Prof Dr Ibrahim, a life devoted to diabetic care

Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Former Secretary and Former Chief Coordinator, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh:
Socio-health organiser, humanitarian physician and founder of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh National Professor Dr Mohammad Ibrahim died on September 6. We are commemorating the great physician with profound respect and regard. Born on December 31 in 1911 at Murshidabad of India, Dr Ibrahim was a hardworking, punctual and dutiful physician throughout his life. He reached the pinnacle of successthrough his devotion to work and love for humanity.
He spent the major part of his life in the Government Health Services in different key positions after getting the MB degree in 1938 and becoming MRCP in 1949. He was made an FCCP in 1950. He was Chairman of the Medical Research Council and of the Council of Scientific Research in Pakistan.
In recognition of his contributions, the government of Bangladesh honoured him by appointing him the first National Professor from among physicians in 1984.
Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim was the founder of the Diabetic Association in Dhaka (1956) and in Karachi and Lahore, West Pakistan (1964). He first thought of diabetic care in the country. He realised that not only doctors but also patients should be involved in the process of diabetic care. He called it socio-medical care. Although the real extent of the problem of diabetes was not evident in our part of the world, he could foresee the present picture at that time and organised a group of social workers, philanthropists and professionals. With their help, he established Diabetic Association of Pakistan on February 28, 1956. Diabetic care was started in a tin-shed building at Segun Bagicha with only 23 patients.
Dr, Ibrahim’s motto was: “No diabetic patient should die untreated, unfed or unemployed, even if she/he is poor.” So, he committed himself to give primary care to the diabetic patients free of cost, irrespective of socio-economic, racial or religious status.
For over three decades, Dr. Ibrahim succeeded in generating awareness about diabetes through free-of-cost quality services, health education, and motivation. He also established the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training for Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) and Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre (RVTC) in Dhaka to develop low-cost nutrition, and to give vocational training to poor and unemployed diabetics.
He took keen interest in family planning. His involvement began as a founder member of the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh in the mid-fifties. He made his real impact as adviser to the president, with the rank of minister in-charge of the Ministry of Health and Population Control, in the mid-1970’s. He was instrumental in formulating the population control policy of the government for the first time and introduced the National Population Council.
On his 29th death anniversary, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh takes a fresh vow to be imbued with his philanthropic philosophy through observing the day as ‘Diabetic Service Day’ to honour his great contribution to socio-medicare services.
Translated by Hossen Sohel