THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Eminent oncologist and
Padma Shri recipient Dr M
Krishnan Nair
, who was the founding director of the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), died at his residence in Vellayambalam in the capital on Thursday. He was 81.
Dr Krishnan Nair was born in 1939 in Konni as the eldest son of Prof K Madhavan Nair and V Meenakshikutty Amma. He completed MBBS from Thiruvananthapuram medical college in 1965. He pursued higher studies at Amritsar medical college for MD and later at Christie Hospital Manchester for FRCR. He was married to K Valsala and the couple had a daughter.
Dr Krishnan Nair served as professor in Thiruvananthapuram medical college in the 70s and became the founder-director of RCC in 1981. He started with a paediatric wing at the RCC and children from poor families were provided medicines and treatment free of cost.
Dr Krishnan Nair was at the forefront when RCC set up a community and preventive oncology department with the intention of creating awareness about cancer, in 1985. To empower the community on the dangers of cancer and also on how cancer can be cured if detected at the early stage, he implemented a 10-year action plan for cancer control in
Kerala.
The
World Health Organisation, in appreciation and recognition of the community cancer control programmes in the state, had awarded RCC the status of a WHO Collaborating Centre. Dr Krishnan Nair had helped the WHO in preparing the managerial guidelines for the National Cancer Care Control programme and also spearheaded to conduct of the National Cancer Control Programme conference in Geneva in 2000. He was also a member of WHO’s Expert Advisory Panel on Caner.
As the vice-president of the Regional Cancer Association, he conducted extensive anti-tobacco programmes in the state which won him the WHO award in 2000. He was instrumental in starting the first pain clinic at RCC in 1986 and made available Morphine in the state. He has also helped in networking the palliative care centres of the state.
An internationally acknowledged researcher in oncology, Dr Krishnan Nair has to his credit more than 250 scientific papers in international journals. He has also authored over 30 books.
Governor
Arif Mohammed Khan
condoled the demise of Dr Krishnan Nair. “His service to oncology will be long remembered. Heartfelt condolences. May his soul attain Mukti”. Several others, including CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues, condoled the death of Dr Krishnan Nair.
The body was cremated at Shanthikavadam later on the day.