By Minaz Mawani, epidemiologist and senior instructor of research at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan
EVERY hour, approximately 46 individuals die because of cardiovascular disease in Pakistan. About half of these deaths are due to sudden and unexpected cardiac events, leading to cessation of cardiac activity. This is also known as cardiac arrest.
The current structure of pre-hospital care services in Pakistan is unable to deal with this burden, effectively leading to a poor survival rate. Few ambulances are equipped with trained personnel and equipment to provide timely life-support interventions.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency life-saving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. The conventional version includes chest compressions and
mouth-to-mouth breathing. However, recent focus is on compression-only or hands-only CPR recommended by the American Heart Association for laypersons who see someone suddenly collapse in an out-of-hospital setting.
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Minaz Mawani, epidemiologist and senior instructor of research at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan is a highly determined public health professional with over 7 years of experience in health care. Graduated with a Masters in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Aga Khan University with research fellowship from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Ismailimail 