The Ladakh Heart Foundation is a non-profit, non-political organisation which was formed and registered under the J&K Government Registration and Societies Act on the 20th February 1997. Ladakh is one of the largest districts in the Indian Himalayas, lying at an altitude of 3/3500m. The high altitude, extremely cold environment and difficult living conditions result in a high incidence of congenital and acquired heart disease, as well as causing a high prevalence of respiratory problems. Since it was established three years ago the Foundation and all those involved have worked hard to help the people of Ladakh in teaching them more bout the risks of heart disease, and in raising money to improve Ladakh’s facilities for the treatment of such conditions.

The Aims and Objectives:

The goal of this project is to teach local health workers to recognise the symptoms of heart disease. It is also to train them in the early diagnosis, treatment and appropriate referral of heart patients.

We also plan to educate and empower the local community about health issues, concerned with heart disease and diabetes. This includes implementing campaigns and consoling people to increase their awareness of issues such as the correlation between sore throats and Rheumatic fever, about the importance of controlling hypertension, decreasing sodium and fat intake.

• With the support and advice of medical experts, to provide health education and the necessary interventionist facilities for primary prevention of Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF).
• To provide facilities for medical experts to conduct well-planned surveys to identify infants and children suffering from congenital heart disease, very prevalent in the higher regions of Ladakh, and give such sufferers all possible help.
• To enable the provision of secondary prophylaxis for those already suffering from rheumatic heart disease and to render all possible help in organizing surgical treatment in tertiary referral centers.
• To establish an efficient emergency service, with two mobile ambulance units. One to be provided with the latest resuscitation and First-aid equipment, the other to be equipped with portable X-ray and ultrasound machines, ECG and equipment for minor emergency surgery so that medical experts can serve the remote villages of Ladakh.
• To give health education in the prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and Acute Gastro-enteritis, the two childhood killer diseases.
• To provide medical care and support for sick children and their parents, with particular emphasis on heart problems. To offer such care to all children, regardless and religion, caste or financial status.
• To offer advice and support to heart patients whose condition is inoperable.
• To conduct research into heart problems that are specific to children born at high altitude, with the aim of reducing the incidence of such problems.

For further information Contact:

Ven’ble Thupstan Chosgyal
Agling Dambuchen
P.O. Box 150
Leh, Pin. 194101
Ladakh
India
Tel.: (91) 01982 253291, (91) 01982 255888
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web Site: www.ladakhheart.com

Non Governmental Organisations

1. Leh Nutrition Project (LNP)
2. The Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG)
3. Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL)
4. Child Welfare Society of Ladakh
5. LTO
6. Rural Development and you (RDY)
7. Ladakh Environment and Health Organisation (LEHO)
8. Ladakh Heart Foundation
9. Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC)
10. Save the Children
11. Women Alliance of Ladakh (WAL)
12. WWF-India
13. Snow Leopard Conservancy
14. Druk White Lotus School
15. Ladakh Nuns Association,

16.  SKARCHEN

17. Yuthog