1980’s

Gadchiroli, a district separated from Chandrapur district was the most backward district in Maharashtra, India, (1982)

‘SEARCH’ registered as a public trust. Chose Gadchiroli as the area of work, (1985)

Established the head-quarter in a godown in the Gadchiroli town, (1986)

Failed collaborative experiment with the Health Department, Govt. of Maharashtra, to improve the administration of district hospital and PHCs, (1986 – 88)

Established a ‘Community health laboratory’ of 100 villages, with the approach of ‘Act locally, Think globally’

Community-based study of the prevalence of gynaecological diseases in rural women conducted (1986 – 87), published in the Lancet, (1989). Proved to be a pioneering study

Training of Traditional Birth Attendants for reproductive health care started (1988). Developed a program of ‘Women’s Reproductive Health’ (1989 – continued)

Established a births and child deaths recording system in the community laboratory of 100 villages (1988). The IMR was recorded to be 121. Pneumonia was the commonest cause of child deaths

Conducted pneumonia management field trial (1988 – 90). Village health workers and TBAs trained to diagnose and treat pneumonia in children. Published in the Lancet, (1990). The IMR reduced to 79. Became a major evidence for shaping the global ARI control program, by WHO and UNICEF, in 77 countries (1992)

Mass movement in Gadchiroli against alcohol (1987 – 93) – succeeded in introduction of prohibition in the district in 1993 resulting in 60% reduction in the alcohol consumption (saving worth 120 million rupees annually)

1990s

Newborn mortality was recognized as the main challenge (1990). Developed an approach of training village health workers to provide mother and newborn care at home. Conducted the Home-based neonatal care field trial, (1993 – 98). Published in the Lancet, (1999). IMR reduced to 39 in 1998. This became a global pioneer

Construction of ‘Shodh-gram’ – our head-quarters village, (1991 – 93) with the vision of developing a meeting point of tribal village, Gandhi’s ashram and community health research

Study of the reproductive health culture of women, (1992 – 95). Two Marathi books published. Received State award for ????, (2000)

Studies on reproductive health problems in males (1992 – 97). Developed an intervention program (1997 – 2001). Did not produce the intended impact. Discontinued, (2002)

Development of the tribal friendly hospital in Shodhagram, (1993 – 95)

Triggered by the Community-based study of the prevalence of gynaecological diseases in rural women by SEARCH, change in the global policy at Cario, (1994): From ‘Population Control’ to ‘Women’s Reproductive Health’

Launch of Vyasanmukti Kendra (Alcohol Tobacco Control Department), Development of de-addiction program: initially institutional, then village based. Led to treatment of more than 4000 addicts (1994)

Life Skill Education Department formed and ‘Adolescent Reproductive Education Programme’ (Jeevan Shikshan Ani Vyaktimatva Vikas) launched consisting of 5-7 day Residential camps for youth in SEARCH campus, (1995). Initially institution based, and then village based, later all over across Maharashtra

‘Couple of the Year’: Cover story in the national magazine The Week (1996)

Participatory health action and development programme in tribal villages: Tribal health assembly, malaria control, income generation, village fund, youth activities and finally,economic development, (since 1998)

Hidden child mortality in Maharashtra and need for social audit. Concept developed and Multisite study conducted (1998 – 2001). The report published in 2001. Created wide debate in the newspapers and the State Assembly. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra state accepted the recommendations and announced corrective measures

Initiation of alcohol and tobacco awareness programmes in school, (1998)

2000’s

Replication of the Home-based Neonatal Care at 7 NGO sites. ANKUR project launched, (2001 – 05)

The Prime Minister of India awarded SEARCH with a Gold medal of the Indian Council of Medical Research for the outstanding contribution to the Community Medicine in India, (2001)

Home-based Newborn Care replication started in five pilot sites in five states by the Indian Council of Medical Research, (2003)

Replication of Home-Based Newborn Care at 16 sites in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan

National workshops (1999, 2003) and a National convention (2006) on the Home-based Newborn Care recommended its scaling up in India

The State Government appointed ‘Child Deaths Evaluation Committee’ under the chairmanship of Dr. Abhay Bang. Two reports accepted in the State legislature

The advocacy on child deaths in Maharashtra resulted in the establishment of ‘Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Mission’ under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister

Epidemiologic transition and emergence of coronary heart disease in India. Realised the need for a life style change approach. An State Award winner book in Marathi by Dr. Abhay Bang(2000)

The State Government of Maharashtra conferred the highest award ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ on Drs. Rani and Abhay Bang, (2003)

Saving Newborn Lives Global Honour – Washington (2004)

Dr. Abhay Bang appointed as Member of the ‘National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health’, Government of India, (2004)

Drs. Rani and Abhay Bang selected as the “Global health Heroes” by the TIME magazine and honoured in New York, (2005)

The first MacArthur Foundation International Award, (2006)

Launch of the “NIRMAN” project to develop new leaders for social change in Maharashtra, (2006)

Dr. Rani and Dr. Abhay Bang appointed as Member of The National Commission on Population, Government of India, (2000)

SEARCH enters into formal collaboration with MKCL for developing NIRMAN initiative statewide, (2008)

Campaign for implementation of NREGA by NIRMAN, (2008)

Dr. Abhay Bang appointed as Member of the Mission Steering Group, National Rural Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, (2008)

Dr. Rani Bang appointed as Expert Member of Vidarbha Development Board by Governor of Maharashtra, (2008)

Acceptance of HBNC by WHO-UNICEF – Save The Children, (2009)

Acceptance of SEARCH model of HBNC by Government of India for implementation through ASHA

Acceptance of SEARCH model of Pneumonia management in Ethiopia

Acceptance of HBNC by Ethiopia as pilot

2010’s

Dr. Abhay Bang appointed as Member, High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage in India. The Planning Commission, Government of India, (2010)

Campaign against food grain based liquor production by NIRMAN, (2010)

Dr. Abhay Bang appointed as Member of the High Level Committee on Balanced Regional Development, Government of Maharashtra, (2011)

Began conducting tobacco cessation programme in women’s SHG (2011), after evaluating the prevalence of tobacco usage and its expenditure (2008-2009), which was published in Economic and Political Weekly, (2013) (http://www.epw.in/journal/2013/05/commentary/tobacco-vs-development.html)

Project MANSI – A joint collaboration of SEARCH, America India Foundation (AIF), Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) and the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Jharkhand, (2011 – 2014)

Mobile Medical Unit launched in SEARCH to provide health care to 48 tribal villages, (2012)

Dr. Abhay Bang appointed Chairman of the Expert Committee on Tribal Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, (2013)

Dr. Abhay Bang appointed Member of the High Level Committee on Tribal People in India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, (2013)

Kumar NIRMAN for adolescents started, (2013) aiming to achieve positive changes in thoughts and actions of school children to develop able leadership in future.

NIRMAN and IIT Bombay collaborate and the first training camp exclusively for IITB students was conducted, (2014)

Introduction of a state level task force for Alcohol-Tobacco free Gadchiroli District Campaign, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with Dr. Abhay Bang as the Advisor

Introduction of Demographic Surveillance system on tablet for real time data from 134 tribal and non-tribal villages of Gadchiroli, (2016)

Dr. Abhay Bang appointed as Eminent Individual Member of the Central Council, an apex body of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, (2016)