On the 16th February 2013 the Ecumenical Sangam’s Leprosy Elimination Action Programme in collaboration with ALERT INDIA (Mumbai) organised the 100th CME seminar in the Rainbow’s Conference Hall.
Initially the CME seminars were run as part of the Sangam’s Continuing Health Education aimed at promoting awareness among the young student doctors of Leprosy treatment and thus help to influence the national health policy. The Sangam have networked with renowned skin and treatment specialists and other resource persons to guide the students in the clinical treatment, social treatment and rehabilitation aspects of Leprosy patients. Initially final year medical students were invited and with experience gained from running the programme these seminars have now been extended across the full range of medical training to include paramedic students, laboratory technicians, nursing students and their teaching staff.
This 100th Seminar was arranged for nursing students and their teachers and the lectures were given by local distinguished faculty members who so generously give of their time and talents. Dr. V. V. Dongre, a Senior Consultant associated with Alert India, Mumbai was present on this special occasion to deliver one of the lectures. Alert India, Mumbai has been working to eliminate leprosy for 30 – 35 years and Dr. Dongre has worked as the Medical Superintendent with Acworth Leprosy hospital, Mumbai for nearly 35 years and subsequently as a director with the Gandhi Memorial Foundation, Wardha for nearly 8 years. He is vastly experienced in the field of Leprosy and has many papers and publications to his credit, and is a widely travelled person in the field of Leprosy. Dr. Dongre is a past president of the Voluntary Association of India, which is well known for its contributions following natural calamities. The Ecumenical Sangam is very proud to have him attend and make a special contribution to our Leap programme.
In the lunch break the students, teachers and lecturers ate together in the Rainbow guesthouse’s ground floor dining area and presentations were made of a shawl and coconut to each of the distinguished faculty members who had regularly contributed their time and knowledge to educate the participating students during the seminars to thank them for all their efforts. This brief presentation was also attended by Mr Cyril Khisty (Acting CEO of the Sangam) and Mr. Ashutosh Prabhawalkar.
