Fr L.M. Pinto Health Centre holds Annual Meet and Welcome New Administrator, Fr Roshan Crasta
Badyar, Belthangady: The Annual Meet was held at the Fr L. M. Pinto Health Center on July 5, 2024. This occasion marked the handing of the charge by the Sisters of Bethany Congregation to the newly appointed Administrator Rev. Fr Roshan Crasta, the Parish Priest of St Raphael Church Badyar. In a festive spirit, the staff and the well-wishers witnessed this program. This ceremonial event took place in the hospital OPD Block. The welcome address was delivered by Sr. Jyothsna, BS, the newly appointed Assistant Administrator and Nursing Superintendent of the hospital.
The program commenced by invoking God’s benevolent blessings through a prayer song by the hospital staff. This event marked a special moment by signing an MOU between Father Muller Charitable Institutions and Fr L.M. Pinto Hospital for all the academic and clinical support in the presence of Rev. Fr Faustine Lobo, Designate Director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions. Another MOU is also being signed between Fr L.M. Pinto Hospital and the congregation of Bethany sisters for the nursing services in the presence of Sr. Lilly Pereira, Provincial Superior. Later, administration was officially handed over to Fr Roshan Crasta, the newly appointed administrator.
Fr Roshan Crasta, in his speech, thanked the Bishop of Mangalore for placing all the trust in him and entrusting the responsibility of the hospital to him. He thanked the management of Father Muller and the sisters of Bethany for ensuring all the support for Fr L. M. Pinto Hospital.
Rev. Fr Faustine Lobo, in his presidential address, appreciated the dedicated services of the Sisters of Bethany, all the doctors and nurses, all the staff of the hospital, well-wishers, and the general public. In his inspiring message, he appealed to all the staff to serve with the utmost dedication and sincerity to the suffering humanity. Fr Faustine also assured all the support from Father Muller Charitable Institutions.
On this occasion, Sr Lilly Pereira, Fr Maxim Rosario, Fr Vincent Dsouza, the trustees of Fr L. M. Pinto Hospital, Fr Walter Dmello, Parish Priest of Belthangady Church, Dr Denzil, Mr. Valerian Crasta were present on the Dais. Sr Janet Rego proposed a vote of thanks and also compered the program. The program concluded with a hymn praising God Almighty.
About Fr L.M. Pinto Health Centre:
Badyar, a small village that is situated 7 kilometers away from Belthangady city, was inhabited mainly by poor and illiterate people during the 19th century. Except for agriculture, there was no prospect of undertaking any other profession for the inhabitants of this village. A lot of people suffered and precious lives were lost due to venomous snake bites and other communicable diseases like malaria and cholera in this forest area, as medical facilities were not available in the close vicinity. Transport facilities were beyond the reach of the people of this village in those days, even if they wanted to come to Mangalore for treatment.
Fr Louis M. Pinto, a zealous and saintly missionary priest of Mangalore diocese, was appointed as the parish priest of Badyar Parish in 1927. He could not endure the agony of the people of this village and wanted to help them cope with their suffering. He invited his brother, Dr Peter Paul Pinto, a gold medalist from Madras Medical College, to render his service to the people of Belthangady and especially Badyar. Fr L.M. Pinto succeeded in convincing his brother to leave his well-paid medical practice in Chennai and come to the barren land of Badyar to serve the people.
The Pinto brothers were ably supported in their mission by their two sisters, and due to their resolute efforts, the name and fame of their service spread to the surrounding areas. People from the neighboring areas also started flocking to this place for treatment. Following the death of Dr. P.P. Pinto in 1959, health activities came to a standstill.
In 1978, Fr Gerald Lobo, present Bishop of Udupi Diocese under CODP headed by Msgr. Edwin Pinto, revived the medical mission with a 10-bed health center, namely the Fr L.M. Pinto Health Center. Till 1991, the doctors from Fr Muller’s Hospital, Kankanady, visited the center. In 1992, the management of the hospital was entrusted to Bethany Congregation. Since then, the Helath Center has steadily advanced in all areas of health care. At present, the health center has 60 beds with the following facilities: 24-hour laboratory services, a fully furnished major and minor OT facility, ECG, X-ray, ultrasound facilities, a labor theater, an incubator and phototherapy unit, 24-hour pharmacy for inpatients, a physiotherapy unit, and ambulance services.
