Gandhiji and Gadchiroli Are My Only Universities ---Dr. Abhay Bang

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.