In 1901, when British-India was facing many health hazards, as medical science was in its pre-antibiotic and pre-vaccine era, there was a great need for the services of trained women nurses and doctors. Archbishop of Madras invited people to educate medical women as missionaries in India. And so Mary Glowrey of Australia following the footstep of Dr Agnes McLaren came to India in 1920. In 1942, Sr Mary Glowrey initiated the Catholic Health Association of India (called ‘CHAI’) with the support of Bishop Pothacamury of Guntur. The nascent CHAI had sixteen Sister-Doctors representing eight catholic medical institutions at that time. In 1968 the number of Medical Doctors in CHAI went up to 121, and in 1993 there were about 300 Sister-Doctors. An inspiration to organize a forum of Sister-Doctors originated in a Golden Jubilee evaluation of CHAI. Fr John Vattamattom who was the executive Director of CHAI played a major role in this formation process. Finally, Sister Doctors Forum of India (SDFI) was formed in 1993 during the National convention of CHAI at Kaloor, Ernakulam with Sr Dr Lillian as the President. As of now, the forum has more than 800 members who are working for the rural and urban poor as Sister-Doctors.
The highlights of events that happened between 2001 – 2007, during my tenure as the President, through the commendable services of Sister Doctors in various fields especially during the disastrous situation, we were able to take the Forum forward in Government circles, in the Churches in India and also in some of the International Agencies.I was elected as the 2nd President of SDFI during the VII AGBM convened at CARITAS complex Goa from 22nd to 25th Feb 2001 with the new Board members. The theme for the AGBM was ‘Triple Intelligence’ Sister Doctors who were involved in the Relief Work at Gujarat rescuing earthquake afflicted, shared their experiences during the AGBM
The Church celebrated the 10th International World Day of the Sick from 9th to 11th February 2002 at the shrine of Our Lady of Good Health at Vailankani, India with the theme: ‘In the Footsteps of Jesus, the Divine Healer’. The VIII SDFI AGBM was held on 9th February 2002 at the Shrine and the members participated in all the events of the celebration. We had the privilege of meeting the Vatican dignitaries privately and introduced our Forum to them. They were surprised and thrilled to see 200 Sisters Doctors gathered in one place and happy to know that we are a total of 500 Sister Doctors as on 2002 in India, the largest number in the world. As a reply to our letter to the Holy Father John Paul II, we received a letter from the Secretariat of Vatican on 22nd February 2002 signed by the Nuncio Monsignor Pedro Lopez Quintana. He had mentioned in that letter, “I have the honour to assure you that His Holiness has prayed for the members of the Forum commending all of you to the intercession of Mary, Health of the Sick. He cordially imparted his Apostolic Blessing.” Now that he has been canonized as Saint, he will definitely bless all Sister Doctors from Heaven. With the help of Fr. Alex, who was then the Secretary of Health Commission, and Archbishop Bernard Moras, the Chairman, SDFI was officially recognized by the CBCI.
The IX AGBM and CME programme was held at the Retreat Centre, Bandra, Bombay, on 7th, 8th and 9th Feb 2003. His Eminence Ivan Cardinal Dias attended the Inaugural function.About 4 Sister Doctors attended the 11 month HIV Physician Training programme at CMCH Vellore. Some SDFI members participated in the workshop on PM TCT of HIV/AIDS at Delhi on 17th and 18th March 2003, organized by CHAI and CMAI. Another heartening happening, was the step taken by the CBCI Health Commission to create awareness about HIV/ The President of SDFI participated in the International consultation on ‘Church’s collective Response to HIV/AIDS and a scale up action in India’.
Two groups of Sister Doctors attended a HIV/AIDS course for 6 days at Snehadan, Bangalore organized by SDFI & CHAI in December 2003 and January 2004. The X AGBM cum Conference of SDFI held at Chennai from 27th – 29th Feb 2004, was attended by 120 Sister Doctors. The theme: ‘Access to Health through Clinical Hypnotherapy’ Sister Doctors in all the regions conducted activities on HIV/AIDS programme and some regions held a course on Neuro-Linguistic Programme (NLP). On 26th December 2004, when the Tsunami struck the coastal area of Tamil Nadu, the Sister Doctors teamed up with CHAI and reached the spot.
The XI AGBM cum Seminar was held at Sevakendra, Kolkata from 18th to 20th Feb 2005. 127 Sister Doctors attended The theme: ‘Holistic Empowerment through Integrated Health Care.’ His Grace, Lucas Sirkar, Archbishop of Kolkata celebrated the Inaugural Mass. Sr. Nirmala MC, who was the Superior General of Missionaries of Charity, addressed the assembly on Spirituality of Healing. Sister Doctors had the opportunity to visit and attend the Eucharistic celebration at the Tomb of St. Mother Teresa. SDFI members were present when the Church in India finalized the policy of Health and HIV/AIDS. Launching of the policies on Health, HIV/ AIDS was done on 31st August 2005 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. A good number of Sister Doctors representing SDFI were present for the function. The Tsunami was followed by the killer earthquake on 8th October 2005 in Kashmir. Members of SDFI from the Northem Region, Jansi, Kamataka and Tamil Nadu, were involved in the relief work at Kashmir in the midst of the disastrous and tragic situations, in collaboration with CARITAS, CRS andJ&KMSS.
