Dr Renu Raj left medicine and topped UPSC in 2014. Now she is helping tribal kids
Since becoming an IAS officer, Dr Renu Raj has worked in different parts of Kerala. She has taken up roles like Sub-Collector and District Collector. In her work, she has focused on improving healthcare, women's safety, and education.Dr Renu Raj's story shows that with focus and dedication, it is possible to achieve your dreams and make a real difference in society.- Ends
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New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Resounding success: TN kids who got cochlear implant grow up to crack UPSC, NEET
CHENNAI: You heard it right! Odds were aplenty, but they made it big. Yash Kumar and K Akshaya, who were both born with hearing impairment, are continuing to script success stories. It was sheer will power that helped Yash crack the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS) exam, securing a national rank of 990. Probably the first person born with hearing impairment to clear the exam, he was a total stranger to the music of nature until 3.5 years when he underwent cochlear implant surgery at the Madras ENT Research Foundation in 2002. Ask Yash, the 26-year-old would say the high-paying job at Microsoft didn't impress him much, and the UPSC dream peped into his mind after seeing his father Rajesh Kumar, an employee of Small Industries Development Bank of India, work for PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi scheme, launched by the union government in 2020 during Covid-19 to provide affordable loans to street vendors to start business. 'When working for Microsoft I decided to do something for the under-represented and people with disabilities, and I started preparing for the UPSC and got selected for IAS,' says Yash. For Yash, Dr Mohan Kameshwaran, managing director and chief surgeon at the Madras ENT Research Foundation who performed the cochlear implant surgery on him, is like a parent figure. 'Today I can speak like any other person. If I could do half the work of what Dr Kameshwaran did, I would be happy,' says Yash. Akshaya, also born with hearing impairment, who bagged an MBBS seat at Government Madurai Medical College under persons with disability quota this year, is also a patient of Dr Mohan. 'I want to become an ENT specialist,' says Akshaya with a smile. Speaking to TNIE, Dr Mohan said though The Madras ENT Research Foundation started carrying out cochlear implant surgery in 1997, the patients had to spend around Rs 7 lakh to Rs 8 lakh from their pockets. 'It was in 2010 that the cochlear implant surgery was brought under 'Kalaignar Kaappitu Thittam',' he says. He also thanked late CM M Karunanidhi for bringing the implants under the scheme. 'If hearing loss is detected early and treated, the patients can develop speech quickly,' he added.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Single pre-exposure rabies vax as effective as 2-visit schedule: Study by 2 Punjab medical colleges
A single-visit rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) schedule is as effective as the conventional two-visit protocol, a clinical trial by Government Medical College, Patiala, and Government Medical College, Amritsar, has found. A single-visit protocol could also reduce dependency on rabies immunoglobulin, says Patiala GMC expert. (HT) PrEP vaccination is given before potential exposure to the rabies virus to provide protection. It is recommended for individuals at high risk of exposure, such as laboratory workers, healthcare professionals and those travelling to or residing in areas with high rabies incidence. It is not available for the general population currently and only post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (PEP) vaccination is administered after potential exposure to the rabies virus, through the bite of dogs and other carnivorous animals like cats, monkeys, mongooses, jackals, foxes and wolves. Notably, PrEP recipients require fewer doses of the post-exposure rabies vaccine, and can receive treatment without the expensive and difficult-to-get rabies immunoglobulin. The study, published in 'Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines' (Springer Nature), compared the immune response of both single and multi-visit schedules and reported a sufficient 90% seroconversion rate in the single-visit group, comparable to the standard method. Lead researcher Dr Aman Dev Singh, assistant professor at GMC, Patiala, said the single-visit schedule could help overcome logistical issues such as multiple clinic visits, which could be immensely beneficial for rabies prevention in rural and underserved areas. He added that findings were in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for simplified vaccination schedules to improve coverage. 'A single-visit protocol could also reduce dependency on rabies immunoglobulin — a costly and scarce resource — especially in severe (category 3) bite cases,' said Dr Aman Dev. Notably, Punjab reported over 1.5 lakh dog-bite cases in the first half of 2025, with Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala being the worst affected. Last year, the state had recorded a total of 2.13 lakh dog bite cases.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
State-of-the-art emergency block opens at GMCH-32
1 2 Chandigarh: In a significant boost to the city's healthcare infrastructure, Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday inaugurated the newly built Emergency & Trauma Block at Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. The high-tech facility promises to transform emergency care with its modern triage system, advanced ICUs, operation theatres, and diagnostic services including MRI, CT scan, and ultrasound. The inauguration was followed by the institute's 11th convocation ceremony, where Kataria, as chief guest, addressed the graduating batch of medical professionals. He praised the medical community for their unwavering service, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and urged the new graduates to uphold the institution's legacy globally. "Your greatest 'Guru Dakshina' will be to bring honour to your alma mater through your service and integrity," he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
