Neonatal health is a formidable challenge for a country with over 25 million births annually. The world’s fifth largest economy still faces 1.3 million newborn deaths and one-third of infants being low birth weight. Dr. Prince Parakh, Neonatalogist from Siliguri believes that core elements; problems of neonatal sepsis, prematurity, and birth asphyxia must be tackled at the grassroots level to make a crucial impact on neonatal survival in India.
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Work In Action
Neonatal and newborn care facilities and expertise are being developed at district and sub-district levels as a part of national programs since 1992. Further, India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) was launched in 2014 to make concerted efforts toward the attainment of the Single Digit Neonatal Mortality Rate and Single Digit Stillbirth Rate by 2030. Dr. Prince Parakh has provided dedicated services in neonatology, childhood asthma, vaccinology, pediatric nephrology, behavioral problems, infectious diseases, and newborn and paediatric critical care. He has been actively involved in immunization programs for children against infectious diseases. Dainik Jagran has recognized his work and dedication and awarded the Icon of North Bengal Award.
Currently, India witnesses a significant shortage of trained nurses for newborns and this deficiency is also linked to lack of expert facility, standardized training, and minimal exposures to newborn clincal areas during pre-service education. Dr. Prince Parakh has contributed his research in the field with few international research papers. His work was featured as India’s Top Paediatrician by Medgate today released in IAP Mission.
BSF Facilitates Dr. Prince Parakh
On November 28, 2019, BSF felicitated Dr. Prince Parakh for his services. Dr. Parakh has been providing free OPD consultation to children of financially backward families (BPL) and children of Air Force Personnel.
Dr. Parakh dedicated his life towards improving the health standards of neonatals and newborn in Siliguri and nearby region. He has done immense work in the the field including opening of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Paedeatric Intensive Care Unit in the region.
Dr. Parakh has been keen on protecting the mental health and spreading awareness about it among people. He has been successfully organising mental health camps for children of different age groups to spread awareness about the mental health issues children face.
Road Ahead
More than two-thirds Indians live in villages. However, the tale of empty hospitals and lack of incentives extended to doctors prompting them not to work in rural health facilities is worsening the healthcare in India. Given the shortages of neonatal specialist, there is an urgent need that India must serve newborn education and training to create a cadre of neonatal practitioners like Dr. Prince Parekh. This shall be an invaluable solution especially to save the neonates of remote areas.
