By Allen Brookes –
The 75th Dimond Jubilee of Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh a pioneer health care institution of the North East and Assam in particular was celebrated with much joy and grandeur during the last few days at Dibrugarh.
Being from Dibrugarh and having been born along with my brothers and sister in this prestigious hospital, I, for one, was following the celebration very closely and was reminiscing about the past with prayer and gratitude for the great pioneering work done by all, starting with the venerable Dr. John Berry White who started the first medical school in 1900 and later became the foundation of Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh which was established on the 3rd of November 1947.
While rich tributes were paid to all the pioneers, one important group that made Assam Medical College the best hospital in the whole of the North East and beyond deserves special mention. Yes, it was the nursing care run by the Sisters of Charity that made a great difference, a fact duly acknowledged by both the doctors and patients.
It may be noted that when Berry White Medical School was established, to improve nursing care the then Inspector General of Hospitals, Col Cameron, with the permission of the Governor, decided in 1932 to entrust the direction and nursing services to the Sisters of Charity from Italy, who were known for their excellent services all over the world. Accordingly, four nuns from Italy, headed by Sr. Vincenza Marazzoli came and took charge on the 3rd of April 1933 and commenced service towards the sick, poor, and suffering people in undivided Assam. Their tireless, dedicated care and service soon brought about the much-needed transformation that was needed in the healthcare of Assam.
Subsequently, when the Assam Medical College was established in 1947 on the foundations laid by the Berry White Medical School, a nursing school was established and inaugurated on 13th February of 1948. It may be noted that it was the first nursing school in the entire North East, and the responsibility to run and manage it was given to the Sister of Charity.
The next 61 years saw the Sisters of Charity manage the nursing care of the AMC as well as the Nursing School till their services came to a close on the 15th September 2008. In all, the Sisters of Charity served the people through their dedicated service in the Nursing Care sector for 89 long years. For the people of Dibrugarh and for all those who were either born or treated at AMC, it was golden era, which came to an end in 2008.
However, the Sisters of Charity continued their dedicated services by establishing VG Hospital, at Dibrugarh, Molukubasa near Don Bosco HS School. Over the years, they have grown, branched out and expanded. Collaborating with the Archdiocese of Guwahati they established the St. John’s Hospital in Guwahati which provides affordable health care services to the citizens of the North East.
On this auspicious occasion, I humbly wish to tender my humble salutation to the Sister of Charity for the services rendered to humanity and to whom I stand indebted for my safe birth almost six decades ago.