Belthangady: Treading in the footsteps of Late Fr L M Pinto

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Belthangady, Jan 22: Travelling  from Mangalore towards Chickmaglur one comes across  the place called  Guruvaynkere in Belthangady Taluk.  Just at a  distance of about  3 miles  to north from here,  is Baddyar,  where amidst thick forest and Ghats, one can find the dedicated to St  Rafael.   Fr Louis Marcel Pinto,  an enthusiastic and energetic missionary, who  greatly believed in the dictum of  ‘service to humanity as service to god’  was appointed as  the parish priest of this church in the year  1927.

Late Fr L M Pinto

Baddyar,  which is inhabited mainly by the poor and illiterate people of this village,  was devoid of any modern facilities those days.   Except for agriculture  there was no prospect  for undertaking any other profession for the  inhabitants of this village.  Due to heavy rains and severe cold  conditions these people were afflicted with many health problems.   Lot of people  suffered and  precious lives were lost  due to snake bites and other diseases  in this forest area as medical facility was not available in close vicinity.  Transport facility was beyond the reach of the people of this  village those days , even if they wanted to come to Mangalore for treatment.      

Fr Pinto,  could not endure  the agony of the people of this village and wanted to help them cope with their sufferings.   The only option he had  was to invite his brother  Dr Peter Paul to Baddyar  who was a medical practitioner in Chennai.   Dr Peter Paul, a gold medalist from Madras Medical College, was practicing in Chennai (old Madras) and Fr Pinto succeeded in convincing   his brother to leave his well paid practice in Chennai  and come to  the barren land of Badyar to serve the people. 

Late Dr Peter Paul

Dr Peter Paul, who saw the ground reality in Baddyar,  worked sincerely and conscientiously  and he made it his life mission to serve the cause of the poor and the sick.  The Pinto  brothers were ably supported in their mission by their two sisters  and due to their resolute efforts  their name and fame  of their service spread to the surrounding areas.  People from the neighboring areas also started flocking to this place for treatment.  Irrespective of religion, race, language and caste,  people  came here seeking  treatment for common fever, Malaria, Asthma, diarrhea, snake bites, post pregnancy related  problems and  other ailments.  This treatment of the sick and poor continued till the brothers died in the year 1959. 

Following their death there was a lull as none had the fortitude to continue the mission started by the Pinto brothers.  After  a lapse of almost  two decades in 1978  CODP  shouldered the overall  developmental responsibility of Belthangady Taluk.  During the of interaction with the people of Baddyar, which comes under Belthangady Taluk, the people  put forth only one demand of resuming  proper medical facilities in the area which had come to a complete stop  after the death of Pinto brothers.  Due to the efforts of the  then Parish Priest Rt Rev Jerald Lobo , now the Bishop of Shimoga, the health centre at Baddyar got a new lease of life.  Realizing the good work done by the centre to the people of Baddyar and the surrounding places, the government too chipped in and sanctioned a  five and half acre plot to develop a proper health centre in the area.  

Fr L M Pinto Health Centre

As a result, a  health centre was established  here with facilities like health wards, necessary infrastructure, water and other essential health facilities.  It was named  “ Fr L M Pinto Health Centre”, in memory of the selfless service rendered by late  Fr  Louis Marcel Pinto. 

Between 1983 and 1991 doctors from Fr Muller Hospital used to come to the Health Centre to treat patients, which was of course not always  feasible.  In 1992 Bethany Sisters evinced interest in serving at the Health Centre and within 3 years  of their taking over the administration they   succeeded in giving a totally new dimension  to the  Health Centre.  As a result of this, an agreement was reached between CODP and Bethany Sisters in September 1994 to work together in running the Health Centre.  This agreement gets renewed  from time to time as per the  changing requirements.  

