One of the 2023 recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award is the surgical oncologist Dr. R. Ravi Kannan, director of the Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC) in Assam. His innovative work prioritizes healthcare solutions that are pro-poor and people-centric, revolutionizing cancer treatment in Assam.
Dr. Kannan’s Inspiring Work
- The CCHRC expanded from having a small number of departments to having 28 under Dr. Kannan’s direction, including oncology, pathology, radiology, microbiology, epidemiology, and palliative care.
- In order to address patients’ difficulties in completing treatment owing to poverty and distance, the hospital implemented pro-poor policies such as free treatment, accommodation, and food, as well as ad hoc employment for carers and a homecare program.
- The hospital staff went above and above to help by giving free medication to patients and their families and training them in pain management and palliative care.
- As a result, from 28% to 70%, the compliance rate for cancer therapy significantly rose.
- About Ramon Magsaysay Award
The 1958-founded Ramon Magsaysay Award is a noteworthy honor that is frequently referred to be Asia’s Nobel Prize. - This esteemed award recognizes Asian individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to society across a variety of fields.
Who was Ramon Magsaysay?
- From 1953 until his tragically early demise in a plane accident in 1957, Ramon Magsaysay served as president of the Philippines.
- When Japanese forces invaded the Philippines, which was then a US colony, during World War II, he rose to fame.
- He won the Nationalist Party’s presidential primary in December 1953, becoming the nation’s oldest political organization.
- In 1946, the Philippines was engulfed in post-war instability, which was followed by a widening wealth disparity that was made worse by the growth of capitalism.
- Leaders were targeted by the government, which was allied with the USA, amid allegations of communist sympathies and demands for peasant rights.
- Magsaysay’s administrative and military tactics were crucial in fending off the alleged communist menace.
Indian Awardees: A Legacy of Excellence
Eminent Indians have been recognized through the Ramon Magsaysay Award:
1. Vinoba Bhave (1958)
2. Mother Teresa (1962)
3. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (1966)
4. Satyajit Ray (1967)
5. Mahasweta Devi (1997)
6. Arvind Kejriwal (2006)
7. Anshu Gupta of Goonj (2015)
8. Bezwada Wilson, human rights activist (2016)
9. Ravish Kumar, journalist (2019)
Significance of the Award
- The Ramon Magsaysay Award honours exceptional efforts that have a beneficial influence on society and represents a strong dedication to selflessness and service.
- It serves as a reminder that people and groups may create lasting change via their altruistic actions.