Doctor
Dr. Abhay & Dr. Rani Bang
Community Health Researchers & Social Activists · Maharashtra
The Story
Drs. Abhay and Rani Bang are physician-researchers who founded SEARCH in the tribal Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra in 1985. Their Home-Based Neonatal Care (HBNC) model trained village women as 'Arogyadoots' to treat infant pneumonia and sepsis, reducing infant mortality by over 75%. Their groundbreaking protocol was officially adopted globally by WHO and UNICEF.
Impact
Pioneered Home-Based Neonatal Care (HBNC) dropping Gadchiroli infant mortality from 121 to 30 per 1,000; led district liquor ban
Evidence
Padma Shri 2024, WHO & UNICEF national adoption of HBNC protocol, Maharashtra Bhushan Award
Replication
HBNC model replicated by WHO across low-income nations in Asia and Africa