A MOMENT TO CHERISH: N. Janardhan Reddy, MP, handing over the citation and lifetime achievement award to noted neurosurgeon S. Balaparameswara Rao at the inaugural function of the Neurological Society of India in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. — P hoto: K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: Despite the increase in the number of medical colleges and doctors, medical aid to rural and tribal areas has not improved, Visakhapatnam MP and former Chief Minister N. Janardhana Reddy said here on Thursday.

``Medical facility has tremendously grown over the decades, particularly in urban areas, but when we look at the increasing number of deaths due to malaria and cholera on the countryside, especially in tribal areas, we, the politicians in particular, have to hang our heads in shame,'' he said.

Inaugurating the 54th annual conference of the Neurological Society of India (NEUROCON 2005), Mr. Reddy said many suggestions had been made and plans implemented but the problem was persisting. Proper and better medical care to the rural and tribal areas needed deep study and serious attention.

He reiterated his promise to make Visakhapatnam a leading city in the country and promised to bring funds to be spent by the Centre on cities in the near future. He hoped that Vizag would also become a "medical care city'' in future.

Awareness programmes

Neurological Society of India president C.U. Velumurugendran, who chaired the inaugural, wanted more neurological emergency care centres to be established.The continuing medical education programmes should be held in good numbers, Dr.Velumurugendran said. The NSI presented the life-time achievement award to S. Balaparameswara Rao, noted neurosurgeon and considered `father of neurosurgery in AP' . The citation was handed over by Mr. Reddy while Dr. Velumurugendran felicitated Dr. Rao. Secretary-general of NSI, B.S. Sharma, presented a memento.

Earlier, the NSI chief released the souvenir and abstracts book of the NEUROCON 2005. Former Head of the Department of Neurosurgery B. Subba Rao, Rammohan Kairam and Ravi Ramamurthy also felicitated Dr. Rao. Conference organising secretary N. Subrahmanyam welcomed the delegates, while organising committee chairman K. Venkateswarlu and NSI treasurer M.V. Vijaya Sekhar, spoke. Dr. Sharma inaugurated the trade exhibition.

e-library

An e-library will be established in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Andhra Medical College and King George Hospital here during this year to mark the department's golden jubilee anniversary.

``In addition, we want to upgrade our operation theatres by acquiring modern neuro-surgical operating microscope, C-arm neuroscopy equipment, neuro-endoscopic equipment, stereo tasic apparatus and modern micro neuro-surgical equipment,'' Head of the Department of Neurosurgery K. Vishnu Prasad told a press conference here on Thursday.

Old students were being approached to help the department in the matter and some had responded positively. The Government would also be approached for help.

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