OUR BEGINING

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In the year 1970 Dr. Maria Pia Reggi, an Italian lady doctor, together with Dr. Daisy Kandathil, from Kerala, who had obtained her medical degree in Italy, came to Ernakulam following the invitation of Cardinal Parekattil of blessed memory.

These two doctors started operating in the slum area of Kochi and its surroundings, and soon realised there were many people who were affected by leprosy and were not taken care of.

Medical Work. These two doctors launched mobile clinics to attend mainly leprosy-affected people with the aim of early detection and treatment. They carried out regular field visits, but there was no facility for laboratory investigation. So, a dispensary was set up, equipped with all the minimum facilities for investigation, treatment and rehabilitation. Soon new staff joined the voluntary workers. In March 1971 the dispensary building was blessed and inaugurated by Cardinal Parekattil. People suffering from tuberculosis and other ailments, especially different kinds of skin diseases, started to come to this centre, because here they received attention and free treatment. Mobile clinics and survey work for leprosy and tuberculosis continued regularly.

OUTREACH WORK 1971-2000

DISPENSARY WORK

In 1982 they started to collaborate with the District Hospital Ernakulam in the NLEP (National Leprosy Eradication Program). Six divisions of the Corporation were designated for the SET work. Since the year 2000 no new cases have been detected in the project area. Collaboration with UPAD (Urban Poverty Alleviation Department) of the Cochin Corporation in the socio-medical field within the DFID project lasted from 1996 to 2004. The experience made through this project, which was completed in 2004, raised awareness of the need for a CBR program for people with psycho-social problems.

Award for successful Leprosy eradication work from Follerau Damien circle of solidarity Federation to Dr. Daisy Kandathil.