Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis, the father of Oral Rehydration Solution commonly known as ORS, passes away in Kolkata on October 16, 2022. At the age of 87, Mahalanabis bid goodbye to everyone as he dies of lung infection and other old age diseases.
|
Name |
Dilip Mahalanabis |
|
Born |
November 12, 1934, Kolkata |
|
Nationality |
Indian |
|
Educational Achievements |
MBBS, DCH, MRCP |
|
Famous for |
Development of ORS |
|
Awards |
Pollin Prize (2002) Prince Mahidol Award (2006) |
|
Death |
October 16, 2022, Kolkata |
This unknown creator of the world’s most widely used drug is
the receiver of Pollin Prize and Prince Mahidol Award for the year 2002 and 2006
respectively. His educational qualification is mesmerizing. He has a MBBS &
DCH (Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy) along with MRCP (Membership of the Royal
Colleges of Physician).
 |
| Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis [Photo Courtesy: google/JournalsofIndia] |
One of his major contributions to the field of medicine was preparation of ORS, that too when India was facing the Cholera endemic. “Under pressure are diamonds made” this proverb has proved itself time and time again, Dr. Mahalanabis was working in a refugee camp during the Bangladesh Liberation War and with this endemic running through the country there was a shortage of saline.
The two major problems faced by him was, first, the shortage of saline and second, the lack of people who knew how to inject IV fluids. Mahalanabis had only two members in team and to overcome this problem, he did what any other Indian would have done, used “jugaad” (makeshift solution) and thus gave birth to ORS.
He had hit the
headlines in 1971 for his amazing work and development of ORS, while working as
a paediatrician in the refugee camp in Bangaon, West Bengal.
Director of Institute of Child Health, Dr. Apurba Ghosh,
expressed his grief at his death and said that the pioneer in the
cost-effective treatment of cholera will always be remembered.
His constant efforts to treat cholera easily without having
to use intravenous fluid infusion were brought to life as ORT is now a
household name and instead of going through the economically draining and
complicated process all required is a sachet.
His efforts and contribution to the world is one of the most
important medical discoveries in the 20th century and he will always
be remembered.
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