What does it take to really change lives in a few of India’s most uncared for areas? For Dr Naperla Praveen, the reply lies in a persistent dedication to healthcare, environmental conservation, and a deep-seated legacy of service that started lengthy earlier than he donned his medical coat.
At 35, this physician from Punganur, a small city in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, is just not solely outlined by his medical experience however by a relentless dedication to enhancing the lives of the underserved. His journey challenges us to rethink what it really means to serve society.
Rising up, Dr Praveen was deeply influenced by the tireless dedication of his father, Dr Anand Rao, a retired authorities physician and gynaecologist, who had at all times believed that healthcare must be a proper, not a privilege. In 1994, Dr Anand Rao and his spouse, Smt Sowbhagyavathi Garu based the Rural Well being Instructional Society, an NGO with a mission to supply free healthcare companies to the agricultural communities.
“I used to be only a boy once I noticed my father go to distant villages, the place nobody else would go, to deal with sufferers without spending a dime,” Dr Praveen tells The Higher India. “His dedication was past phrases. He by no means anticipated something in return, and that made a deep influence on me.” His mom, Smt Sowbhagyavathi Garu, additionally performed a pivotal function in nurturing this imaginative and prescient, encouraging him to broaden their household’s efforts for social welfare.
Impressed by his father’s work, Dr Praveen selected the medical career, however not with the intent of settling into a standard follow. As a substitute, he was drawn to the thought of mixing drugs with social service. As he accomplished his MBBS in China, he knew that his final mission lay in rural India, within the very communities his dad and mom had served for many years.
Nurturing nature, nurturing well being
After finishing his research, Dr Praveen returned to India, the place his reference to the NGO grew deeper. At the same time as a younger medical scholar, he had volunteered in well being camps organised by the Rural Well being Instructional Society, and he rapidly grew to become an integral a part of the NGO.
Dr Praveen’s involvement with the NGO wasn’t nearly offering remedy, he was decided to deal with the basis causes of well being issues that plagued rural communities. Anaemia, for instance, grew to become one among his major considerations, particularly after a private tragedy. “Whereas I used to be in faculty, a good friend’s mom handed away attributable to anaemia,” he shares, his voice trembling just a little. “That second modified my life. I knew I needed to do one thing to stop this silent killer.”
He led a number of campaigns to lift consciousness about anaemia, particularly amongst pregnant girls and younger ladies. By way of Rural Well being Instructional Society, he began distributing iron tablets, conducting blood exams, and educating about hygiene, steadily decreasing maternal deaths and enhancing the well being of hundreds within the area.
Whereas his work in rural healthcare was flourishing, one other calling beckoned Dr Praveen, one which got here from his mom, Smt Sowbhagyavathi Garu. Having at all times believed that well being is intrinsically linked to the surroundings, she inspired her son to broaden his imaginative and prescient to city areas, the place air pollution and environmental degradation had been turning into urgent points.
In 2008, pushed by his mom’s ardour for environmental conservation, Dr Praveen established the Bhagyanand Botanical Society within the city panorama. The organisation focuses on environmental consciousness, sustainable practices, and the conservation of nature. “My mom at all times taught me that good well being begins with clear air, timber, and wholesome environment. We can’t separate well being from the surroundings,” he recollects.
By way of Bhagyanand Botanical Society, Dr Praveen has championed a number of initiatives. His crew has planted over 50,000 saplings, organised air pollution consciousness campaigns, and advocated for eco-friendly practices like the usage of electrical automobiles. The NGO additionally runs group programmes that train city dwellers about sustainability, clear power, and inexperienced areas.
Tackling roadblocks and reaching success
Dr Praveen’s work has taken him throughout the agricultural and tribal areas of Chittoor, Kurnool, and Nellore, the place healthcare infrastructure is both rudimentary or non-existent. The shortage of sources has by no means deterred him, as a substitute, it has spurred him to innovate. “We’ve got to be resourceful,” he says. “In these villages, we could not have fancy gear, however we’ve got our palms, our information, and the willingness to assist.”