The  Health Centre  was on a evolving  trajectory under the Bethany Sisters and under the able administration of Sr Hope.  Sr Hope, who  obtained her diploma in Health Care Administration from St Johns Medical College, Bangalore,  had brought about positive changes in the administration of St Thomas Hospital, Tamilnadu and Concetta Hospital, Kinnigoli during her stint as administrator there.  With her rich experience and expertise she was like a new ray of hope for the Health Centre at Baddyar. 
From 1995-1997 for three years,  Sr Hope went around the villages and created  health awareness on the ill effects of smoking, drinking, the importance of maintaining personal hygiene , on preventive and promotive medicines and other health-related aspects.  She trained poor girls from the village in midwifery and  nursing aid course at the Health Centre. Some of these girls  are employed at the Health Centre and others have been employed at other hospitals and nursing homes.  So far about 180 young girls have obtained training at the Health Centre in Baddyar. 

Realizing the significance of this Health Centre,  an initiative was taken recently to give a new facet to the Health Centre which has now fructified.  A new hospital  block   with modern amenities has been constructed  at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crores named after Dr Peter Paul Pinto,  keeping in mind the humane service  he rendered.   Baddyar is situated far away from the city and the people of this village are poor and illiterate.  Most of them work as daily wagers and do not have enough money to buy  necessary medicines.  The hospitals  caters to such needy patients by providing  treatment  and medicines at a concessional rate and in some cases free of cost. 

Though there are myriad social service organizations everywhere,  it is only CODP  which has taken up the noble responsibility of serving  the people of this barren land.  This amply exhibits CODP’s concern and aspiration to work for the welfare of the poor, sick and the downtrodden.  In this age where commercialization of health services have become rampant , it is not an exaggeration to say Fr L M Pinto Health Centre is moving in the right path treaded by  late Fr L M Pinto  who rendered selfless  service with  single minded motto of “service to humanity is service to god”.   This centre  has become a ray of hope to  thousands of people in and around Belthangady Taluk.   

Over the years there has been a sizeable increase in the number of patients who have been treated at this health centre.  In 1987, 3210  outpatients and 545 inpatients were treated here. In 2010, the number of outpatients was 31,711  and 3119 inpatients were  treated at the hospital apart from  another 2000 patients who were provided immunization and other health treatment at the centre.  This amply proves that  a large number of people are  immensely benefitted  by this health centre.
The modernization of the centre has been  done by constructing  the new hospital block and by installing  state of the art machinery -  at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crores out of which  Rs. 60 lakhs is loan.

The new block  named after  late Dr Peter Paul Pinto, will be inaugurated by most Rev  Dr Aloysius Paul D Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese,   on January 28, 2011 at 9.30 am.   

In this task of serving the cause of the poor  and illiterate people by following in the footsteps of  late Fr  L M Pinto, CODP seeks the support of  likeminded people who can  help in the  task and reduce their  financial burden by  way of financial contributions in whatever way they can.  Your help would go a long way in the mission the CODP has embarked on, to continue serving the poor people of Baddyar and  that of the  surrounding areas. 

Contributions may please be sent to account number  1809 of Indian Overseas Bank,  Mangalore,  Padavu  Branch. 
Contact address:   The Administrator, L.M. Pinto Hospital, Baddyar – 574 127
For more information, contact CODP - codpindia@gmail.com

Highlights:

• Dr Denzil John Noronha has been working at the Health Centre from 1996 except for a brief period of 2 years when he went for higher studies in 1998.  At present there are 3 Resident doctors working at the Health Centre.  Services of specialized consultants are availed whenever there is a need.   5 Bethany sisters with the help of about 60 staff comprising nurses, technicians and other staff,  are running the health centre efficiently.  
  
• The centre has about 60 beds for inpatients, with 14 special rooms and 3 semi-special rooms (separate for men and women).   12 beds are provided in the ward meant for women to treat post pregnancy related ailments. Services like out patient department, 24-hours emergency services, X-ray, ECG, Lab service, Ultra Sound, Color Dopplar and  Ambulance services are available at the health centre.  Apart from this immunization service for children and  treatment for snake bites are also available at the health centre