Cardinal Oswald Greets St Martha’s Hospital on its 135th Anniversary

By Verghese V Joseph –

Bengaluru: His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias and Archbishop of Bombay on Tuesday extended his greeting to 135-year-old St. Martha’s Hospital, Bengaluru on the eve of Mother Mary’s Feast. The celebrations at St Martha’s Hospital the coincides with the 10-day novena and prayer at the hospital premises.

In his message, Cardinal Oswald, said, “I’m happy to know that St. Martha’s Hospital is celebrating 135 years of selfless service to the poor and needy. On this happy occasion, I impart my best wishes to Sr Superior Gracy Thomas and God’s benevolence to carry on its chosen task. I also pray for all the doctors, nurses, administrative and support staff that God protect them and keep safe. The healthcare institution has developed and grown responding to the needs of the city and beyond.

The Cardinal recalled Holy Father Pope Francis’ words, “You an an image of the church as a ‘field hospital’ that continues to carry out the mission of Jesus, who drew near and healed people with all kinds of sickness. Today too our loving God looks to you with gratitude.”

Stating further, the Cardinal expressed, “As we begin the devotion and novena to Mary our Mother, let us implore her intercession and entrust to her motherly care the whole of creation and the humanity. May she keep us safe under her mantle of protection from everything that harm our lives.”

 

St. Martha’s Hospital was founded in 1886 by the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (also known as the Sisters of the Good Shepherd) in response to the urgent need for medical aid to those affected by the epidemic of plague and famine back then.

St Martha’s Hospital on Nrupatunga Road is one of the top healthcare providers in Bangalore. The popularity of the hospital is evident from over thousands of positive online reviews.

Besides, the School of Nursing at St. Martha’s Hospital was started in the year 1933. It was upgraded to College of Nursing in the Year 1998 offering both degree and diploma courses in Nursing. Preparing quality nurse educators/administrators who will deliver value based nursing education, taking the profession to greater heights have become the need of the hour.

Keeping this need in mind, the College was further upgraded by starting M.Sc. Nursing course in the year 2016 and the Nurse Practitioner in Critical Care (NPCC) Course in the year 2020. The College of Nursing is affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka and is recognised by the Indian Nursing Council and Karnataka State Nursing Council.

Since its inception in 1933, it has trained thousands of nurses whose skills and competence have won accolades across the world.

In 1964, St. Martha’s Hospital expanded its services and set up a rural health centre about 15 km from Bangalore. The centre caters to the needs of Uttarahalli village and other nearby villages. Immunization, maternal and child welfare programs are regularly conducted in the city slums from time to time.

At the last count, the hospital treats over 2.50 lakh out-patients and about 21,000 in-patients annually. It offers 534 beds of which 410 are earmarked for general ward patients, who are given free treatment, or treatment at a highly subsidized rates that is decided on the merits of the case by the sisters. The hospital offers all the modern facilities through use of ultramodern technology.