In rural communities, Dr Praveen treats a variety of illnesses, from easy infections to complicated continual ailments. He additionally leads public well being initiatives to enhance general well being outcomes. His work in anaemia prevention, specifically, has saved numerous lives. One affected person, Sarojama (40), from Battamdoddi village, recollects, “I used to be scuffling with my well being for over a 12 months. Nobody knew what was flawed. Dr Praveen visited our village as soon as and recognized me with anaemia. I adopted his remedy, and inside just a few weeks, I started to recuperate. My haemoglobin degree was initially round eight, however because of his care, it has now risen to 10.5.”
Whereas the 35-year-old physician has touched many lives, the street hasn’t been with out its obstacles. Essentially the most important problem, particularly in tribal areas, has been the shortage of infrastructure, language obstacles, and cultural variations. “Typically, it’s tough to speak. Different occasions, individuals don’t belief us as a result of they’re used to conventional practices. However we break via these obstacles with endurance, respect, and by displaying outcomes,” he shares.
Initially, the best problem within the tribal villages was reaching the individuals. “Regularly, I began constructing connections with native leaders, village presidents, and officers. I satisfied them to help our consciousness campaigns of their communities. We introduced collectively teenage ladies and pregnant girls to coach them about anaemia, utilizing photographs and movies to assist them higher perceive the problem. We made the campaigns as partaking and relatable as doable,” shares the physician.
“We additionally targeted on hygiene. By way of movies made by our NGO, we taught individuals the significance of washing palms and staying clear. It was all about making well being training accessible and fascinating, and we efficiently carried out these programmes,” Dr Praveen explains.
Recognition and future targets
Dr Praveen’s bond along with his sufferers is private and profound. Certainly one of his most memorable experiences got here when he helped Vijay, a younger man from Laddigam village, whose father had been affected by tuberculosis for over a 12 months. “We had no thought find out how to deal with him,” Vijay explains. “Dr Praveen got here to our village, recognized him, and began the remedy. Now, my father is wholesome and dwelling a traditional life.”
For the physician, these success tales are the gas that drives him. “The work we do is about extra than simply treating ailments. It’s about creating an surroundings the place individuals can thrive. A wholesome physique wants a wholesome surroundings.”
Dr Praveen’s dedication to healthcare and social welfare has not gone unnoticed. In 2016, he was awarded the Ambedkar Nationwide Award in New Delhi for his contributions to rural well being. Extra not too long ago, in 2024, he acquired an appreciation letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his work in well being and environmental conservation.
“We have to give attention to early detection of ailments like cervical and breast most cancers. Ladies in rural areas usually don’t have entry to such screenings, and that’s the place I need to make a distinction,” the physician provides.
Imaginative and prescient for change
Past his medical work and NGO, Dr Praveen can be an achieved author. His books, significantly Maha Swathathryam, have made an influence within the literary world, with lots of his works specializing in environmental points. “I believe that writing permits me to achieve a wider viewers and encourage change on a bigger scale,” he says.
“I consider within the energy of small steps,” he says, reflecting on his journey. “Whether or not it’s treating a affected person, planting a tree, or writing a ebook, I do know that these small actions, collectively, can create a greater world.” Regardless of working on a shoestring funds, largely funded by private financial savings, Dr Praveen’s imaginative and prescient for Rural Well being Instructional Society and Bhagyanand Botanical Society continues to develop. The problem of securing exterior funding has been one of many ongoing struggles, however his fixed perception within the trigger retains him going.
As Dr Praveen appears forward, the street could also be difficult, however his resolve is stronger than ever. And for these whose lives he touches, his legacy of service will proceed to encourage for generations to come back.
Assist Dr Naperla Praveen’s mission to enhance rural well being by donating to the Rural Well being Instructional Society:
Identify: Rural Well being Instructional Society
Financial institution: State Financial institution of India
Account No: 40078561627
Department: PUNGANURU
IFSC: SBIN0040003
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All pictures courtesy Dr Naperla Praveen
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