Tamil Nadu: Doctors awarded for exemplary service

CHENNAI: In order to recognise their outstanding services to alcoholics and differently-abled people, the state identified two doctors, Dr K. Narayanasamy and Dr V. M. Sankaran to be awarded by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday.  

Dr K. Narayanasamy, head of the department of hepatology at Madras Medical College, was presented with a certificate of appreciation for setting up the first of its kind liver clinic in Tamil Nadu.

Opthalmic surgeon and medical director at Dr Agarwal's Eye Hospital, Kancheepuram, Dr V. M. Sankaran was awarded the state award for the Best Doctor for conducting free 900 cataract surgeries and 310 corneal transplants. He has served the differently-abled in the state by collecting 3,300 eyes through the eye bank.  

Responding on being commemorated for his services, Dr Narayanaswamy said, “Beginning with livers clinic in 2003 set up in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Theni, Khammam, Vellore and Neelagiri, we realized the need for a separate department that would focus on liver diseases. Therefore, the Department of Hepatology was set up in 2006 in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH).”

Dr Narayanaswamy played a significant role in creating awareness among people on liver infections, hepatitis B and hepatitis C through a massive awareness campaign throughout Tamil Nadu and conducted counselling for de-addiction of alcoholics.
 
Awarded for his services to people with blindness and eye related disorders, Dr V. M. Sankaran initiated free distribution of 30 spectacles monthly in 1980. 

“After having started an eye bank in 1992, we conducted free eye check-up camps for school students in Vellore, Kancheepuram, Chennai, Tiruvallur and Tiruvannamalai. Around 17,000 students were examined for eye- related disorders and 25,000 students given free eyeglasses,” said Dr Sankaran.