A Socio Medical Icon

National Professor Muhammad Rafi Khan ( 1928-2016) , popularly known as child specialist M R Khan was the first introducer of vaccines against Polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus in Bangladesh in January, 1965 using ‘Qurtro Virilon’, a combined vaccine. Professor Khan was the Founder President of Bangladesh Pediatric Association. He was a Senior Visiting Professor at ICDDR,B; Professor and Founder Director and Chairman of the Institute of Child Health and Shishu Hospital. He established a number of social voluntary development organizations namely Sasthya Foundation, Bangladesh: (1983); Shishu Hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka (1995); Institute of Child Health, Mirpur, Dhaka: (2006) ; Institute of Nursing, Mirpur, Dhaka, (2008); Shishu Hospital, Jessore (2000); Vocational Training Centre (VTC), Support Centre for under-privileged children in Satkhira (1995); Sathkhira Shishu Hospital (1988); Medical College for Women and Hospital, Uttara, Dhaka; Nebedita Nursing Home, Dhaka and Central Hospital Ltd. Dhaka. Apart from that, he played a vital role in eradicating polio from our country and also worked with “Adhunik”- a voluntary anti-tobacco smoking organization- from its very beginning. This national professor and pediatrician was an advisor of Quantum Foundation and was also a Quantum Pro-master. He used say “Quantum Method is hundred per cent religion-approved and scientific for developing healthy habits and controlling your anger “

Professor Khan was the author and co-author of seven academic books on child health. These include Apnar Shishur Jonnya Jeney Nin ( 1976), Pocket Pediatric Prescriber , (January 1982) , Essence of Endocrinology (1986), Prathomik Shikhsha (1986), Ma O Shishu (1986), Drug Therapy in Bnagladesh (1987) Essence of Padiatrics (January, 1989),

He passed with first division in his Matric exams from Pran Nath High School in Satkhira, in 1943, and got admitted in Presidency College of Calcutta, afterwards. Then in 1945, he passed in his ISC with first division and got accepted in Calcutta Medical College. He came to Satkhira in 1952 after completing his MBBS. Later, in 1956 he went to London for his further education, and got admitted to Edinburg School of Medicine, United Kingdom. He earned the DTM&H (Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene) degree in the same year. He also achieved the DCH (Diploma in Child Health) degree from School of Medicine, London. Then in 1962, he achieved the MRCP degree from Edinburg Royal College of Physician; in 1974 he earned FCPS (Fellow of College of physicians and Surgeons) degree from Bangladesh and, again, in 1978 got the FRCP (Fellow of Royal College of physicians) degree from Edinburg.

Quite exciting was his professional life. From 1957 to 1962 he worked in England Manchester and Edinburg Group Hospital, respectively, as Asst. Register and Registered Medical Assistant and Practitioner. He returned to his country in 1962, and joined as an Associate Professor in Dhaka Medical College Hospital in 1963. In 1964, he joined in the Medicine Department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as Associate. Professor (children’s health). In 1969 he was appointed as an Associate Professor in the pediatrics department in Dhaka Medical College, where he got a promotion within just one year, i.e. he was appointed as a professor in 1970. In 1971, he fulfilled the responsibility of professor in Institute of Post Graduate Medicine and Research (IPGMR) and in 1973, became a joint director of the same institute. In the November of 1978, Dr. Khan became the professor and director of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. In the same year, he was reappointed as the professor in the pediatrics department of IPGMR where he fulfilled his duty with great care, proficiency and well-reputation. Finally, Dr. M R Khan took his retirement from his long and busy professional life, in 1988.

He married Anwara Begum Anu on January 1, 1954, and had their only daughter Doulatunnesa (Mandy).

With the money of his pension and of his wife he built a Trust named Dr. M R Khan-Anwara Trust. Through this Trust, Dr. Khan used to provide assistance to different mosques, schools, hospitals and a number of destitute women in Satkhira as well as other social welfare activities. Apart from these the Trust fund has used to award Gold Medal to the individuals for their outstanding contribution in the field of social and economic development in the country. Notable awardees were Dr.Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank; Fazle Hasan Abed, BRAC; Velori Taylor, CRP, Angela Gomez, Banchte Shekha, Khandker Shahidul Islam, Dr. Sultana Zaman and others. He worked diligently for the impoverished mothers and children, providing them with proper medical care with an intention to improve their social and financial status, through the Trust.

The life of this ideal person earned a place in the 1997 publication of the biographical center International Who’s Who of Intellectuals, Cambridge. As a physician and a social worker Professor M R Khan won numerous laurels in his eventful life. For his outstanding contribution in the field of child health, called as father of pediatrics" and -Shishu Bandhu'" in Bangladesh, Prof. M.R. Khan was  awarded Gold Medal by the Association of pediatrics, Manila,-1991 Sher-E-Bangla Jatiya Smriti Sangsad Gold Medel,1992 Kabi Nazrul Islam National Award and Gold Medel,1993, Maulana Tarkabgish Gold Medal, 2003, Maulana Bhashani Gold Medal, 1993, Bangladesh pediatrics Association Award and Gold Medel,1994,  National Professor , 1995, Abu Hossain Sarkar National Award and Gold Medel-1995, Kabi Sarojini Naidu Gold Medal 1997, Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah Gold Medal 1998, Ibne Sina Gold Medel-1999, National Social Service Gold Medal  of the Ministry of Social Welfare, GOB-1999. Nabab Salimullah Gold Medal , 2006, Scholar of the Year 2007 Title offered by NRB, Ekushey Padak in Social Service, 2009 and Swadhinata Padak in 2016.

Dr. Khan was awarded PhD by BSMMU for life-long contribution, research and services to humanity. In recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of Medical Science, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences is honoring Professor Mohammad Rafi Khan with the award of BAS -Professor Emeritus Dr. Sultan Ahmed Choudhury National Science and Technology Gold Medal 2007.

The writer is former Secretary and Chairman of NBR.

He can be contacted at [email protected]