Dr Rani Bang and Dr Abhay Bang, Founders, Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, exemplify idealism inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. They completed their medical education in India with four gold medals. This was followed by public health education in the US where they earned top rankings.
Drs Bang live and work in Gadchiroli, a community of 150 villages, to provide health care to the tribals. Their village health care program has influenced health policy, nationally and globally. They first brought to the notice of the world that rural women had a large burden of gynecological diseases. They showed how pneumonia in children can be managed in villages, and more recently, how newborn care can be delivered in villages. Their research has been published in the Lancet.
The innovative approach adopted by Drs Bang, of empowering villages to take care of their own health has reduced the infant mortality rate in their work area from 121 to 30. Their model has been replicated by NGOs and the Indian Council of Medical Research in five states.
Dr Rani Bang and Dr Abhay Bang have risen above themselves to completely focus on others. With tremendous courage and strength of conviction. Together. Selflessly. A best practice.
We salute Dr Rani Bang and Dr Abhay Bang, Qimpro Platinum Standard 2007. A role model for Quality in Health Care.