Udupi: The Centenary Year Celebrations of Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital, Udupi began with the inauguration of the New Block of CSI Lombard Memorial College of Nursing by Vinay Hegde, Chancellor of NITTE Deemed to be University on Wednesday, June 15.
In his inaugural address, Vinay Hegde said, “Lombard hospital has been doing great work and has a good reputation. It is difficult to run a charitable hospital without having a medical college backup. Money must come from the institution itself for providing infrastructure. Future projects should be done with meticulous planning,” he said.
Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of the Udupi Catholic Diocese in his blessings said, “Everyone realized the importance of health during the pandemic. While we need to have good hospitals, it is also important to reduce the patient rate with preventive measures.”
Kurma Rao, Deputy Commissioner of Udupi district, released a booklet on the history of Lombard Hospital and congratulated the hospital on completing 100 years. “It is not easy to get public confidence. This hospital has done exemplary work,” he said.
Presiding over the function, the Director of the hospital, Dr Sushil Jathanna said that the hospital started out in a small way when it was founded by Dr Eva Lombard on June 15, 1923. “This was the first mother and child-focused unit in the Coastal region. Now it includes all major units and provides the best services with experienced staff,” he said.
He added that the hospital plans to develop into a super speciality hospital, expand its educational base with more courses in nursing and allied health sciences and offer more community-based services like a palliative care centre, home care services and outreach clinics in the rural areas of Udupi. With these initiatives, the hospital is working towards establishing a full-fledged medical college in Udupi, he said.
Earlier in the morning, Jayakar Shetty, General Manager of Badagabettu Cooperative Society, inaugurated a Blood Donation Camp. 93 persons donated blood. Rev. Sr. Sujatha, Vice President, CSI Karnataka Southern Diocese (KSD) led the Thanksgiving Service at the Mission Hospital Chapel in the afternoon.
William Carey, secretary, KSD, Vincent Palanna, treasurer, KSD, Stanley Karkada, Christian Medical and Educational Fellowship Trust, Ramesh Kanchan, councillor of 76 Badagubettu ward, Mohammed Maula, businessman, Subhas Soans, Shabhi Khazi, Jamiyathullah Fhalada, Dr Prema Kunder, retired Gynaecologist, Dr Deepa Rao, gynaecologist were present.
The formal stage function began with an invocation by nursing students. Ivan D. Soans offered prayer. Dr Suja Karkada, the principal, of Lombard College of Nursing welcomed the gathering. Dean Prabhavathi gave a vote of thanks.
