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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Moscow (PTI): Russian President Vladimir Putin is making all possible efforts to de-escalate the crisis in the Gulf and is in close contact with the regional leaders as Iran is retaliating with massive strikes on the US facilities and infrastructure on their territories, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. 

The US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on Saturday, assassinating 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside family members, including his daughter and grandchildren. Since then, Iran has targeted multiple US bases in the surrounding Gulf States.

"Putin will certainly make every effort to facilitate at least a minor easing of tensions. In this regard, we discussed with virtually all of our interlocutors yesterday," the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"Taking advantage of the dialogue we maintain with the Iranian leadership, (President) Putin will convey his deep concern regarding the strikes on their infrastructure to our colleagues in Iran," he added.

According to the Kremlin, Putin spoke by telephone with leaders of  Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

In his telephonic conversation with Crown Prince and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, Putin discussed the escalating situation in the region as a result of the American-Israeli armed aggression against Iran.

“Both sides expressed serious concern over the real risks of escalation of the conflict, which has already affected several Arab countries and is fraught with catastrophic consequences. In this context, Vladimir Putin underscored the urgent need to resolve the current extremely dangerous situation through political and diplomatic means,” the Kremlin said.

On Monday, Putin also had telephonic contacts with the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who currently chairs the Gulf Cooperation Council,  Emir of the State of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

  “Exchange of views was held regarding the unprecedented escalation around Iran as a result of US and Israeli aggression, which is bringing the entire region to the brink of a full-scale war with unpredictable consequences. Sides underscored the need for a swift cessation of hostilities to prevent the situation from spiralling completely out of control and to return it to a political and diplomatic framework,” the Kremlin said.

  The current developments, in particular, threaten the security of many Arab states with which Russia maintains friendly relations.

Given this, President Putin reaffirmed Russia's readiness to use all available means to actively contribute to stabilising the situation in the region, the Kremlin said, adding that contacts with the Gulf leaders will continue.