A BLACKBURN-based charity has donated a specialist cardiac machine to a hospital in India.

Last May, Al-Imdaad Foundation UK launched an appeal to raise money for the heart machine in a hospital in the Gujarat state of India, providing medical assistance to thousands of people in surrounding villages and cities, including rural poor areas.

The current machine was more than ten years old with limited facilities to diagnose heart-related symptoms.

The charity launched used online appeals, radio adverts and door-to-door marketing.

The response was overwhelming, as donations came in from all over the UK.

The charity Muslim Aid Australia also chipped in, and a total amount of £20,000 was raised to buy heart machine.

The new machine provides optimum resolution scanning and performance, and can take vivid colour images in 2D, 3D and 4D to assist heart patients and is the first of its kind in the state of Gujarat. The machine will now help doctors to diagnose better results for patients having heart problems.

Last month a team from Al-Imdaad Foundation UK flew out to India to deliver the heart machine to Alipore Hospital.

International projects co-ordinator Zubair Valimulla said “This is a remarkable achievement for Al-Imdaad Foundation UK.

“Again we have delivered as we promised and this heart machine will support between 100 and 125 patients each month enabling medical professionals to diagnose patients with high quality images in detail.

“We would like to thank all who took part in this fantastic appeal.”

Blackburn with Darwen Mayor Salim Mulla said: “I’m really pleased. I have supported this hospital for a long time, and I know this machine will be very valuable to the people there.

“I’m really happy that this Blackburn charity is doing such great work.”

To view the delivery and reaction from the hospital visit www.alimdaad.co.uk