Mangaluru: The Management, staff and the students of Father Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI), Kankanady, organized its Institution day and Graduation Ceremony at Fr Muller Stadium here, on March 13.
All the guests and the dignitaries marched along with the graduates in a procession and the guests and the dignitaries were escorted to the dais while the graduates took their designated places. The guests were welcomed by the students with a Poorna Kumba. The programme began with an invocation.
Director of FMCI Fr Patrick Rodrigues welcomed the gathering and introduced the chief guest Dr Manju Singh, Joint Secretary of UGC and Prof K Byrappa, Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University. He said, “You graduates should be kind and gentle like Fr Muller.”
Dr Manju Singh and Prof K Byrappa distributed the graduation certificates and medals to the students of General Nursing, Homeopathic Medical students, Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Medical Imaging Technology, Radiotherapy Technology, Physiotherapy, MBBS, MSc MLT MHA MPT and Post Graduate Medical Degree/ Diploma. After the distribution of the certificates and medals, all the graduates were administered the oath to respect all life, human dignity and rights.
Addressing the gathering Dr Manju Singh said, “Amartya Sen had once related health to development he had said that economic growth doesn’t solve social problems. GDP doesn’t represent the real growth of a nation but contribution of economy in the overall health of a nation is the real growth of a nation.”
“India needs universal health coverage and we have to empower the youth as we have no other option and their prosperity is our strength. India is facing acute shortage of doctors since India has only 1 doctor for every 17000 patients and 3 nurses for every 2 doctors, when clearly the recommended number should be 3 nurses for every doctor,” she said.
Dr Manju said that 65% of all medical colleges were in the south-western part of India. “You have gathered enough knowledge to call yourself as a graduate, but you may not feel so as volume and capacity of knowledge to be an expert is growing exponentially. If you cant diagnose all illnesses, at least you can diagnose a 50 of them and you can be an expert in diagnosing at least one.”
She said, “Invention of new drug is not enough, but great medicine should come with an entire package of care.”
Awards and prizes were distributed to the students who had secured top ranks in each discipline. President’s Gold Medal for Best Outgoing MBBS student was awarded to Dr Sanjay Rao Kordcal by Bishop of Mangaluru, Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza.
Prof Byrappa said, “Fr Muller’s is recognized all over the world for its services and the best students the institute has given to the world.” The medical profession was the noblest profession in the world. “This profession needs constant interaction with the patients and India is the best country in this regard. We are the most sought out doctors in all the developed countries. FMCI has great faculty, excellent infrastructure and the facilities available here are not available in any other part of Karnataka,” he added.
He advised the new graduates to respect their profession, obey laws of humanity and practice ethics. “Take rural service to know the reality of India. Don’t forget your ‘Alma Mater’ and your teachers and contribute towards the development of the institute once you reach a higher position in your life,” he said. He urged the graduates to take up career in research.
Dr Aloysius Paul said, “I request you to be honest and sincere to the oath that you have taken today. You have a task of setting humanity free from physical and mental disorders, which is why your profession is sacred. It is a calling by God, a mission and if medicine is not a mission oriented profession then it is doomed to fail. Let your lives be healing and comforting as is the motto of this institution.”
Administrator FMMC Fr Rudolph D’Sa delivered the vote of thanks. The institution anthem was sung by the students of FMCI. A variety entertainment was held by the students of FMCI. Fr Richard Coelho, Fr Roshan Crasta, Fr Vincent Saldanha, Fr Ajith Menezes and the faculty were also present.
By Savney Monteiro, Pics by JP, Team Mangalorean