The story of the origin of the South Kerala Medical Mission is more than a Century old, since 1892 to be exact. By that time the London Missionary Society (LMS) that started its evangelical work in 1806 with the arrival of Ringle Taube at Mylady had already made its presence felt with its involvement in the socio-economic, spiritual and educational life of the marginalised, illiterate, neglected people of the erstwhile South Travancore, victims of superstition and epidemics like malaria and cholera.

 

 

ARRIVAL OF MR.JOSHUA
In 1892, Mr. Joshua Knowles, a Missionary, represented the LMS in this area that included Karakonam. He worked in Parassala from 1888 to 1899 and in Kollam for a short period. The erstwhile South Travancore included the present Kanyakumari, Trivandrum and Kollam revenue districts. In 1892, Mr.Asaf, a native evangelist started a small congregation at Karakonam with the permission of the missionary.Though slavery was abolished by law, the poor people at Karakonam remained oppressed as slaves under the supremacy of the upper caste. The wages these unfortunate slaves received was just some gruel for all the hard work they did for their masters.  For these downtrodden people, embracing Christianity meant emancipation from the slavery and the bonded labour to which they were subjected.

THE IDEA FOR A MEDICAL MISSION
The very idea of starting a Medical Mission was that of Rev. Charles Mead, the second Missionary of the LMS to come to South Travancore. Charles Mead who arrived in 1817 served the Mission of South Travancore for twenty years was able to convince the authorities of the LMS the necessity for the services of more missionaries and the need for opening more centers for medical aid in South Travancore.

The LMS Home Board appointed Dr. Archibald Ramsay as a Medical Missionary to South Travancore. Dr. Ramsay, along with a few other newly appointed missionaries arrived at Kollam on March 31, 1838.

In April 1838, Dr. Archibald Ramsay reached Neyyoor and established a hospital. (Today, Neyyoor is in the Kanyakumari Revenue District and under the Kanyakumari Diocese of the CSI.) This marked the modest beginning of a magnificent project which later on came to be called the South Kerala Medical Mission. Dr. Ramsay was thoughtful enough to begin a medical training class attached to a seminary at Nagercoil to train the natives in administering medical aid to the patients who came seeking medical aid from the Missionary doctor. But Dr. Ramsay returned to England leaving nobody to look after the Medical Mission. Naturally the mission ceased to function.

In 1852 Dr.C.C.Leich came to Neyyoor and resumed the work of the Medical Mission and the Mission was gaining popularity. But unfortunately, he met with a tragic death by drowning in the sea at Muttom on 25th August 1854. There was another break in the working of the Medical Mission.

Dr. John Lowe, took over the Medical Mission at Neyyoor on November 21, 1861. Patients started pouring in and the Neyyoor Mission expanded to meet the increasing need. He introduced 'Vaccination' against epidemics a system of treatment unknown till then. Like his predecessor, Dr. Lowe also trained selected natives whom he designated 'Medical Evangelists' and were employed to help in treating patients. In 1868 Dr. Lowe had to leave owing to the ill health of his wife. The Medical Mission continued to function with the help of the 'Medical Evangelists' till Dr. Thompson, an energetic doctor Missionary Doctor took over in 1873. He had to suffer personal tragedies like the demise of his wife, which he faced with courage and went on with his work. He was responsible for starting several branch hospitals and dispensaries under the Medical Mission. In 1884, he died at Neyyoor.

The Medical Mission grew to such proportions that by 1890, the South Travancore Medical Mission came to be known as the largest of its kind in the whole world.

In 1893, Dr. Arthur Fells, a highly qualified and dedicated physician took over the Mission.  A great challenge was awaiting Dr. Fells as South Travancore was in the grip of epidemics that broke out consequent to a famine caused by an unprecedented drought that lasted for three years. The famine and the epidemics were so devastating that people died like flies. More than twenty thousand people died from within a radius of 5 kilometers in and around Karakonam during the famine Dr. Fells took the leadership to open a number of dispensaries all over South Travancore. One such dispensary was started in 1894 in the vestry of the LMS church at Palukal. This dispensary was later on shifted to Karakonam.

In 1885 Dr. Sargood Fry was appointed at Neyyoor. During his tenure that lasted seven years, big spacious buildings were built for the Hospital at Neyyoor. The Maharaja of Travancore and several rich non-Christians came forward with substantial financial contributions for the construction of the buildings.

Gradually the service of the Medical Mission branched out to the Malayalam-speaking area of Travancore.  Several hospitals managed by the South Kerala Medical Mission today were started during this period. They include Karakonam (1894), Kazhakkoottom (1910), Kalayapuram (1928), Attingal (1905), Kundara, Kollam, Kottarakkara, Nedumgolam and Nellikkakuzhy (not the present one)

A hospital for treating the much-dreaded leprosy was started by Dr. Fry. Dr. Fry left India in 1892 following his appointment as the Head of the Medical Mission in Edinburgh.

BIRTH OF THE SOUTH KERALA MEDICAL MISSION
The present South Kerala Medical Mission is the share South Kerala Diocese got from the South Travancore (Neyyoor) Medical Mission when the erstwhile South Travancore Diocese was bifurcated in 1959 into South Kerala and Kanyakumari Dioceses.

The very first superintendent of the newly formed South Kerala Medical Mission was the missionary doctor, Dr. G.W.Milledge. He and his wife were serving the Boys Brigade Hospital at Kundara. During this period Rev. Thomas David was the Secretary and Treasurer of the Medical Mission. Dr. Milledge left India in 1969.

Dr. Jacob L. Bhanu, the Medical Officer in charge of the Hospital at Kundara, succeeded Dr. Milledge. Unfortunately Dr., Jacob Bhanu, a much-respected doctor, died in an accident. Dr. Kirk Patrick, a renowned doctor, retired from Government service became the next Medical Superintendent. After his tenure, Dr. David Bhanu, the younger brother of the late Dr. J.L.Bhanu became the superintendent of the SKMM.  After his demise Rev. G.Robinson held the office of the Medical Superintendent for a short period.

Advocate Mr. C. Swamidas became the next Secretary of the SKMM. The Central Medical Store was shifted from Kundara along with the central office of the SKMM to the LMS Compound. In 1975, he took the initiative to get the Medical Mission of the South Kerala Diocese registered under the Charitable Society Act, Mr. S.T.Ebenezer and Mr. B. Chellan succeeded Mr. C. Swamidas.

It is necessary at this point to remember some of the eminent physicians and surgeons who served in the different hospitals under the Medical Mission. The names alone are given and the list does not follow the chronological order. They were Dr. Somervell, Dr. Milledge, Dr. Mrs. Bursen, Dr. Percy Bhanu, Dr. Janet John, Dr. K.P. Kurian, Dr. S. Ambrose, Dr. J.J.Sundaram, Dr. Jose Kamalam, Dr. G.M.Samuel, Dr.Jacob Bhanu, Dr. Gnanambal, Dr. V.T.Jayakumar, Dr. L.Santhakumary. Several other doctors had served our hospitals for short periods.