March,
23: Mahatma Gandhi and Gadchiroli are the only Universities where I
learnt to serve the Humanity, expressed Padma Shri Dr. Abhay Bang during his
interaction at Maharashtra Information Centre, here today.
In a function held recently at
Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dr Abhay Bang and his life
partner, Dr. Rani Bang was bestowed with the prestigious Padma Shri Award.
After receiving this
award, the office of Maharashtra Information Centre had organized an
interaction session withDr. Bang and the media. Deputy Director, Dayanand
Kamble presented a shawl, Shriphal and a bouquet to him.
Dr.
Bang on Child Mortality Rate and Pneumonia
While sharing his varied experiences, Dr. Bang underlined many
health related issues, the local inhabitants faced at Gadchiroli, which made
them stick to the decision of not leaving the District and improving their
health by finding the root cause of health issues. Highlighting some issues,
the Doctor informed about the Child Mortality Rate and neonatal care. Since
Gadchiroli is a Naxalite and an Adivasi district, factors like absence of required
education, medical facilities, ignorance and illiteracy only contributed to the
maladies further. However, with sincere efforts, sheer dedication, patience
combined with Gandhian philosophies and medical experience, the duo dedicatedly
worked incessantly in curbing the health issues. He informed that, infant mortality emerged as one of the most
pressing problems. In 1988, 121 newborn babies were dying out of every 1,000
births in the area, which has now reduced to 30 per thousand births, informed
Bang. He trained a group of local women in the basics of neonatal care.
Dr. Abhay Bang and his life partner, Dr. Rani Bang are the
pioneers in bring to the notice of the world about the gyanecological issues
faced by rural women. Their extensive research on Child Mortality and
pneumonia, being major factors leading to child mortality, has severely brought
the mortality rate down. Answering to media, he
said the death rate here
among children who developed pneumonia was 13%, which has considerably reduced with
Dr Bang's intervention and has come down to 0.8%. Dr Bang has spent the last 30 years training up local volunteers
in Gadchiroli, one of the most deprived districts in the Indian state of
Maharashtra, to treat simple maladies at home.
Gadchiroli, a liquor –free
District
Answering on rape cases, he cited liquor and tobacco to be
the reasons for it. At the same time, he
did not forget to acknowledge his wife, Dr. Rani Bang’s struggle in making Gadchiroli
a liquor-free District, and have launched a district program called
'Muktipath'to reduce tobacco and alcohol. He was all praises for his wife not
forgetting to mention that, had she not been there around, it would have been
impossible to bring out success in all his endeavors.
Dr. Bang pursued his
Masters in Public Health from John Hopkins Institute, USA. After completion,
however, he was determined to go back to his Alma Mater, Gadchiroli. For,this
district had given him recognition, identity and had laid grounds for which the
couple stands today. He said, Gadchiroli
has given me enough recognition, which otherwise might not have been possible
for him, if he had been in any of the Metro Cities. He further added that, one should go where one
finds problems and not where there are facilities, because then we would not
grow fully.
Praises
Maharashtra and GoI on Appreciating and Implementing their Research work
On answering about
Maharashtra Bhushan Award, a thorough and a grounded gentleman, Dr. Bang said Maharashtra
government gave us a lot of love and support. Even the Indian government
appreciated us. For the first time in history, a couple is receiving an award.
Rani and I have equally contributed. Underlining the severity of health issues, he
said the government should pay attention in the tribal areas from the health
point of view. He also appreciated the GoI honouring the health related
questions raised by the couple and he also informed that an Action Plan has
been submitted to the PMO underlining the discrepancies implementing ASHA
Campaign under National Health Mission.
He further informed that under ASHA, a total of 8 lakh ASHAs have been
trained and are executing their duties effectively.
His selfless service
to the rural inhabitants can be simply measured by the commendable results they
have brought in through their extensive research. Moved by the need to improve
health of the rural people, he and his wife Dr. Rani Bang, have founded the
voluntary organisation, SEARCH, (Society for Education, Action and Research in
community Health) 32 years ago and have developed a village health care program
which has now become a nationally and internationally famous model'
Recalling his childhood memories, Dr. Bang reminisced
walking past a rural village at the age of 13 with his brother and seeing that
the inhabitants didn't have enough food and were sick. His elder brother, Ashok
Bang and Abhay Bang discussed about future, where in Ashok said 'he would
improve agriculture since he was older,' and Dr Bang said, he would improve the
villagers’ health.
The
interaction was very inspirational leaving everyone spell bound.
