Lata Desai
Dr. Lata Desai | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 August 1941 |
| Occupation | Medical doctor |
| Known for | Dr. Lataben Anilbhai Desai |
| Spouse | Dr. Anil Desai |
| Awards | Padma Shriaward in 2022 |
Lata Desai(also known as Dr. Lataben Anilbhai Desai) (born 8 August 1941) is amedical doctorfrom theIndianState ofGujaratwho is 1980 along with her husband Dr. Anil Desai and a few friends founded theSociety for Education Welfare and Action- Rural (SEWA Rural), a voluntary organization devoted to health and development activities in the tribal area of South Gujarat.[1]
Education and career
[edit]After completing basic medical education at B J Medical College,Gandhinagar,Gujarat in the early '60s and getting married 1n 1968, Lata Desai and her husband moved to the US in 1972 for higher studies. In the US, Lata Desai specialized inpediatricsand Anil Desai insurgery.After completing their studies they started their careers in the US. However, after a few years, inspired by the lives and works ofMahatma GandhiandSwami Vivekananda,they along with a few friends returned to India and established the non-profit SEWA Rural inJhagadia,Bharuchdistrict, Gujarat.[2]
The services rendered by SEWA Rural include:[3]
- Kasturba Hospital which offers round the clock emergency services, special care for women and children and people with eye diseases, separate clinics for Tuberculosis, Diabetes, and Infertility and Sickle Cell Disease
- Sharda Mahila Vikas Society was established in 2002 working towards the development of women, youth and children in villages of tribal, areas of Jhagadia, Gujarat
- Training Centre for Community Health
- Vocational Training Centre for Women
- Adolescent Awareness Programme which is aimed at reducing anemia, improvingmenstrual hygiene management,creatingreproductive health awareness
- Community Health Project
- Comprehensive Eye Care Project
- Vivekananda Gramin Tekniki Kendra which is a vocational training center started in 1987
Recognition: Padma Shri
[edit]- In the year 2022, Govt of India conferred thePadma Shriaward, the third highest award in the Padma series of awards, on Lata Desai for her distinguished service in the field of medicine.[4]The award is in recognition of her service as a "Doctor and Social Worker providing health services to tribal communities in Gujarat for over five decades".[5]
Additional reading
[edit]- Shanoo Bijlani (September 1990)."The Good Doctors of Jhagadia"(PDF).Reader's Digest:125–132.Retrieved26 February2022.
- "SEWA Rural – Exemplary of rural health delivery system".Indians for Collective Action.Retrieved26 February2022.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Gujarat: Padma Shri Dr. Lata Desai felicitated by IIPH-Gandhi".Times of India. TNN. 25 February 2022.Retrieved26 February2022.
- ^Moneylife Digital Team."Tribals Benefit from Scientific Approach and Spiritual Outlook".Moneylife.Retrieved26 February2022.
- ^"What we do".SEWA Rural.Retrieved26 February2022.
- ^"Padma Awards 2022"(PDF).Padma Awards.Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2022-01-25.Retrieved11 February2022.
- ^"Padma Awards 2022".Padma Awards.Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-01-29.Retrieved11 February2022.