HELP accessible

"Dr Hufrish Surali-wala, medical information manager of Dr Malpani’s Health Education Library for People (HELP)...has been organizing free health related talks on the first and third Saturdays of every month since 1999 at Om Chambers, Kemps Corner, (Bombay),” notes an entry in the Limca Book of Records 2003 in its medical sciences section. It has been featured as the "longest running series of talks on health awareness,” as the first HELP talk was delivered on June 19, 1999 by oncologist Dr Vijay Haribhakti who spoke on "Everything you wanted to know about cancer and did not know whom to ask.”

Aimed at making patients savvy by empowering them with authentic health information provided by various specialists, in the last nearly four years the eminent doctors who have participated in the series include Drs R. K. Anand, Prakash Kothari, Rani Raote, Kirit Mody, Rajesh Parikh, Anjali Mukerjee, Ashit and Rekha Sheth, yoga exponent Zubin Zar­thoshtimanesh, fitness expert Nawaz Modi Singhania and holistic health speaker Mickey Mehta. The diverse topics covered range from cancer, cosmetic dentistry, breast feeding, magnet therapy, sexuality, sports medicine, suicide prevention, tai chi, heart disease, mental disorders, spirituality, deafness, diet and nutrition, homeopathy and cosmetology.

Suraliwala: health savvy

"I think it is a brilliant concept to let lay people know about health-related subjects. Creating physical and behavioral awareness is an urgent need today,” opined Dr Rakesh Sinha, the pioneer of gynecological endoscopy in India and a motivational expert who has in the past spoken at HELP.

Starting with a modest attendance of 16-20 people initially, over the years "the popularity and attendance of these programs has increased tremendously (being) known among masses for bringing in medical experts of high credibility,” notes Suraliwala. "We hand-pick our speakers, selecting those who are the most prominent in their field of expertise,” Suraliwala was quoted in The Indian Express of February 25, 2003. At the end of a session participants are given a response form to indicate their area of interest so that the organizers could arrange talks on subjects where additional information is sought.

At HELP, information on every topic concerning health can be available in minutes, attests a write-up in the Afternoon Despatch and Courier of March 3, 2003. Hitherto the HELP talks have been organized in English but realizing that people who have the least information on health issues do not speak or understand English, Suraliwala admitted that it was one area that needed to be improved upon.

A cosmetic dentist by profession, Suraliwala has held several talks in her field of specialization. She is also a consultant to the Limca Book’s medical sciences section. For more information on HELP talks call Suraliwala on 23683334 or e-mail: drhufrish@ hotmail.com