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Good Samaritans
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Health and hygiene is one of the basic needs of the society. Motivated by the same spirit of Jesus Christ who went about healing the sick, the Diocese carries out the hospital ministry through 8 Hospitals, 2 Leprosy Hospitals, 20 Dispensaries and 2 homes for the handicapped. The most deserving aged people are cared through 2 homes.
Sacred Heart Leprosy Centre, Kumbakonam
Sagayamatha Hospital, Pullambadi Holy Cross Hospital,
Perambalur The Helen Keller School for the Hearing-Impaired
Sacred Heart Laprosy Centre
The society of the SACRED HEART LEPROSY CENTRE was founded on 4th November 1916 by a Belgian Priest, Rev.Fr.Jean Michotte, as an asylum to care for the leprosy patients who were expelled by their families and friends because of the social stigma prevailing in the society in those days. The management of the society was entrusted by the Diocese of Kumbakonam, to the Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI). Sr. Caroline, a German National who contracted the disease from the patients whom she treated and Sr. Marie de Britto who generously worked among leprosy patients were the pioneers of this hospital. At that time, 200 patients were sheltered in the asylum.
Specific treatment for Hansen's disease was discovered in the fifties. In the late sixties, Emmaus-Leprosy Relief Association, Switzerland, our principal funding agency, appointed Dr. Zwicky, a Physician, during which time the asylum was transformed into a hospital. Dr.Wyss, a Surgeon, also a Swiss National, started visiting our hospital. The hospital blossomed into a full-fledged hospital with all the basic infrastructure facilities like:
1.Out-Patient Department.
2.In-patient service.
3.Department of Medicine.
4.Department of Surgery.
5.Department of Ophthalmology.
6.Laboratory.
7.Physiotherapy.
8.Occupational Therapy.
9.Special footwear and prosthetic workshop.
10.Social Welfare and Rehabilitation departments.
11.Special Middle School for children afflicted by leprosy.
This hospital, the largest NGO undertaking in Asia, has for its credit many a national and state award for its excellent service in the field of leprosy.
After the advent and wide use of modern treatment as per the WHO guidelines, leprosy has been brought under control, (the incidence, prevalence and rehabilitation of leprosy cases have been checked) in the recent years. The Leprosy Control Units run by the government and NGOs are now closed and merged with Government Primary Health Centres. Even after the closure of these centres, the attendance in our outpatient department remains constant. The World Health Organization has made a forecast that leprosy would be eradicated by 2002.
The flow of funds therefore has declined since half-a-decade. But in our case, this being referral hospital dealing with complications, the number remains constant and hence our response is needed for many more years. Until May 1999, our activities were exclusively for the treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients.
Over the years many leprosy students have completed their studies from our middle school run exclusively for leprosy affected boys and girls and they were helped for pursuing their higher studies in regular schools/institutions. Some of the boys and girls were helped and are being helped to undergo training in vocational courses by our Social Welfare Department.
From June, 1999, onwards we expanded our activities in order to sustain our leprosy related activities; in the wake of decreasing funds from funding agencies, we are compelled to mobilize our own funds and this will be possible only by upgrading this hospital into a General Hospital. To reach this goal, with the active collaboration of Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (Deemed University), Porur, Chennai-600 116, we have started to treat general cases at the O.P.D., by introducing General Medicine, Dermatology, Orthopedic and Cardiology Departments in our hospital. With this new venture, nearly one million rural poor people in and around Kumbakonam will be able to get cost effective Medicare. We are looking forward to introduce new disciplines in the coming years so that the rural masses will be very much benefited.
Our diversifications will in no way affect or change our primary commitment to care for people affected by leprosy. Rather they are meant to help both the general public in and around the area and sustain our efforts to continue our work among people with leprosy complications.
Address
Rev. Fr. M.A. Sebastian, Director
Sacred Heart Leprosy Centre,
Karaikal Road
Kumbakonam -612 001
Thanjavur Dt.
South India
Phone :
0435 411 482 Office
411 401 Residence
410 018 Fax
E-mail Address(es) : shlc@tr.dot.net.in
Sahaya Matha Health Educational Service Society
The Sagaya Matha (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) Hospital was started in 1962 to render General Medical Aid to all people and maternity services to women. Later it has also started a Leprosy Centre, a school for training girls for Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery course.
