‘Docs must care for own health too’

NAGPUR: Despite being seen as role models by their patients, doctors do not present a picture of perfect health. This must be changed with the medical fraternity taking better care of their own health, believe doctors.
This was discussed during the installation ceremony of the new body of Association of Physicians of India (API), Vidarbha chapter. Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar was chief guest while renowned social activist Dr Abhay Bang was guest of honour.
Happy that a doctor from his hometown of Chandrapur was taking over the association, Mungantiwar told the new president of API, Vidarbha Dr Ashok Wasalwar to focus on the health of the common man. “Doctors should work towards prevention of diseases and helping in detection of diseases in early stages through camps,” he advised the newly ordained officials of API, Vidarbha.
Dr Bang shared with the doctors a study underway at his research institution SEARCH, Gadchiroli about the ills of alcohol and tobacco consumption among the rural population. “The rural economy suffers badly due to the addictions and illnesses caused by these products. Doctors must help in eradication of these addictions in every way possible. They must also themselves not indulge in them. Unfortunately, though, most doctors are addicted to at least one of the two,” he said.
In his presidential oration, Dr Wasalwar talked about an incident when he felt uneasiness and ascribed it to acidity which turned out to be cardiac trouble. “This made me ask myself, ‘Doctor, are you really healthy?’. Then I came across studies that suggested I was not the only one with this problem. High stress level, long working hours and not being physically active lead to high prevalence of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, alcohol consumption and several diseases among Indian medicos,” he said.
The newly installed secretary of the association Dr Shankar Kobragade agreed that doctors needed to be more careful of taking care of their own health as well as they take care of that of others.
NEW TEAM OF API, VIDARBHA
President: Dr Ashok Wasalwar, secretary: Dr Shankar Khobragade, immediate past president: Dr RB Kalamkar, vice presidents: Dr Anil Modak and Dr. Prafull Kadu, treasurer: Dr Sudhir Chafle, joint secretaries: Dr Nikhil Balankhe and Dr Jayesh Timane.
Executive committee Members: Dr Amol Meshram, Dr Ashwini Tayade, Dr Avinash Pophali, Dr CS Gillurkar, Dr DS Ookalkar, Dr DS Wasnik, Dr Govind Vyas, Dr MR Ganeriwal, Dr Mahesh Fulwani, Dr Mukesh Mishra, Dr Pravin Nitnavare, Dr Pravin Shingade, Dr SD Suryawanshi, Dr SD Zawar, Dr SP Sengupta, Dr SV Mukewar, Dr Sanjay Jain, Dr Sanjay Ramteke, Dr Suresh Gaikwad, Dr Smruti Ramteke, Dr Suhas Kanfade, Dr Sunil Ambulkar, Dr Sunil Gupta and Dr Vivek Bhalerao.