Dr Jitendra Singh Bestowed With Lifetime Achievement Award For Research In Diabetes

EE News Desk Jul 28, 2024

The award ceremony was held at Chennai

In a glittering ceremony which marked the international gathering of leading medical celebrities, professionals and medicos from all over the country and abroad, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh was conferred the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in recognition of his exemplary dedication to the advancement of diabetology, diabetes care and diabetes research which earned him acknowledgement across the country and overseas.

The citation read out by Dr V Mohan, Chairman, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Speciality Centre and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, described Dr Singh as a teacher, professor, researcher and practitioner of diabetology, who rose from the grassroots to earn a name for himself as well as the state and country to which belongs.

The citation further mentioned that falling in the genre of the great Dr. B C Roy, Dr Singh is another rare example of a nationally known medical professional, who proved equally successful in public life by being popularly elected to the House of People (Lok Sabha) for three consecutive terms with a decisive margin and also being among the few in the country and first in Jammu & Kashmir to find a berth in Union Council of Ministers consequently for the third term. Known for his integrity, Dr Singh had earned the respect and love of three generations of colleagues who have worked with him.

The citation also mentions the unique distinction conferred on Dr Singh as the Lifetime Pattern of RSSDI (Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India), the largest academic association of Diabetologists.

During the ceremony, the citation read out for Dr Singh described him as a versatile personality, simultaneously known as an outstanding academician, researcher, medical teacher, author and brilliant orator. The various awards conferred on him in the past include the ‘Gold Medal for Oration’ from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER) Puducherry and the coveted ‘Jamna Devi Gian Devi Award’ for journalism.

The citation described Dr Singh as an author of eight books and three monograms on various aspects of diabetes. He has written chapters on diabetes in leading textbooks of medicine. Before becoming a minister, he consecutively wrote a chapter on this disease in 12 successive editions of the ‘API Textbook of Medicine’ published by the Association of Physicians of India.

Among the diabetes awareness books written by Dr Singh, one of the books titled ‘Diabetes Made Easy’ was included in the bestseller section of the World Book Fair held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Dr Singh’s pioneering work on ‘Stress Diabetes in Kashmiri Migrants’ was hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO). He was also a member of the DIPSY Group of researchers who finalised the ‘Guidelines for Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy’. The same guidelines were then approved for referral by the WHO. As a teacher of Medicine and Diabetes, Dr Singh has been a guide for the thesis to nearly two dozen scholars.

The citation also referred to Dr Singh’s contribution as a Parliamentarian and a Minister in the Government of India and lauded his brilliant interventions and presentations in the Parliament. It also commended Dr Singh’s impressive handling of several departments and ministries under his charge in the Government of India. His hard work, focused approach and down-to-earth attitude had endeared him to all cross sections of society, said the citation. The citation also described Dr Singh as someone highly revered for his unassuming nature, and practical and human approach, both in words and deeds, which makes him a ‘true son’ of India.

Soon after rendering the citation, the Gold Medal for ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ was presented to Dr Singh. He owed his academic education to Chennai and happened to be an alumnus of Stanley Medical College.

Dr Singh accepting the award in humility said that in a journey of nearly four decades, it was a blessing to grow under the shadow of renowned medical professionals of the country and to rub shoulders with some of the most illustrious seniors and colleagues. He mentioned that he will continue his endeavour to live up to the high expectations of his colleagues and prove worthy of the honour conferred on him.