The hospital is providing outdoor training to all the patients with a gradual increase in distance from 5 km to 7 km. With appropriate medical supervision patients could safely participate in endurance events even after a bypass surgery.”

As a warm up to the marathon, an expo is being organized from the 16th-19th January’08 at World Trade Centre. AHI would be conducting Free BP, Random Blood Check & Physiotherapy consultation for all the participants visiting the stall.

Sourced From : Imprimis Life PR Pvt Ltd