Tanzania-based Khoja doctor – Dr Zulfiqarali G Abbas has received the “Award of the Year” for his outstanding work in the field of Diabetic Foot in the past 30 years from the Diabetic Foot Society of India (DFSI) and Asia Pacific Association for Diabetic Limbs Problems.
Who is Dr Zulfiqarali G Abbas?
Dr Zulfiqarali G Abbas is a Consultant Physician, Endocrinologist and Diabetologist based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, who has been involved in the field of Diabetic Foot since 1992. He is an MBBS, M Med, DTM&H (UK) and has been awarded FRCP honours from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the Royal College of Physicians of London.
He is one of the founding members of the “Step by Step” Foot Project, a project initiated to train healthcare personnel in diabetic foot management, facilitate the transfer of knowledge and expertise, and improve patient education. The project was started in Dar es Salaam in 2003 and currently has been implemented in 112 countries globally.
Dr Zulfiqarali is currently the President-Elect of D-Foot International, Founder and Chair of the Pan-African Diabetic Foot Study Group, Executive board member of IWGDF for International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot and Vice-President of the Association of International Medical Salvage of the Extremity.
He is also a member of the editorial boards of several international peer-reviewed journals and has published extensive work on the epidemiology of diabetic limb complications. He has written several book chapters, edited a book on the diabetic foot for healthcare workers and is actively participating in enhancing scientific knowledge around diabetes and its complications.
About Diabetic Foot Society of India
The Diabetic Foot Society of India, – “DFSI,” as it is popularly called, is one of the few societies worldwide dedicated to managing the Diabetic Foot, which was established on 30th March 2002. It has been at the forefront of training and sensitizing numerous medical and paramedical personnel through highly structured, innovative and state-of-the-art educational programs all over India and abroad to prevent lower limb amputations in diabetic foot diseases.
DFSI has single-handedly transformed diabetic foot problems in India from a wholly neglected complication to now being well attended to by numerous physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and paramedics.
The tireless efforts of DFSI have resulted in the development of sensitive and standard equipment to measure the neuropathic deficit quantitatively. This has helped guide therapy, measure outcomes, and precisely identify the risks associated with ulceration diabetic foot. Millions of feet have been tested by these instruments creating a solid wave of awareness and care.
DFSI has improved the quality of Diabetic footwear in India by guiding many manufacturers to develop the kind of footwear that diabetic feet require, according to various well-understood principles. This good quality footwear has been manufactured and marketed across India.
Recognition for His Outstanding Work
The DFSI has consecutively held Annual National Conferences for the last 20 years. These conferences have brought cutting-edge research and newer treatment and diagnostic modalities to India, enhancing the knowledge level of foot practitioners.
Every year, one person is awarded a prestigious award on behalf of DFSI for their outstanding work in the field. This year (2022), the 20th annual conference was held in Goa, India, in October 2022, and the award was given to Dr Zulfiqarali, who was selected unanimously from nominees from all over the world.
In addition to the above, Dr Zulfiqarali has received the Karel Baker Diabetic Foot Award from the International Working Group of Diabetic Foot in May 2019 and the Life Achievement Award from the World Union of Wound Healing Societies in March 2022.
The Khojanews team congratulates Dr Zulfiqarali G Abbas for his achievements and prays to Allah (swt) to grant him success in all his endeavours, Ameen.