On Sept.20, Dr.Derek Lobo, said, “Thomas Carlyle famously said, ‘The history of the world is but the biography of great men and women’. However, many great men and women didn’t record their own inspiring lives nor did someone else do it, thereby depriving mankind of a valuable and precious record of history.”
Dr.Lobo, was speaking about Padma Shri Dr.S.K.Noordeen, a resident of Anna Avenue, Adyar, who passed away on Aug.18, 2021. As there was no autobiography on Dr.Noordeen, Dr.Lobo approached his family and brought out a book titled ‘Dr.S.K.Noordeen – Architect of the Global Leprosy Elimination Programme; The story of one man’s commitment to a world without leprosy’.
Dr.Noordeen had devoted his entire life to the cause of Leprosy in all its facets and was instrumental in its elimination as a public health problem with the WHO’s MDT therapy programme.
The book takes us on a journey of the life of Dr.Noordeen – his contributions and policy initiatives through WHO, which resulted in a drastic reduction in the global leprosy burden; his mission and vision for a world without leprosy, and his kindness, empathy and compassion for those affected by leprosy.
The book is sponsored by Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation (S-ILF). Chief guest, R.Dinesh -President (CII) received the first copy at the book launch. Others present were S.Mahalingam – Vice Chairman (S-ILF) and Gaurab Sen – CEO (S-ILF) and Dr.Lobo.
The book is available at libraries of medical colleges and institutions in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Goa and Puducherry. In Chennai, the book is available at GREMALTES Leprosy Hospital, Stanley Medical College, Madras Medical College, Damien Foundation India Trust and Kilpauk Medical College.
