~ Drishti Marine demonstrated innovative rescue responses to WHO and Ministry delegates.

~ For faster treatment, establish integrated burn and trauma facilities closer to residential areas, suggests WHO's Dr Yutaro Setoya.

Panaji, February 2024- Goa’s Drishti Marine showcased its innovative beach safety initiatives and use of technology in lifesaving processes, as part of the ‘Strengthening National Programme for Prevention and Management of Trauma and Burn Injuries: Way Forward’ organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) held in North Goa.

The programme focused on management practices for trauma and burn injuries in India and was held at Candolim, on February 26 and 27.

Drishti Marine’s Chief Executive Officer, Navin Awasthi, gave a detailed presentation about the organisation’s operations across 38 beaches in Goa, following which the delegates visited Sinquerim beach for a demonstration of the organisation’s efficacy in responding to emergencies and preventing and treating injuries. The visiting delegates also witnessed a live demonstration of the lifesavers’ prowess at rescuing individuals in the water with the help of critical lifesaving equipment, including a rescue tube, a rescue board and a jet ski.

“The live demonstration of Drishti Marine’s rescue initiatives like the artificial intelligence (AI) bots AURUS, a self-driving robot and TRITON, the AI-powered monitoring system, to assist with drowning rescue operations, and the Paw Squad, our team of Lifesaver dogs, were extremely well received by the delegates,” stated Awasthi.

“Interacting with the lifesavers from Drishti Marine and viewing the live demonstration of the three methods employed to rescue a drowning individual was a great experience. Most importantly, the zeal, enthusiasm and prompt response to help others is what I greatly appreciated about the lifesavers,” said Dr Krishan Kumar, CMO (SAG), DGHS, MoHFW, Government of India, one of the key stakeholders at the meet.

A collaborative effort between MoHFW and WHO, the National Consultation Meeting for Strengthening Trauma and Burn Care, was held as part of the programme aimed to showcase the best practices and discuss the challenges involved in implementing trauma and burn care programmes in different states and union territories in the country.

“Concerning challenges related to the management of trauma and burn injuries in India, there is a need for a more comprehensive prevention network. India boasts excellent but few facilities, hence, there need to be more facilities nearer to residential spaces that are integrated with the health system to provide support at the primary levels,” said Dr Yutaro Setoya, team lead, non-communicable diseases (NCD), WHO India.

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