Dr Ernest Fritschi received the 2006 Damien Dutton Award* for his significant contribution to anti-leprosy work during a function at the Schieffelin Institute of Health - Research & Leprosy Centre in Tamil Nadu, India, at the end of January 2007.

At the award ceremony Dr Abraham Joseph, Director of the Schieffelin Institute of Health - Research & Leprosy Centre (also known as the Karigiri Hospital), explained that Dr Fritschi had started his association with leprosy as a student at the Madras Medical College, where he was instrumental in opening a clinic near Pallavaram for the poor and persons affected by leprosy.

He worked with Dr Paul Brand, who was a pioneer in the field of reconstructive surgery of hands. Like Dr Brand, Dr Fritschi was an innovator. He taught reconstructive surgery techniques which were tested and adopted for widespread use.

Dr Sunil Deepak, former President of ILEP, says his friends speak of Dr Fritschi as a Gandhian and environmentalist. In addition to his skills as a surgeon, leprosy patients love Dr Fritschi for his compassion and friendship. An ecology project he masterminded has improved and transformed the land around the Karigiri Hospital.

See article in The Hindu reporting the ceremony and leprosy situation in Tamil Nadu: www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl&

Click here for information about the life of Dr Fritschi on the Global Project on the History of Leprosy Website: http://www.leprosyhistory.org/cgi-bin/showdetails.pl

Click here for the Website of the Schieffelin Institute of Health - Research & Leprosy Centre: http://www.karigiri.org/ 

 

* The Damien Dutton Award was instituted by the Damien Dutton Society for Leprosy Aid Inc. The Award is considered the most prestigious award for service to anti-leprosy work. Previous recipients linked to ILEP include: ILEP Member American Leprosy Missions, Dr Yo Yuasa, formerly the Executive and Medical Director of Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation and Dr Ruth Pfau, who works in Pakistan for the German Leprosy Relief Association.

 

 

Category: News and Notes