R. Ranchandra Vishwanath Wardekar (October 27, 1913-1996) was an Indian doctor and founder of Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation.[1] He received the Padma Shri award in 1973.[2] He is considered "the father of leprosy control" in India.[3]
R.Ranchandra Vishwanath Wardekar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 27, 1913. |
| Died | 1996 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Grant Medical College, Mumbai, 1940 |
| Occupation | Doctor |
Wardekar received his medical degree from Grant Medical College in Mumbai in 1940.[1] He worked in private practice, but gave it up to work with Mahatma Gandhi.[1] Wardekar became responsible for the hospital at Sevagram and the health of the people in the surrounding villages.[1] When Gandhi died, a trust was set up for leprosy relief and the Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation (GMLF) was founded.[1] Wardekar became the Director in 1952.[1] Wardekar treated leprosy as a public health problem instead of merely working to institutionalize patients which was the current method.[1] He created a system of health education, case detection and "domiciliary treatment" in 13 centers throughout India.[1] His methods became accepted practice throughout India and the World Health Organization, with whom he briefly consulted, also began using his approach.[1]
Wadekar retired in 1973 and devoted the remainder of his life to studying scripture.[1] He received the International Gandhi Award for his work in 1990.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Internacional Journal of Leprosy and other Mycobacterial Diseases- OBITUARY- R. V. Wardekar 1913-1996". ILSL. 1996-08-01. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
- ^ "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2014)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). 21 May 2014. pp. 37–72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ Barua, Ananya (1914-12-26). "Sushila Nayar, Gandhi's Doctor Who Spent Her Life Giving Medical Care to the Poor - Articles : On and By Gandhi". MAHATMA GANDHI ONE SPOT COMPLETE INFORMATION WEBSITE. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
- ^ "日本財団図書館（電子図書館） FOR THE ELIMINATION OF LEPROSY NO.26 （WHO SPECIAL AMBASSADOR'S NEWSLETTER）". 日本財団 図書館 (in Japanese). 2004-02-19. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
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