FMCI Opens ‘Fr Muller Salvadore Monteiro Rural Health Training Centre’ on Pope’s Land-Bajpe
- Father Muller Charitable Institutions-Mangaluru Opens ‘Father Muller Salvadore Monteiro Rural Health Training Centre’ on Pope’s Land-Bajpe, a place where Pope John Paul II had visited in 1986. Former Bishop of Mangalore Diocese, Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’ Souza, had laid the foundation stone for the Rural Health Training Centre on 18th December 2017.
Mangaluru: Thirty-two years ago, (February 6, 1986) was very special for Mangaloreans, especially the Christians, with approximately five lakh people gathering at Bajpe to have a glimpse of Pope John Paul II, the first and only Pope to visit Karnataka. It was the Divine presence Pope John Paul II addressing the gathering during his visit to Bajpe, in the outskirts of Mangaluru on February 6, 1986. Though the Pope was scheduled to visit Bengaluru that year, the venue was changed to Mangaluru, also known as the “Rome of the East,” as the atmosphere in the ‘Garden City’ was not conducive.
People cutting across religious and caste lines thronged the venue, near the Bajpe airport, from every nook and corner of the State and outside the State, for the only engagement of the Pope in Karnataka. For many, it was like seeing God when they had a glimpse at the Pope that day. The announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that he will beatify Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011, at St Peter’s Square in Rome doubled the joy for the Catholic community. In February 2014, a shrine was built honouring Pope John Paul II, with the support of devotees of Mangalore Diocese at a cost Rs 1.5 crore, on the place where Pope addressed a humongous gathering of four lakh plus on February 6, 1986.
Since the Church was inaugurated on the place where Pope addressed a huge gathering, many miracles have taken place, of which, one being that for years no water was found when bore wells were dug, but now there is plenty of water available. And now yet another miracle has happened after 32 years, a full-fledged hospital/Rural Health Training Cente has blossomed on the land where Pope John Paul II spoke to the people. And the 50 cents land for this project was donated by longtime Bajpe resident, Salvadore Monteiro, his wife and family. With the launching of this Health Care Centre, now the Bajpe residents don’t have to travel far to Mangaluru City for their Health Care needs, instead get all the treatment and other Health Care facilities at this new Hospital.
The launching of “Father Muller Salvadore Monteiro Rural Health Training Centre” was held on Thursday, 1 November 2018 on Pope Layout, Bajpe at 11.30 am. On the occasion, a free medical health check-up camp was also organised at the centre from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. where many locals showed up and availed the Free offer. The inauguration of the Çentre’ by cutting the ribbon was done by land donors Mrs and Mr Salvadore Monteiro-Bajpe, and the unveiling of the placard was done by former MLA J R Lobo, while the inauguration of the First floor was done by MLA Dr Bharath Shetty.
After a short prayer service and blessing of the premises by Rev Dr Peter Paul D’souza- the Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese, it was time to celebrate the inauguration of the ‘Centre’, which was graced by eminent dignitaries namely- District Minister-in-charge U T Khader; Fr Richard Coelho- Director, Fr Muller Charitable Institutions; MLC Ivan D’souza; Fr Marcel Saldanha- Vicar Forane-Pezar Varado; Fr Leo William Lobo-Parish Priest, St Joseph Church-Bajpe; Dr Prof Francis Monteiro-Associate Dean, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, and also the Son of the land donor; Smt Vijaya Gopala Suvarna, President Kandavara Grama Panchayat; Smt Rohini B., Panchayat Development Officer; U.P. Ibrahim, Member, D.K. Zilla Panchayat, Gurupura; Devendra, Vice-President, Kandavara Grama Panchayat; Smt Vimala and Smt Rohini– Members of Kandavara Grama Panchayat.
