Abhay and Rani Bang

Abhay and Rani Bang
Abhay and Rani Bang
Born	Wardha and Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India
Residence	Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	Nagpur University (MBBS, MD) Johns Hopkins University, USA (M.P.H.)
Occupation	Social activists
Known for	Social Work, Community Health, De-Addiction, Home Based Newborn Care
Children	2
Awards	Maharashtra Bhushan Award (2003) MacArthur Foundation International Award (2006) National Award for Women's Development through Application of Science & Technology (2008) Jamnalal Bajaj Award (2006) Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, USA (2013) National Award of the Indian Council of Medical Research for Outstanding Research in Community Medicine

Abhay Bang and Rani Bang are Indian social activists, and researchers working in the field of community health in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, India. They have revolutionized healthcare for the poorest people in India and have overseen a programme that has substantially reduced infant mortality rates in one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF have endorsed their approach to treating newborn babies and the programme is currently being rolled out across India and in parts of Africa. The Bangs founded the 'Society For Education, Action and Research in Community Health' (SEARCH) – a non-profit organisation, which is involved in rural health service and research. The couple is the winner of the Maharashtra Bhushan Award.Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow has conferred honorary doctorates on Abhay and Rani Bang.SNDT Women's University, Mumbai has also awarded Honoris Causa to Rani Bang.The Lancet has honoured the couple as 'the pioneers of health care in rural India'. Abhay and Rani Bang are the first recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. They were also inducted into the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars. The Bangs are honoured for their leadership in community-based health care that is now helping to save the lives of millions of the most vulnerable newborns and children. During their careers, the Bangs have helped foster a renaissance in community-based primary health care. In 2016, Johns Hopkins University conferred the Distinguished Alumni Award upon them.