A journey of purpose!

The Christian Medical College, Vellore is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2025 

The Child Health services at CMC Vellore is entering its 119 years since it started much before such services began elsewhere in India 

The above photograph of the Child Health department taken last week when Dr Raghupathy gave the heritage lecture on the evolution of child health services at CMC was a special occasion to recall the story of contributions this department to develop child health services and eight subspecialties in Paediatrics.  

The developmental Paeditrics Unit which is now in its 27 th year started a day care service for developmentally challenged children last week in the seventh floor of the A block, with advanced facility to provide integrated services with involvement of other specialities. It is intended to offer help for children, who come from far away places during the first visit without having to wait.  

The present team of professionals in the Developmental Paediatrics Unit is an enthusiastic group with their eyes on details of child development and their heart set on sensing the way forward for children by accompanying families and training professionals in this discipline. 

It was a special occasion to meet Dr Jacob John, a pioneer who fostered Polio and Measles eradication in India with revised immunisation schedule.  Dr Samuel Oommen and Dr Beena Kurien, who are senior consultants in developmental Paediatrics  were the first two to complete the Fellowship in this speciality in India. 

Dr Samuel Oommen and his team of professionals in the Developmental Paediatrics Unit is now excited to relocate the facility in the new hospital for children in the Ranipet campus which  will offer the Unit more space and facilities! 

For Anna and me this visit to the child health department and Developmental Paediatrics Unit brought back memories of how  ASHIRVAD, an Initiative for Child Development was offered an opportunity to partner with  CMC in 1997, at the initiative Dr V.I.Mathan, the director of CMC, to start the Developmental Paediatrics Unit.  What this Unit has become academically in its leadership in the country is an immense delight. Its trajectory in the future is sure to surprise us, as the future is full of opportunities that the Unit is preparing to engage in child development and rehabilitation. 

This Bulbul flying away after its feed from the feeding basin in our garden, became an imagery of how developmentally challenged children come to the Developmental Paediatrics Unit at CMC Vellore  to find help and guidance and return to explore possibilities ahead of them!

Three cheers with flowers from our garden, to all the professionals and support staff at the Developmental Paediatrics Unit for their faithful service!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)