Mangalore, July 25, 2018: Eminent city based pediatrician Dr. Santosh Soans has been selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious ‘Outstanding Asian Pediatrician Award 2018’. The award is given by the Asia Pacific Pediatric Association in recognition of the recipients’ outstanding contribution to the field of pediatrics.

Along with India, Asia Pacific Pediatric Association includes 26 countries such as Australia, Japan, China, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

Dr. Santosh Soans is only the third Indian so far to receive the award. He will receive the honour during the award distribution ceremony on August 28, 2018 at Peninsula lsland in Nusa Dua-Bali, Indonesia.

The award distribution coincides with 16th Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatrics 2018, 9th Annual Scientific Meeting of Indonesian Pediatric Society and the 6th Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatric Nursing, to be held from August 23-29, 2018 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Nusa Dua-Bali, Indonesia.

A pioneer in Pediatric Intensive Care in this region, Dr Santosh Soans is an experienced academic and practicing pediatrician. He is a much sought after speaker for national and international medical conferences. He has authored two books, contributed chapters to several medical text books and published articles in various medical journals.

Dr. Santosh Soans is presently the National President of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP). He has been active in IAP for over three decades and has served as the National Vice President (2010), National Chairman, Intensive Care Chapter (2013) and Karnataka State President (2015).

A native of Kundapur, Dr. Santosh Soans is an alumnus of Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and Manipal. He is presently serving at AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore as Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatrics as well as the Chief of NICU / PICU. He has earlier served as faculty at Father Muller Medical College too.

Responding to the award, Dr. Santosh Soans said: “I feel deeply humbled to be selected for this rare honour from Asia Pacific Pediatric Association. I am grateful to my family, colleagues and friends who have supported me in my life journey. I dedicate this award to the resilience of the Indian pediatrician community, which continues to inspire me every day.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.

According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.

The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.

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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.

"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.

He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.

Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.

LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.

According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.

"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.

He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.

AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.

"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.

Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.

"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.

Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.

"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.

He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.

Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.

"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.

On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.

"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.

Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.

He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.

Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.

"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.

Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.

"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.

CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.

"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.

Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.

"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.

Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.

"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.