Dr Rani Bang undergoes spine surgery at Gadchiroli’s SEARCH hospital

NAGPUR: When public health pioneer Dr Abhay Bang's wife Dr Rani (65) had to be operated for a spine problem, she insisted it be conducted at the couple’s NGO Society of Education, Action and Reasearch in Community Health (SEARCH) in Gadchiroli itself. “If I can treat and operate the tribals here, why should I go elsewhere for my treatment,” was her logic.Renowned Mumbai-based spine surgeon Dr Shekhar Bhojraj and his wife Shilpa came to Gadchiroli and performed the surgery on August 27.
Dr Rani had a spine-related disease and was potentially facing paralysis. She required immediate surgery but refused to get got to bigger hospitals at Mumbai or Nagpur. Post-surgery, when TOI talked to Dr Abhay on Monday, he said, “It was a successful surgery, Rani is out of anaesthesia. Today she came down the bed and stood up on her feet, performed a few exercises. She will be recovering gradually.”
“Rani had a lumber disc prolapse and had been experiencing consistent back pain. Along with age, a lot of factors contributed to it, one of which is the body posture. Being a doctor, she has been spending long hours at the hospital OPD, sitting while leaning forward,” Dr Abhay stated.
If she had not been treated on time, there was a strong possibility of she suffering from paralysis, he added.
The Bang couple, through their Gadchiroli-based organization SEARCH, have devoted their life to tribal health. Twenty five years ago, they built Maa Danteshwari hospital within the organization campus with 50 workers in place. Spinal surgeries started there 10 years ago and over time, about 100 such surgeries have been performed till date. “Spinal problems are very common in Gadchiroli. Various studies have also been done where we found a large proportion of men and women suffering from back pain for the same reason,” Dr Abhay said.
Like any other hospital in a metro city, we have been performing the surgeries very efficiently here. “Rani wanted to give the message that if she could undergo treatment here, there is no reason for anyone else to hesitate,” he said.
Dr Bhojraj couple has been visiting Gadchiroli twice a year since last 10 years to perform spine surgeries at the hospital as part of their social commitment. Recently, Dr Bhojraj has formed a team of 6 to 10 surgeons. Dr Abhay said, “It is because of Shekhar that such surgeries could be performed here. He has wanted to do something for the society beyond his regular practice.”