CEO Insights Hall of Fame: 9 Unsung Heroes Who Reinvented Healthcare in India
The Duo Who Broke the Stigma Around Cultural Divide in Healthcare
After graduating from the prestigious Johns Hopkins, Dr. Abhay and Dr.Rani Bang saw a plethora of profitable prospects thirty-nine years ago. Yet they chose to contribute their career to the tapestry of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra by introducing healthcare concepts that served as an example all over the world. Despite having the option to practice medicine anywhere in the country and even beyond the borders, the pair chose to operate in one of India's poorest regions, the rural and tribal belt of Gadchiroli. They changed how India addresses high infant mortality and reproductive health in rural areas by founding the Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH).
They Lent their Knowledge to Health Professionals
Dr. Rani was exposed to long-standing cultural divides in health. Therefore, to diagnose and treat the medical illnesses, she and Dr. Abhay trained rural health professionals.
From extensive studies in women's health to providing rural parts of the country with access to healthcare, making active contributions to the community there, helped the duo create ‘Arogya Swaraj’. Their groundbreaking studies on women's health, rural and tribal communities, and healthcare strategies like treating children's pneumonia, caring for newborns at home, and reducing alcohol and tobacco use were recognized both domestically and internationally.
For nearly 40 years, the Bang couple lived and worked with tribal people. They started SEARCH, a voluntary organization, in the tribal district of Gadchiroli.
The Government Also Adopted their Initiatives
They established Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC), a novel strategy. The village's Arogyadoot, or trained local women, provided the mother, newborn, and child with home-based care. In 39 villages, the initiative vigorously brought down the child mortality rate. The Indian government later adopted and implemented this HBNC model as the ASHA program, which now employs 10 lakh primary healthcare providers in all Indian states.
Raised Awareness of Substance Abuse
Today, the SEARCH's Maa Danteshwari Hospital for Tribals remains a safe haven of excellent healthcare at the "Shodhagram" campus, situated in the Gadchiroli jungle and where the pair has been providing services. To raise awareness and mobilize the village community to enact a ban on alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, SEARCH launched the Muktipath program in partnership with the state government and the residents of Gadchiroli. A national Expert Committee on Tribal Health, chaired by Dr. Abhay Bang, was established by the Indian government and has created a health care roadmap for the country's 11 crore tribal residents.
Their family Continues the Journey
Their daughter-in-law, Dr. Arati, and two sons, Drs. Anand and Amrut have joined their mission in Gadchiroli, carrying on the illustrious family heritage. In addition to four honorary doctorates, Drs. Abhay and Rani Bang have earned almost 80 honors and awards, including the Padmashree from the Indian President, Maharashtra Bhushan, Global Health Heroes, and TIME magazine.