The XII AGBM cum Seminar was conducted at the Renewal Centre, Kochin, from 17th to 19th Feb 2006 and was attended by a large number of Sister Doctors. The theme was: ‘Health for all – A Mirage’. The Inaugural function was presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil. The Sister Doctors underwent a 5 day course in computer skills application and update in two batches at BICS, Yelagiri Tamilnadu.
The XII AGBM cum CME was held at Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi, from 28th Feb to 2nd March 2007 with the Theme: ‘Ecology and Health’. The Inaugural address was given by His Eminence Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, Apostolic Nuncio. Other dignitaries present were His Grace Most Rev. Archbishop Bernard Moras, Chairman, CBCI Health Commission and Dr. Anbumani Ramdass, Health Minister. He released the CD “Sister Doctors Forum oflndia, Down Memory Lane”. The Participants enjoyed the Delhi darshan. The icing on the cake was they being audience with the Late President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This event, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan has brought recognition to the Catholic Sister Doctors. Sr. Dr. Lina was elected as my successor during the General Body meeting with the New Board members. Members of SDFI have always been working for the healing of the sick, the holistic interests of the downtrodden and the people affected by the calamitous situation. I am deeply indebted to the Board members and the members of SDFI for their cooperation during my tenure as President of the Forum. I am thankful to God for using me as an instrument to contribute towards the initiation and growth of the SDFI.
The Late Sr. Dr. Lina Muppathumkalam HCM, was elected as the third President of SDFI in 2007. She invested her heart and soul for the forum and brought in a lot of changes. The Sister Doctors Forum of India had the privilege of having a vibrant visionary President, Sr. Dr. Lina, from the year 2007 to 2010. Her dream was to take SDFI to greater heights of medical service in India.
The following are her contributions to SDFI:
SDFI Directory: The first edition of the SDFI Directory came into being through her hard work. She was successful in securing details of 631 Sister Doctors to compile this directory.
Registration of the Forum as a Trust: Sr. Dr. Lina succeeded in getting the Forum registered as a Trust with its Head Quarters in New Delhi.
SDFI website: She was the pioneer who launched the first SDFI website at the SDFI AGBM in Patna on 13th March 2009.
Besides these works she has organized National Level CME andAGBM with the following themes
Sister Doctor: A Doctor with a Difference- 2008
Women’s Health, Nations Wealth- 2009
would like to summarize the main events of the Forum from 2007 – 2009:
Computer Training for the Sister Doctors in Boscoits, Yellagiri- 20 Sister Doctors participated.
Disaster Management in Flood Relief Camp in Kalpetta,Kerala.
Medical Camp arranged for Chikungunya affected Patients in Kerala.
Medical Camps arranged for Victims of Kandhamal.
Our special thanks to all the Board members and to the past coordinators of the Forum Sr. Susan Joseph MMM, MSW, Mr. Praveen Abraham MSW and Mr. Soji J Moothedan MSW.
She always encouraged the forum to collaborate with CBCI Health Commission, Caritas India, and CHAI etc. She continued an efficient net working of SDFI with these groups. SDFI was represented by her nationally and internationally. She represented SDFI in Georgetown University, Washington DC and Catholic Medical Mission Board, New York for the strategic planning in Health, Education and Social Development by the Church in India.
In 2009, she was diagnosed with cancer and was unable to complete her duties as President; and hence Sr. Dr. Lucian SCC was appointed as a Coordinator to carry on the functions of the Forum. Sr. Lina slipped away into eternity, peacefully and totally aware that she is going to her Lord, at 2.45 am on the 19th of September 2010, on her 66th birthday, in Khairabad.
The Silver Jubilee of SDFI beckons us to rejoice, remember with gratitude, and reflect with mind and heart on the ways and means to walk more fruitfully, to move from Silver to Golden years. Every President and her team, from its origin, have contributed to the history of the Forum till today. From 2010 to 2016, I was elected as 4th President of the Forum. I shall recount here, what the Lord has done during this period.
Shifting of the functioning office to St. Mary’s Hospital, Malur:- In the initial years, SDFI had its functional office in the premises of St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore. Thereafter, the office was shifted to the headquarters of CHAI in Secunderabad. However, from 2010 onwards the functioning office is at St. Mary’s Hospital, Malur, Kolar District, Karnataka.
Receiving Prior Permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, from 2010 to 2013, was another main achievement during this time. This enabled us receive the Financial Support from Misereor, Germany directly into the Forum.
The themes for 2010- 2013:
Children’s Health, Nation’s Health – 2010:- With the launching of “Save the Girl Child”, 2012 during this Conference we continued this theme for one more It was appreciated and supported by Vatican and Vatican Radio as well as by the people of India both from cities and hamlets.
Youth, the Nation’s Heart Beat – 2011 was another successful event.
Let the Girl Child Live- 2012 – A nationwide campaign was launched on this occasion on the theme- “Save the Girl Child.”
Re-election of Sr. Dr. Lucian for a second term: The year 2013 was unique as we had our 19th CME and AGBM along with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore the Alma mater of most of the Sister Doctors. The College acknowledged the work of Sister Doctors in furthering the mission of St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore and an award was given to SDFI. At this AGBM, I was reelected for one more term. Since the Prior Permission for FCRA expired in 2013, we applied for FCRA Permanent registration from MHA, Government of lndia.
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