A. K. Md. Ahsan Ali (known as Ahsan Ali; 1 May 1937 – 10 September 2019) was a Bangladeshi physician. He was notable for the integration of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

and

leprosy Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...

with general health services and the introduction of

Directly observed treatment, short-course Directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS, also known as TB-DOTS) is the name given to the tuberculosis (TB) control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization. According to WHO, "The most cost-effective way to stop the spread of T ...

(DOTS) for treatment of tuberculosis and MDT for leprosy. He received the

Independence Day Award The Independence Day Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পদক), also termed Independence Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পুরস্কার), Swadhinata Padak, and Swadhinata Puroskar, is the highest state award given by t ...

from the

Government of Bangladesh The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার — ) is the central executive government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Con ...

in 2018.

Early life and education

Ali was born at Rupasdi village in

Brahmanbaria district Brahmanbaria ( bn, ব্রাহ্মণবাড়িয়া, translit=Brahmôṇbaṛiya) is a district in eastern Bangladesh located in the Chittagong Division. Geographically, it is mostly farmland and is topographically part of the Ga ...

. He passed matriculation in 1952 from Rupasdi Brindabon High School and I.Sc. from

Dhaka College Dhaka College ( bn, ঢাকা কলেজ also known as DC) is the oldest secular educational institution of Bangladesh located in Dhaka. It offers higher secondary education ( HSC). It has Honours and Masters programs as well which are aff ...

in 1954. He obtained MBBS from

Dhaka Medical College Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (abbreviated DMCH) is a public medical college and hospital located in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. It houses medical school as well as a tertiary care hospital on one campus. The country's first eve ...

in 1961. He had DTCD from UK in 1965 and higher training in general medicine in 1966. He completed special training on TB management in 1976 and higher training on TB in 1980 from Japan. He received FCCP degree in 1984 and FWAIM Fellowship in 2002 from the United States. He achieved FRCPI from the

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), ( ga, Coláiste Ríoga Lianna na hÉireann) is an Irish professional body dedicated to improving the practice of general medicine and related medical specialities, chiefly through the accredit ...

in 2007 and PhD in integrated medicine in 2010 from the United States.

Career

Ali worked at the

as an associate professor of TB and Chest Diseases during 1966–1980. In 1980, he joined the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH). He acted as the director of the institute several times. He was the first Bangladeshi to be appointed a member of the governing body of SAARC TB Centre in Nepal and later became the Chairman of the institute.

Death

Ali died on 10 September 2019 at the age of 82.

Early life and education

Career

Death

References

Further reading