The main objective of this institution is to:
i. to offer general medical aid to the sick
ii. to render maternity services for women
iii.to eradicate leprosy
iv. to rehabilitate abandoned sick people and leper patients
v. to conduct technical training for nurses, midwives and other technical staff needed for the Hospital.
vi. to estabilish, maintain and administer institutions needed to fulfil the following objects such as:
a. medical institutions like hospitals, dispensaries, clinics, leprosy units, tec.
b. welfare institutions for abandoned and sick people
c. educational institutions to impart technical training for nurses, midwives, health workers, etc.
d. rehabilitation centres, houses for staff, etc.
The Bishop of Kumbakonam Diocese is the President of the SAGAYAMATHA HEALTH EDUCATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY and the administration of the hospital is entrusted to the Sisters of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pondicherry.
Address
Rev. Sr. Administrator
Sagayamatha Hospital,
Pullambadi S.O.
Trichy Dt - 621 711
South India
Phone: 04329 41304
Holy Cross Hospital-Perambalur.
A small block of the Holy Cross Hospital was blessed and inaugurated by Most Rev. P.REMIGIUS, the Bishop of Kumbakonam and opened by Mr. Kosala Raman I.A.S., the District Collector of Perambalur on November 1998. In this block, half of the portion is hospital (dispensary) and other half of the block is residence of the Sisters and staff (2 rooms).
Holy Cross Sisters who have their Provincialate at Kollam, Kerala, are working in this hospital. There are four sisters at present working in different department.
Staff nurse and public health nurse
Staffs nurse with operation theatre specialization.
Laboratory technician
Receptionist cum secretary.
The hospital is having a M.B.S.S doctor and lay Auxiliary Nurse Midwife. We are busy with outpatients as well as inpatients too. We have converted two rooms into a ward where we have put eight beds. All kind of diseases and pregnancy are attended in the wards. Since the patients are poor, we can expect absolutely anything from them. On an average there are about 25 deliveries. Last year we had three complicated cases whom we had to take to Trichy which is 70 kms away. We treat the patients mostly of viral fever, chest infection, tuberculosis, Brain fever, Malaria, phylaria, jaundies, typhoid, peptic ulcer, gastro entireties, hypertension, etc. Since malnutrition and ammonia is common in antenatal cases, we can see more abortions, premature deliveries and low birth rates.
At present in Perambalur, medical facilities are very limited. Besides the hospital work, we visit the villages, slums, especially for primary health care.
Now the block `A' construction is fast moving, the basic structure is over. In this block, we have wards, causalities, cardiac unit and dispensary store. Yet we have to build labour room, maternity ward, intensive care unit, surgical ward, x-ray, scan, laboratory unit, staff quarters, sisters quarters, laundry, incinerator, overhead water tank, generator and power control unit, etc. Since the hospital is going to be a referral one, all facilities should be there.
Address
Rev. Sr. Administrator,
Holy Cross Hospital,
North Madavi Road,
Perambalur P.O. & Dt. - 621 212,
South India,
Phone : 04328 78095, 75795.
The Kelen Keller School for the Hearing-Impared-Kurukku Road.
The Helen Keller Hearing Impaired School was Started on 15th June 1995 at Kurukku Road, situated on the national highways to Chennai (Madras) 40 km from Kumbakonam. Five Sisters from the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Incarnation have come to our help in taking care of the children and imparting education.
Most of the children stay in the school itself. There are five-classrooms at present. This academic year, there are 61 students studying here.
| Class |
Boys |
Girls |
Total |
| Pre-School |
9 |
8 |
17 |
| I Standard |
8 |
5 |
13 |
| II Standard |
7 |
3 |
10 |
| III Standard |
7 |
3 |
10 |
| IV Standard |
7 |
4 |
14 |
| Total |
38 |
23 |
61 |
There are 8 staff working for these children. The children are very enthusiastic and their performance are quite satisfactory. With the help of the hearing aid, at least some of them are able to hear a little bit. They are trying to articulate their speech according to their teachers and to an appreciable extend they succeed in their attempt.
Address
Rev. Sr. Principal,
Helen Keller School for the Hearing-Impaired,
Cross Road
Kollapuram,
P.O.
Gangaikondacholapuram Via,
Perambalur Dt - 612 901,
South India,
Phone : 04331 44446.
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