Bhubaneswar: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Bhubaneswar held its fifth convocation today. President Droupadi Murmu graced the occasion as the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, the President expressed her happiness over the remarkable progress of the health institute in the last 12 years. According to her, the institute has won the hearts of the people of Odisha and others states including West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for proper patient care, medical research and social welfare activities.

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The President also expressed her happiness as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised the excellence of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar with the Asia Safe Surgical Implant Consortium QIP Award for maintaining high standards in surgical instrument and implant reprocessing. The Institute has also received the National Kayakalpa Award for exceptional sanitation and other hospital services for five consecutive years.

“The AIIMS institutes, established in various parts of the country, are providing healthcare through the latest medical science and experienced doctors. People are getting quality medical facilities at a low cost in these institutes. I am quite sure that India will become a leading healthcare destination in the world in future,” said the President.

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According to the President, research in medical science is making treatment easier. “The occurrence of many epidemics has reduced. Burden of diseases like smallpox, leprosy, polio and tuberculosis are no longer the same as before. For this, doctors, researchers, health and social workers and governments deserve praise,” she said.

On the occasion, Murmu put emphasis on Yoga and Pranayama for maintaining mental health and urged doctors to make people aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

“Depression is becoming a major issue in society. Apart from medicine, awareness is also necessary to treat depression. A lifestyle change can provide mental peace,” she stated.

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Obesity, a lifestyle disease, is also a matter of concern. One can get rid of this disease through a disciplined routine, improvement in eating habits and regular exercise, said the President while urging the doctors to create awareness in this regard among people.

Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and state Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling also attended the event.

A total of 643 healthcare professionals including 196 MBBS (Batch 2016 & 2017), 158 MD/MS (Batch 2019 & 2020), 49 DM/MCh (Batch 2019 & 2020), 21 Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDF) (Batch 2022 & 2023), 116 BSc Nursing (Batch 2017 & 2018), 62 BSc Paramedical (Batch 2018 & 2019) and 41 MSc Nursing (Batch 2019 & 2020) were conferred degrees at the convocation ceremony.

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Similarly, altogether 31 meritorious students including 17 MBBS students, one MD/MS student, one DM/MCh student, three BSc Nursing students, seven BSc Paramedical students and two MSc Nursing students were awarded gold medals on the occasion.

While Chitluri Neha and Medha Menon were awarded as best MBBS Graduates, Mrinmoyee Mondal and Priyanka Singh were adjudged as best BSc (Hons) Nursing Graduates.