Silchar / New Delhi, India — February 23, 2026, Dr. Shabnam Bahar Barbhuiya now holds a national distinction for fueling understanding around giving blood without payment. From Silchar to New Delhi, her work at the Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Blood Centre caught attention - steady effort meeting rare acknowledgment. Recognition arrived just after sunrise in late winter, tied to her role guiding medical teams while pushing public outreach. Not flashy, yet firm in intent, her campaigns reshaped how locals view voluntary donations. Though based far from capital corridors, impact rippled outward quietly. Honor follows dedication, not spectacle. One life touched lead to another.
Held February 5 at IIMSAR and Dr BC Roy Hospital in Haldia, West Bengal, the 30th Annual Conference of the Association of Rural Surgeons of India handed out its top honour. Dr. Barbhuiya took home the widely respected "Champion of Rural Surgery" title that day. Only a few healthcare workers nationwide earned this recognition in the current round. While many gathered for the event, her name stood apart among those called forward.
A Unique Honour from the Northeast
From the entire northeast of India, only she received the honour, a sign of how differently people see blood donation now because of her work across remote corners of Barak Valley. Five years spent moving through villages changed conversations, slowly replacing hesitation with understanding about giving blood without payment. Because information spread hand to hand, clinics found better access to supplies when emergencies struck. Lives stayed whole where shortages once caused harm.
On Receiving the Honor
Out they’re accepting the honour, Dr. Barbhuiya shared that being recognized would push her further in doing what she does. Not far into her speech, she made space for those who stood beside her - groups giving time freely, people offering blood without hesitation, workers showing up daily at blood centres. Far from overlooked, a nod went straight to the Barak Valley Voluntary Blood Donors Forum, their steady hand helping move things forward.
“Many patients still lose their lives because they do not receive blood on time,” Dr. Barbhuiya noted. “Creating awareness so that healthy individuals donate blood regularly is essential to saving lives.”
Local Recognition and Community Pride
That national award? It sparked something real. Groups across Barak Valley began moving. Not just one, but many - like the area branch of the Barak Valley Voluntary Blood Donors Forum - took part. A gathering unfolded on February 10. The place: Cachar Cancer Hospital Blood Centre. Purpose? To stand with Dr. Barbhuiya. Her work, deeply human, touched lives. That day reflected it.
She pushed hard for better public health awareness, earning praise from local organizers and care workers. Her drive lit a spark in others, pulling volunteers and supporters into the effort without grand speeches or fanfare. This honour reflects more than personal achievement - blood gifts keep strangers alive when medicine falls short.
