Ernest Fritschi dead
Better late than never
in memory of a teacher who made a great impression on me
I hope I can do at least 10 % of what he did before I die
Ernest Paul Fritschi, internationally acclaimed leprosy reconstructive surgeon and former Director of the Scheiffelin Institute of Health Research & Leprosy Centre (SIHRLC) in Karigiri near Katpadi in Vellore district passed away at the age of 87 after a brief illness at his residence here on Sunday.
Dr. Fritschi, who had worked as Head of the Reconstructive Surgery Unit of the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore and as Superintendent of the Leprosy Mission Hospital, Vadathorasalur, served the SIHRLC, Karigiri as Director for two terms, from 1956 to 1959, and from 1974 to 1987.
During his service in the above organisations, he had been responsible not only for providing reconstructive surgical and rehabilitative service to innumerable leprosy patients, but also for initiating various training programmes in leprosy.
He had personally trained hundreds of medical personnel in leprosy not only from India but also from other countries.
Even after retirement, Dr. Fritschi was very active and continued to be recognised as one of the leading authority in reconstruction and rehabilitation in leprosy.
He had been in great demand as a teacher with extraordinary skills in communication.
He was awarded the Damien Dutton Award for the year 2006. This is one of the highest awards given to persons who have contributed immensely to leprosy work.
Dr. Fritschi, along with his wife Manorama Fritschi (who passed away a few years ago), had been responsible for setting up Shanthigramam, a home for the aged, destitute and deformed leprosy patients near Karigiri.
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