JASC: Journal of Applied Science and Computations ISSN NO: 1076-5131 The Medical Services of Kottar Diocese D.Geetha a, T. Dharmaraj b aResearch Centre, Scott Chrisian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil, Affliated to M.S University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli – 627012, Tamilnadu,India bSt. Jude's College, Thoothoor, Kaniyakumari Dt.-629176 Abstract The catholic religious institutions give the people a philosophy of life and a code of behaviour. These help them to remove ignorance, fear, superstitions and misunderstandings and make them free economically, psychologically and spiritually. The diocese of Kottar and its institutions are based on the spirit of service, charity and communal development. The diocese of Kottar has many traditional and well-established ecclesiastical, charitable, educational, medical, cultural, technical, ethical and economic institutions, which adopt a network of multifarious social and charitable activities. The dedicated service of the priests, nuns and counsellors are highly commendable. These institutions teach and train the faithful the virtues of brotherhood, liberty, tolerance, and understanding. These institutions mould and shape the catholics to be a model to the other people of their surroundings. Kanyakumari ranks as one of the best districts of India for literacy, social and economic growth and the Latin Catholic faith has been working as the biggest force motivating the people to undertake social welfare services. All the services of these institutions are designed for the social, economic, physical, mental health and care of the weaker sections including women, children, the aged, the infirm, handicaps, the backward communities etc. MEDICAL SERVICES The medical service in the diocese of Kottar is highly commendable. Medical facilities were limited in Kanyakumari region during 1960’s. Bishop Agnisamy centered rural health as the main aim of establishing hospitals in the remote villages of the diocese. The medical and nursing service have been undertaken by the nuns of different congregations throughout the diocese. Many mission hospitals have been functioning in the villages. The catholic mission hospitals have been taking care of the people live in the villages 1. Rev. Sister Beneditta Lawrence of Zurich Holy Cross Mission of Switzerland came for voluntary service in the tuberculosis hospital, Asaripallam, Nagercoil with seven nuns. On the request of Bishop Agnisamy and the Diocesan Council she started a new hospital at Christunagar, Vetturnimadam, Nagercoil in 1960. This congregation of sisters visited the homes and gave medical help to the people of the surroundings. These sisters enlightened the people of the rural area about general health and hygiene. In1972, the hospital building was extended and in patients were allowed for service. The priests of the diocese, the nuns and the clergy undergo treatment in this hospital. This hospital locates in the district capital and serves the people of the whole district2. The hospital was extended with new blocks of buildings and in May 2008 the hospital has more facilities like general medicine, child medicine, pregnancy treatment, surgery, neurological treatment etc 3. 1 Report, Medical Mission, Diocese of Kottar, Nagercoil, 1972, p.7. 2 Report, Holy Cross Hospital, Christunagar, Nagercoil, 1980, pp.3-6. 3 Ibid ., 2009, pp.1-4. Volume V, Issue XII, December/2018 Page No:1916 JASC: Journal of Applied Science and Computations ISSN NO: 1076-5131 Karingal is a remote place in the Kalkulam taluk of Kanyakuamri district which comes under the religious division of Mulagumoodu vicariate of the Kottar diocese. Bishop Agnisamy and the senior priest Fr. Rajappan Anthonymuthu took steps to establish a hospital at Karingal. In 1965 the bishop contacted the Nirmala mission to start medical service at Karingal. In 1966, Sr.Rita Mag John, the mother superior of Madras region gave permission to Sr. Clara Felicita, the head of Tiiruchinapolly mission to start a clinic at Karingal. Sr. Angella and Sr. James started the medical service in an old building in this region 4. On 2 nd February 1971, a new building and a convent dedicated to St. Nirmala were blessed and opened by Bishop Agnisamy and the parish priest Fr. A. Gabriel. The sisters visited the areas like Colachel, Kurumpanai, Marthandam, Kodimunai, Thengapattinam, Midalam, Kappukad, Thuckalay etc. and gave medical service to the people. This unit started medical as well as counselling centers in the location of Karingal. The service of Dr. Valsa Peter and Dr. Rose Rajamony are highly commendable in this area. Every year free medical camps are conducted in the church premises of Karingal 5. During the time of tsunami, Nirmala hospital conducted free medical camps at Pillaithope, Kadiyapattinam, Kottilpadu and Colachel parishes 6. In the Vilavancode taluk at Mullanginavilai the Sacred Heart of St. Mary’s congregation of Puthucherry administers a rural hospital from 8 th April 1967. This hospital was blessed by Bishop Agnisamy at the