Following a prayer song invoking God’s blessings by the Fr Muller School of Nursing students, Fr Richard Coelho in his welcome address said, “Over the past 138 years, Father Muller Charitable Institutions has committed itself to provide the highest quality and comprehensive health care to the patients and families. And this time, the institution has achieved another milestone today ( November 1, 2018) by launching this Rural Health Training Centre at Bajpe. The centre will strive to provide free health care services to the residents of Bajpe. Father Muller Charitable Institutions have been touching the lives of thousands of people for 138 long years. The Institution founded by Father Augustus Muller in 1880 stands out as a hallmark of medical service and education in our country”.
“With its motto of “Heal and Comfort”, it is committed, to improving health care services to alleviate the sufferings of humanity. In continuation of its human endeavour and as a part of its efforts to make basic healthcare accessible to all, the hospital has also been involved in conducting free healthcare camps in nine urban as well as rural areas in the region. By considering the essential medical requirements of Bajpe residents and ensuring that quality and timely healthcare reaches the general public, the hospital has established a rural health training centre in the 50 cents land donated by Salvadore Monteiro. The centre will be catering to the needs of the general public by providing excellent quality health care services and will also function as a medical training hub, for medical students”added Fr Coelho. .
Dr Francis Monteiro expressing his happiness and kind gesture shown by his parents in donating the land for a good cause, speaking said, “My parents always wanted to give back to the community, and today they have made their desire come true where a Health Care Facility has been launched in their name. My parents didn’t live a lavish and rich life, but worked hard to come up in their lives, and also cared in bringing me up, and giving me good education, where because of them I am a professor/Doctor. For my parents this is not the end, they want to contribute more to society when the right time comes, and they will continue their generosity to society. I am indeed grateful to my parents for their kind gesture and generosity in this regard”.
Addressing the gathering U T Khader said, “This Health Care Centre is indeed a gift to the residents of Bajpe, since they have a Health Care Facility right in their hometown, and that they don’t have to travel to the City for treatment. And what a coincidence this facility being launched on Rajotsava Day. When Fr Augustus Muller came to Mangaluru from Germany around 150 years ago, he didn’t bring Bombs in his bag, instead carried Homoeopathic medicine, and later the Hospital ( Fr Muller Hospital) that he opened has reached greater heights and earned name and fame locally, nationally and Internationally. We don’t need to go to the hospital if we manage our diet and lifestyle, but in case we have to visit a hospital, then Fr Muller Hospital is the right place to go for better service and treatment. Bajpe residents will surely enjoy the facilities at this ‘ Centre’, and make sure you avail all the benefits this Centre offers. If the Centre needs any help from my side, I will kindly oblige”
Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha addressing the gathering said, “When one person donates, it benefits ten people or more- and that will be the case here when Salvadore Monteiro with an open heart has come forward to donate this land, where this hospital is built, and many will benefit in their health care needs. Even though the centre will have 25 beds initially, but as time progresses we may add a few more hundred beds. But to carry on with this project, the support and encouragement of the people is needed, and I request the locals around here, to help and see that this Health Care facility reaches greater heights and earn name and fame, like other Fr Muller hospitals. With unity and cooperation, we can make history”.
MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty and Smt Vijaya G Suvarna also speaking on the occasion expressed their gratefulness to Salvadore Monteiro and family in donating the land for a good cause, and Fr Muller Charitable Institutions building a Hospital which would serve many suffering people in and around Bajpe- and also wished the management all success, and assured their help whenever needed. Builders, contractors, and other persons, including donors, who played an important role in constructing this Centre were honored on the occasion. Mrs and Mr Salvadore Monteiro was felicitated, in the presence of their family members and relatives.
Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa-Administrator of Father Muller Medical College Hospital proposed the vote of thanks, and the entire programme was professionally compered by Dr Rithesh D’cunha- Dept of Anaesthesia, FMMC, and Jasmine Sarita Vas-Principal, Fr Muller School of Nursing. Fr Ajith Menezes- Administrator, Father Muller Medical College, Dr Jayaprakash Alva-Dean Father Muller Medical College, Fr Roshan – Administrator, and Dr Kiran Shetty- Medical Superintendent, both of Fr Muller Hospital-Thumbay; were among many who graced this occasion.
