Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, May 31: Social workers are gem of the society. Their dedication towards the service they render is commendable. Here is a gem who is serving as a professional doctor as well as a social worker for the last 50 years.
Dr Edward Lobo, is a doctor by profession and a passionate social worker living in a small village called Shankerpura, Pangla in Udupi district.
Dr Edward Lobo is a well-known writer and a doctor who the people of Shankerpura rely upon for most of their health issues. He is well-known for establishing the Manasa Rehabiliation centre in Pamboor and the service he provides in the centre. Dr Edward was instrumental in setting up the centre along with other trustees.
Mother Teresa – who inspired us to carry on God’s work on earth through Manasa 13-08-1995
With Mother Teresa on August 15, 1995
National Award
National Award for Service in the field of child development on November 14, 2003 from human resource ministry, presented by Murali Manohar Joshi in New Delhi
State Award
State Award for Service to the Disabled, Mentally Challenged Children in December 2002 by the governor of Karnataka
State Award to Manasa School under the leadership of Dr Edward Lobo on December 3, 2002 in Bengaluru from Motamma, then Karnataka minister
Presitigious Paul Harries Fellow Rotary International Award, USA for service to the society on February 26, 2001
Felicitation in Kuwait by Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea, Apostolic Nuncio to Gulf countries.
Felicitation by then Mangaluru bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza on the occasion of declaration of sainthood to Mother Teresa in Mangaluru.
Archbishop of Bombay diocese Cardinal Oswald Gracias along with then bishop of Mangaluru Dr Aloysious Paul D'Souza and bishop of Udupi diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo at the inauguration of Manasa hostel, school and convent.
Dr Edward Lobo felicitated by the Manasa children after he received the National Award
Felicitation by various organizations
The Rotary Trust has also provided drinking water facility to around 350 families living in 3 and 5 cents government housing projects by providing them well, pump set facilities in sarakarigudde near Shankerpura jointly sponsed by Fr Jephrin Monis from Germany and his German friends.
Dr Edward Lobo was born in Kulshekar on February 25, 1946 as the fourth among six children to the late Basil and Juliana Lobo. He completed his primary education at St Joseph’s Higher Primary School, Kulshekar, high school education at Padua High School and completed his SSLC in 1963. He did his PUC from St Philomena College Puttur in science stream. He then joined Sri Jayachamarajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Bengaluru and acquired medical degree.
Dr Edward Lobo has completed 50 years of his service as a doctor. From the time he began practicing medicine in 1969, Dr Lobo has worked relentlessly towards the betterment of the society and for the community. He is married to Daphne D'Souza of Belman and the couple is blessed with three daughters and a son. All the children are well-educated and have settled down with their families in different parts of the world.
Dr Lobo began his career as a medical officer at the Perpetual Help hospital at Sasthan and served there for a year. Dr Lobo was very interested in community service since his very young age. He was actively taking part in activities at St Vincent De Paul Society in his parish in Kulshekar. "I was visiting the poor and the sick with the members of St Vincent De Paul Society. Later on I realized that by joining medical profession I could fulfill my desire. I opted to continue as an independent medical practitioner. It gave me a chance to fulfill my desire," says Dr Lobo.
On May 31, 1970, Dr Lobo set up the 'Nirmala Clinic' at Shankerpura in Udupi and practiced medicine independently. Gradually, Nirmala Clinic became a household name among the people of Shankerpura due to the humane service provided by the Dr Edward Lobo. He was ever ready to serve the people in need at any time of the day or night. Nirmala Clinic became a name of trust among the locals.
Dr Edward Lobo's zeal for social service led him to participate in various activities organized by Rotary Club Shirva. He even served as its president from 1982 to 1983. He then made efforts and established Rotary Club at Shankerpura in 1984. He also served in various positions in Rotary. He was appointed as the Rotary Governor’s Special Representative (GSR) and served as its president between 1991-1992 and 2005-2006. 2008-2009 Silver Jubilee Year. He was responsible to organize psychiatric medical camps through Rotary Club and Rotary Trust. More than 650 patients were cured in these camps.
Sponsored statue of Mother Teresa for St John's Church, Shankerpura.