presence of parish priest Fr. A. Dionysius. This hospital has been serving the people of Nattalam and Tharathattu villages. The service is dedicated to St. Antony and the hospital is named after this patron saint 7. The Manalikarai Medical Mission is very important in Kanyakumari district. The Carmelites started the medical service in this region. Rev. Fathers. Stephen Mary and Jerome took pains in starting the medical mission and on 14 th September 1971, the hospital was inaugurated by the health minister of Kerala Mr. Baby John 8. From 1971 to 1991 this hospital was supervised by Keraliate Carmel Mission of Quilon and from 1991, it is being supervised by Tamilnadu Carmel Mission. In 1999, a new building was attached to the old block with all modern medical facilities and the new structure was blessed by Bishop Leon A.Tharmaraj. The medical mission is helpful in the areas of Mavaravilai, Manakkavilai, Chetticharvilai, Verkilambi, Swamiyarmadam, Udaiyarvilai, Kannanoor, Kallankuzhi, Chemparuthivilai, Muttaikadu, Ethavilai, Kumarapuram, Mekkamandapam, Kotticodu, Perumsilampu, Chithiramcode villages. The hospital has general medical treatment, child –medical treatment, pregenancy medical treatment and all sorts of medical facilities 9. On 1 st October 1971, the parish priest of Karankadu with the instructions of Bishop Marianus Arokiasmy started St.Aloysius hospital to serve the poor in the villages around Kandanvilai. The mission hospital is administred by the S.D.S (Society of Divine Sisters) congregation 10 . Bishop Arokiasamy, parish priest of Pallam Fr. Rajappan and Sr. Jose Anne of St. Mary’s congregation of Coimbatore started a Catholic Mission hospital at Pallam, on 27 th June 1973 11 . 4 Report, St.Nirmala Mission Hospital, Karingal, 1971, pp.7-9. 5 Ibid ., 6 Report, “Tsunami Relief Work, Diocese of Kottar”, K.S.S.S., Nagercoil, 2007, pp.4-9. 7 Report, St.Antony’, Mission Hospital, Mullanginavilai, 2006, pp.4-9. 8 Report, Carmel Mission Hospital, Manalikarai, 1972, pp.6-7. 9 Report, C.M.H. Manalikarai, 2000, p.9. 10 Report, St. Aloysius Mission Hospital, Kandanvilai, 2005, pp.1-3. 11 Report, “Sahayamatha Catholic Mission Hospital’, Pallam, 1975, p.7. Volume V, Issue XII, December/2018 Page No:1917 JASC: Journal of Applied Science and Computations ISSN NO: 1076-5131 The old building was renovated on 22 nd May 1974, and this building was set on fire on 14 th May 1983, after the Mandaikadu communal conflict between the hindus and christians of this locality. In 1985, the Kottar Social Service Society helped the construction of a new hospital building on the ruins of the old one 12 . On 12 th July 2002, Bishop Leon Augustine Tharmaraj laid the foundation of a new building and it was blessed on 23 rd September 2003 13 . The historical city Colachel has political, religious, and economic importance. The bishop of Kottar M.Arokiasamy, Fr. J.G. Jesudhas and Sr. Pennijus Alfred started St.Mary’s Mission hospital at Colachel on 25 th June 1976. The hospital was functioning in an old building and five sisters nursed the people of this locality 14 . In 1989, a new building was constructed and the medical mission has been serving the people. This hospital has special units like child care centre, pregnancy care centre, alcoholists and addicts care and counselling centre. In 2002, this hospital completed its 25 years of medical service and a surgery unit was started by the missionaries 15 . When tsunami affected the coastal villages of Kottar diocese, this mission did much service to the people. This hospital at present has homeopathy treatment, yoga treatment, magnetic treatment, musical treatment and care 16 . Kadiyapattinam is one of the coastal villages of diocese of the Kottar. On 27 th June 1976, Bishop Arokiasamy, Fr.J.N.Caesar and Fr.Servatius started a new hospital dedicated to St. John and it has been meeting the medical needs of the people of the villages of Kadiyapattinam, Muttom, Chinnavilai, Periyavilai etc. This mission hospital is administered by the sisters of Sacred Heart of Mary’s congregation Pondicherry 17 . The nuns of S.D.S. congregation administer Mother Mary hospital at Chithanthope, a remote village and the new hospital building was blessed by Bishop Leon A. Tharamaraj on 18 th March 1991. It has been serving the children, the women and the aged of the villages of Sadayamangalam, Melapara, Pandaravilai etc 18 . Thengapattinam St.Luke hospital was started by Fr.J. Lucas on 16 th July 1993. The Franciscan sisters run this hospital. Sr. Kulandhai Theresa was the director of this hospital from 1993 to2004. It has been serving the poor and rendering free medical service to many. In 2004, Sister Amalorpavam was appointed director of this hospital 19 . On 19 th December 1993, the parish priest of Kandanvilai Fr. S. Salomon laid the foundation stone for the “Little Flower”, hospital. It pays more attention to the women and children of this locality. Sr. Jerome Jose has been serving as the director of this hospital. This rural hospital does lot of service to the people of Kandanvilai 20 .