Srinagar, Dec 31: Keeping in view the increasing number of senior citizens presenting with heart-related ailments during the winter months, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies on Ageing (CISA), Moul Mouj Foundation, in association with Ummeed Foundation, has launched a flagship project titled SENIORS’ Heart Care.
The initiative aims to provide free, non-invasive cardiac investigations to financially marginalised, neglected and dependent ageing parents. Services under the programme will be delivered at the Moul Mouj Health Centre, Kashmir Clinics Central, Karanagar, ensuring accessible and timely cardiac evaluation for seniors who are unable to bear the rising cost of diagnostic procedures.
Renowned senior cardiologist Prof. Dr. Khurshid Aslam Khan is serving as Advisor to the programme, providing expert clinical guidance and strategic direction to the initiative.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Zubair Saleem, Senior Geriatric Consultant associated with the programme, stated that the heart is invariably involved in a majority of elderly patients as a complication of long-standing hypertension, diabetes and other chronic conditions. He noted that winter further aggravates cardiovascular stress in seniors, leading to a visible surge in heart-related complaints.
“Over the past few winters, we have witnessed a steady rise in elderly patients presenting with cardiac symptoms. A significant number of them were unable to undergo essential investigations due to financial constraints,” Dr. Saleem said. “This initiative is a response to that unmet need, an effort to ensure that no senior is denied basic cardiac assessment because of cost.”
The SENIORS Heart Care project reflects Moul Mouj Foundation’s and Ummeed Foundation’s continued commitment to preventive, dignified and accessible healthcare for the ageing population, particularly those who remain invisible until illness becomes severe.
The organisers emphasised that the initiative is not merely a medical service but a social responsibility, rising to the occasion to protect the hearts that have carried families and communities for decades.