IIE Award winner Dr Pranav Kabra cautions high-risk persons with comorbidities to wear masks in crowded places

MUMBAI: India International Excellence Award (IIE Award) winner, cardiac and diabetes expert Dr Pranav Kabra has advised high-risk persons with comorbidities to wear masks in crowded places.

Speaking to this reporter, Dr Kabra said: “High-risk persons who are suffering from cardiac disease, diabetes or other comorbidities must continue to wear masks in crowded places. While the Covid pandemic is under control we cannot say it is eliminated. Since the festive season is at hand people must exercise caution in crowded places and in fact must try and avoid crowded places. When not possible to avoid crowded places like local train travel in Mumbai, people must exercise caution and wear masks in such situations.”

Last week, the aviation regulator DGCA instructed all Indian carriers to strictly enforce the COVID-19 protocol, including mask mandate for passengers, in all commercial aircraft amid a rise in infections across the country. As Covid-19 cases in India are increasing, now you have to compulsorily wear masks during flight, the DGCA said in an advisory to all Indian airlines.

The DGCA asked airlines to enforce the rule and take action as per law against an unruly passenger. Not wearing a mask can get you thrown out off the flight, the DGCA said.

Dr Kabra suggested that all persons travelling by local trains in Mumbai as well as crowded BEST buses must wear a mask. ‘It is better to be safe than sorry. I advise everyone to wear a proper three-layered mask when they are in a crowd for self-safety,” Dr Kabra said.

Last week, the IIE Awards jury announced that diabetes and cardiac specialist Dr Pranav Kabra (MD) associated with the Raksha Multispecialty Hospital in Mumbai was selected as a winner of the prestigious India International Excellence Award (IIE Awards) for social work in the medical sector.

Dr Kabra was declared an IIE awardee for his yeoman service in the field of healthcare in the Malad-Malwani area, particularly among poor and needy patients in the Malwani, Charkop and Kandivali (W) localities of suburban Mumbai.

He is one of the most prominent cardiac and diabetes experts in Mumbai and was single-handedly responsible for saving several lives (of Covid patients) during the coronavirus pandemic in Mumbai.

The IIE Awards jury also issued a special citation for Dr Kabra’s work during the pandemic, designating him as a national Covid Hero.

The India International Excellence (IIE Awards) Awards for social work – a national award, is one of the highest Indian awards for social workers by a private institution.

Winners are selected by a jury panel consisting of 25 prominent citizens that include former diplomats, retired judges, journalists, lawyers, law-makers, businessmen, environmentalists and doctors.