Scottish Women From the Past in India Challenge us Today !
Among the topics we discussed was the work that was started in the Rainy Hospital by another woman, this time a powerful Scots lady called Christina Rainy, she was ably served by another Scottish lady doctor . Together they founded the Rainy Hospital here in Chennai in 1888. Christina Rainy had visited this area with her husband Robert Rainy who was the Principal of New College in Edinburgh. She returned home with a passion to establish the hospital and find women doctors who would come and work to establish a service for local women. Christina rainy knew that moist women like to be examined by a woman doctor. So the hospital was established.
I spent sometime looking round the facilities yesterday. I found it very sad to see that the place had been allowed to fall into such poor condition. I was heartened to meet the senior doctor in charge of the hospital Dr Chris Roy. I was also full of admiration for the task that he has taken on. He has only been in post a year. He tells me he is fire fighting everyday to raise enough money to pay bills. He is in need of so many resources. he is short of sterilising equipment, a present he has cannibalised an older broken down machine to make the present machine work. It is difficult to know where to start he tells me as he shows me round a hospital that has been allowed to fall into such disrepair. Yet he has nothing but faith and praise for his team of doctors and nurses. He tells me they have just stabilised a young girl who was admitted the previous evening after trying to hang herself in her home. He tells me of the successes he has had with such meager resources. We try hard to keep the wards clean and tidy. We have no infection whatsover in the hospital. However he explains it would be wonderful if we could paint the walls and have the equipment we need to do the heart operations that I'm skilled to do.
I came away moved at the commitment of this man to bring back to life the vision of these two Scottish ladies and I thought to myself I'll do all I can to help him make that vision a reality. When we get back home there will be opportunities i hope to speak with others who might take up the call.
I'm sure in the past this hospital no doubt has had challenging issues to try and resolve. However with the right support there are no issues that can't be resolved and indeed turned to good. Pray for Chris Roy as he works tirelessly along with his staff to serve the poorer people in Chennai.
