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Man of action and words

C.R. Soman has been at the forefront of campaigns to make Keralites aware of the need to change their lifestyle to improve their health

Photo: S. Mahinsha

Indefatigable health activist C.R. Soman

He is a man of action and words too. Kerala’s best known nutritionist C.R. Soman does not mince words when he takes on the attitude of Malayalis that has made Kerala the “heart attack and diabetes capital of India.” But he does not stop at strongly worded admonitions or warnings. That is where Dr. Soman differs from other health activists in Kerala.

When he took on the soft drinks market that was tempting consumers to guzzle empty calories, he came out with a nutritious drink called ‘Ninja’ that is now sold at select outlets in the city. He was one of the first doctors in the city to launch an all-out fight against the use of tobacco and a book he authored called ‘The Ifs and Butts of Smoking’ is a best seller. Now, Dr. Soman is all set to wean customers away from fine flour products with a new product called ‘Wheata,’ likely to be launched soon.

‘“Wheata’ is whole wheat bread. We are also going to make buns too. We plan to sell this through supermarkets and mom and pop stores in the city,” he beams.

Hundred of calls interrupt the conversation and the indefatigable doctor and public health activist patiently allays fears, doles out advise and gives tips to cut down fats, sugar and flab. “Some of the calls were from volunteers of Santhwana and their clients,” he explains, almost apologetically. And what is Santhwana?

It is a public health initiative conceptualised by Dr. Soman to screen people for heart attacks and diabetes. “It brings healthcare to your doorstep. We selected women who had completed their Plus Two and trained them to check cholesterol, diabetes and so on… health parameters that could indicate if a person was heading for a stroke. It also alerts people who are on the verge of the safety limits for diabetes. Slight alterations to their lifestyle could help them manage their health,” he explains with missionary zeal.

The same zest that has seen him work tirelessly to upgrade nutrition levels in Kerala and also inspire many of his students to work as health activists. “I used to be called that crank who was diverting students from studies and taking them to work in camps and such other unsavoury places. But my students stood by me and we were among the first to alert the government to the need for setting up primary health centres in the coastal areas,” recalls Dr. Soman.

His work in the coastal areas was initiated by a request from the Norwegian Government who wanted to check the nutrition levels of a fish powder they were planning to market. “So, we decided to work with the children in the coastal areas. Initial studies showed their nutrition levels to be abominably low.

“To supplement the diet, we decided to provide tapioca and a curry made of the fish powder. Student volunteers manned the community kitchens and monitored the progress of the children. But a diarrhoea outbreak undid all the work we did and that is when we realised that nutrition levels would not improve unless it was accompanied by hygiene and basic health care,” he reminisces.

So, he and his team of volunteers worked to make mothers aware of the need to improve basic hygiene to improve the nutrition levels of their children. And he is all praise for the Kerala mother who he says “has done wonders to improve the health indices in Kerala.”

Even at the age of 70, the nutritionist is raring to go with plans and schemes to make a healthy difference to the way Keralites live. And leading the way is the non-governmental organisation he founded – Health Action By People.

“What began as a small group of health activists is now a non-governmental organisation with its own office and staff,” says Dr. Soman with a smile. The satisfied smile of a man who has seen many of his dreams come true. The doctor says he chose to be a teacher and a nutritionist. Similarly, although he studied under world renowned scientists in the United Kingdom and at the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad he preferred to return to Kerala. “I felt I could be of use here in my State.”

Any regrets?

“Yes. My dream to start a course in nutrition in Medical College remained on paper.”

However, what Dr. Soman did was to make concrete changes to enhance nutrition levels in Kerala and make Keralites aware of the need to eat healthy to be healthy.

But he avers that the challenge now is to tackle the lifestyle diseases that have become common in Kerala. “It is the lack of exercise. Improvement in living standards have made the Malayali a couch potato and a diet that is rich in coconut only aggravates the matter further by piling on unhealthy fat,” he says. “A revolution must begin in the kitchens to devise recipes that appeal to our palate but use less of coconut.”

And he is all set to begin a campaign for that.

SARASWATHY NAGARAJAN

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