Inauguration of the New Building of Indian Medical Association’s Dibrugarh Branch: Felicitation of Doctors and Journalists

M Hashim Ali, Dibrugarh, Rongili Barta-  Dr. Saikat Patra, Mayor of Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation, inaugurated the newly constructed office building of the Dibrugarh branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on 27 July. The building is located beside the national highway in Dibrugarh city, in front of the “John Berry White Medical School” in Graham Bazaar. In his inaugural speech, Dr. Patra extended his best wishes to all members of the IMA and urged them to continue working for the benefit of society in the future.It is noteworthy that the Dibrugarh branch of the IMA, established in 1948, previously did not have an office. Despite ongoing efforts, it was under the leadership of renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Gauri Sankar Borgohain and medicine specialist and author Dr. Mriganka Baruah, who took charge in 2023, that the association, with its over three hundred members, succeeded in securing 3(three) kathas of land from the government this year. Following this, the construction work began swiftly, and the building was completed at a cost of over 1.5 million rupees, leading to its inauguration on 27 July.    The inaugural ceremony, presided over by Dr. G.S. Borgohain, saw the participation of Dr. Sanjiv Kakoti, the Principal of Assam Medical College and Hospital, as the distinguished guest. Dr. Kakoti highlighted that the IMA is a unified organization of doctors from all branches of medicine and stressed the importance of mutual cooperation among doctors to enhance the association’s impact. He also mentioned that the funds raised from a recent event of the department of toxicology would be contributed to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dibrugarh branch’s fund. Due to severe artificial flooding in early July, Doctor’s Day could not be observed on 1 July in Dibrugarh. Instead, on this occasion, three doctors—retired professor of pathology at Assam Medical College, Dr. Dhrubajyoti Baruah (posthumously), retired professor of surgery Dr. Jatindra Nath Bhagawati, and practicing doctor Dr. Gobin Kumar Deuri from Lahowal, Bakapara, and Thakurthan regions—were felicitated with traditional Assamese gamosas, flower bouquets, and commendation certificates. For the first time, non-medical person, senior journalist and writer Ratan Hazarika from ‘Aamar Asom’, was also honored for his contributions to journalism and social fields. Dr. Gobin Kumar Deuri and Ratan Hazarika expressed their feelings on behalf of the felicitated individuals. The distinguished guests present, including Dr. Roma Medhi, Dr. Reena Ahmed, Mayor Dr. Saikat Patra, Dr. Sanjiv Kakoti, and Assam Medical College Hospital(AMCH) Superintendent Dr. Prashanta Dihingia, congratulated the honorees. Dr. Mriganka Baruah, the association’s secretary, provided a brief overview of the construction of the new building and the organization’s activities. Following this, a cultural program was organized. The event was attended by prominent doctors of the city and over a hundred members of the association. Earlier, the association’s president Dr. G.S. Borgohain hoisted the organization’s flag and inaugurated a free health check-up camp.