Wednesday, April 25, 2012

82-year-old paediatrician still remains a ‘class’ teacher

SOURCE FROM -- http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/20120425201204252058582657275428f/82yearold-paediatrician-still-remains-a-%E2%80%98class%E2%80%99-teacher.html

82-year-old paediatrician still remains a 'class' teacher

S Kushala

Posted On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 08:57:01 PM

A lecture class for PG students at Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health is on. A professor is explaining the findings of a study on paediatric Reye's syndrome. Instead of a teaching stick, he is using his walking stick to point at the board to explain symptoms of the disease. The hand is slightly shaky and the voice less audible, yet Dr D G Benakappa has it in him to hold the class' attention.

At 82, Dr Benakappa who has treated nearly three generations of patients for more than 55 years, is one of the oldest paediatricians in south Bangalore. Though he has almost given up his practice, Dr Benakappa has the zeal to teach in the institute, of which he is the founder director.

Now the honorary professor of the institute, with a hip bone fracture and cardiac ailment, Dr Benakappa, who walks with the support of a walking stick, visits the hospital every day to teach and participate in seminars and discussions.

"I see only two to three patients now. They are all my old patients. But I come to the institute regularly. This is the institute I built brick by brick with the initial Rs 3 crore which came in as donations. Today I am proud of the institute which is providing quality and affordable treatment to children. I have treated nearly three generations of patients, and the kids, whom I have given injections, are now teaching in the same institute," says Dr Benakappa. Though his voice is weak, his eyesight is sharp. He can read small letters on the board even without the glasses.

For a long time, Dr Benakappa had a clinic on Bull Temple Road in Basavangudi from where he shifted to Jayanagar 4th Block. He belongs to that generation of doctors who shared a personal rapport with the patients. "I have treated a child, his child and his child. My first patient has come to me with his grandchild. When the children (his patients who have grown up) come from abroad, they make it a point to come and meet me," he says fondly.

Brain fever in the 70s and the 1981 Venus Circus fire tragedy were some of testing times that he recalls. Brain fever, which broke out in Kolar, Ananthpur and Bellary belt, had affected children as they were highly susceptible. "We went to the field, camped in villages and treated kids. It was a big challenge," he says.

Venus Circus tragedy saw 65 people, a majority of them children, getting electrocuted due to a short circuit. "We treated children with severe burns and the sight was horrifying. I cannot forget those days," adds Dr Benakappa.