Col. (Retd) Dr. Vasantha Venugopal — honored at Rashtrapati Bhavan for her lifelong mission to treat sickle cell anaemia in Pune’s tribal belt. (Image: Puneri Pages)
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
PUNE: On this Independence Day, retired Army doctor Colonel Dr. Vasantha Venugopal will stand among the nation’s distinguished guests at the President’s prestigious ‘At Home’ reception in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The invitation is a national salute to her decades of tireless service in Pune district’s tribal belt, where she has treated lakhs of patients suffering from sickle cell anaemia — a genetic blood disorder that continues to devastate rural communities.
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A Lifetime of Service in Pune’s Tribal Belt
After a decorated career in the Armed Forces Medical Services, Dr. Venugopal could have chosen a comfortable retirement. Instead, she took her medical skills deep into the villages of Ambegaon taluka — places like Sarole-Pathar and Dimbhe — where healthcare access is scarce and sickle cell anaemia rates are high.
Her work went beyond just prescriptions and injections. She organized awareness drives, counseled families about the hereditary nature of the disease, and created support systems for long-term patient care.
Understanding Sickle Cell Anaemia: The Silent Battle She Fought
Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic blood disorder in which red blood cells assume a rigid, sickle-like shape. These cells block blood flow, cause severe pain, and lead to complications such as organ damage and reduced life expectancy. In India, it disproportionately affects tribal populations.
With little awareness and limited resources in these regions, Dr. Venugopal’s consistent medical camps and follow-ups became a lifeline for thousands of families.
From the Army to the Villages: A Commitment to Service
Trained at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Dr. Venugopal served in the Indian Army with distinction. Post-retirement, she seamlessly shifted her mission from national defense to grassroots health defense — trading her olive green uniform for a white coat but keeping the same spirit of discipline and duty.
The National Recognition: An Invitation to Rashtrapati Bhavan
The ‘At Home’ reception, hosted by the President of India on Independence Day, celebrates citizens who have made exceptional contributions to the nation. For Dr. Venugopal, this moment is more than a personal honor — it is a recognition of the vital role grassroots healthcare plays in building a healthier India.
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