Career

Dr. Ashok Kumar Prabath is the Chief Program Officer of HOPE Foundation, India. Currently, he is based at Chennai. He has acquired enormous expertise in developing concepts and strategies for Community Health and Development Programs. His responsibilities include implementing such programs in the Southern states of TN, AP and Kerala. Prior to this, Dr. Prabath was the CEO of HOPE Foundation, India (1999 - 2003). He relinquished this position in favor of the more senior, more qualified and more experienced Mr. Mark Templer. Prior to this, Dr. Prabath had served as Program Director, of HOPE Foundation in various cites like Bangalore, Kolkota, and Delhi (1993 -1999). Dr. Prabath began his service as a volunteer in HOPE Foundation between 1991 and 1993, alongside his medical training.

Education

Dr. Prabath is a medical graduate from Stanley Medical College, Madras University (1991). After his internship, he went to St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore for further medical training (1993-94). He has also received training on TB control from the National TB Institute, Bangalore.

Work and Recognitions

During his tenure in HOPE Foundation, Dr. Prabath had carried out numerous Interventions for the social transformation and upliftment of the needy. As Program Director at Bangalore, he had carried out community health initiatives including slums clinics, vaccination programs, TB control as well as malnutrition and AIDS prevention programs. Between 1993 and 1995, he had organized Five Leadership Training Programs on “The needs of the poor and needy in the Third World”. As an ardent believer in bringing out social changes through education he had set up educational programs for slum children in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. The Aids Home of HOPE instituted by him in Chennai serves as a center of Hope for several HIV/Aids Orphans and widows.

He has also managed Disaster Relief Programs post the Orissa Floods, Bhuj Earthquake and the recent Tsunami.

Dr. Prabath has received recognition from the WHO officials for the implementation of the Microscopic and Treatment Centre in a slum community in Bangalore. The officials hailed the Clinic as a model in TB control approach.

Presentations

Dr. Prabath has taken part in numerous National and International Fora and has also presented his views in many of them. He has spoken on “The Health Needs of the Third World Countries” at the International Physicians Seminar at Los Angeles (1995), on “Tuberculosis Management through DOTS” at the International Health Conference, Cambodia (2001) and on “HIV/AIDS – Issues in India” at Los Angeles (2002).