Release of 'Donum', a directory of diocesan doctors, nurses and paramedics
Health commission of Udupi diocese organized a meet for doctors, nurses and paramedics diocesan on April 28, 2019 at Mount Rosary Church hall, Kallianpur
Oath-taking ceremony as director, health commission, diocese of Udupi on July 31, 2018
One of the primary concerns of Dr Lobo while practicing medicine in Shankerpura was to improve the facilities and implement new developmental through government and public support. He established Nagarika Samithi in Shankerpura and found it as a way to continue his community service.
Dr Edward Lobo was also involved in the activities of St John The Evangelist church, Shankerpura. He served as the secretary of parish pastoral council for two terms and also as the vice-president for one term. Dr Lobo was the founding member of St Vincent De Paul Society of Shankerpura parish. He himself was involved in many social welfare activities through St Vincent De Paul Society.
Due to his humanitarian service and social concern Dr Edward Lobo was appointed by the bishop of Udupi Diocese as the diocesan director for health commission of Udupi diocese. Under his able leadership the health commission conducted various activities in parishes in order to educate the people. He was also influential in setting up the medical relief fund in Udupi diocese. Dr Lobo also created 'Donum', a diocesan directory of the medical professionals, a catalogue of doctors, nurses and paramedics. Dr Lobo was active in the Catholic Sabha movement from Mangalore diocese now included Udupi diocese also. At the time of expansion of Catholic Sabha, Dr Lobo became the founder president of the Catholic Sabha unit of the Shankerpura parish from 1988 to 1989 and the founder president of the Catholic Sabha, Shirva region from 1989 to 1992.
The good work that had been going on in the Manasa Special Schools at Shankerpura and Shirva encouraged the Catholic Sabha to undertake a survey of the mentally challenged children in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district. As the number of such children ran into hundreds, the Catholic Sabha realized the gravity of the problem and decided to have an integrated rehabilitation and training centre for the mentally challenged children. In order to coordinate the work of the project a trust was formed with Dr Edward Lobo as the managing trustee. After five years of relentless efforts, the Trust acquired two acres of land near the Pamboor church in Padubelle from the government and the foundation of the project of ‘Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre for Mentally Challenged Children’ at an estimated cost of Rs 75 lac was laid by the then bishop of Mangaluru Dr Basil D’Souza on June 14, 1995 and after the completion of the building it was inaugurated by bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza on November 14,1997.
Dr Edward Lobo was immensely inspired by Blessed Mother Teresa of whom he became an ardent admirer and follower. In all his social service, he kept Mother Teresa as his model. Dr Lobo had the opportunity to meet and interact with Mother Teresa when she had visited Mangaluru in 1995.
The saying, 'recognitions come your way when you do good deeds' came true as Dr Lobo was honoured with various awards and recognitions for his selfless and relentless service. A few among them are Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International (USA) in the field of social work especially for the downtrodden people in 2001; State Award for Service to the Disabled, Mentally Challenged Children in December 2002; National Award for Service in the Field of Child Development in 2003; Swarna Karnataka-Sanskritika Dibbana Award received from Dr V S Acharya, minister for medical studies for his medical and social service in 2006; Mother Teresa Excellence Award in 2007 in recognition of his outstanding service to society and excellence in the chosen field of activity by the International Integrity Peace and friendship Society, Bengaluru; and National Award for Service in the field of child development announced on November 14, 2002 and awarded on November 14, 2003.
Among the above awards, a special mention can be made about the National Award for Service in the field of Child Development that was awarded in November 2003. This prestigious award was instituted in 1979, and till 2003 sixty-four individuals had received this award, out of whom only five were from Karnataka, Dr Edward Lobo being the fifth one. Dr Edward Lobo was the fourth Christian and the only layman till then to have receive this award, Thus, in 2003, Dr Edward Lobo became the first Christian layman in the entire country to receive the award. The award was presented by the then union minister for human resource and development Dr Murli Manohar Joshi.
Dr Lobo has a versatile personality. He has participated in the talks organized by All India Radio. His articles have been published in various Konkani magazines. Dr Lobo is also a very good author. He has written two Konkani novels 'PhulBavtana' and 'Sandulle Dirvenm'.
On completing 50 years in his service as a doctor and a social worker Dr Lobo still continues to have the same avidity of service. He expresses in his words with smile and gratitude: "I am healthy and fit. I will continue to render my service to the society until I can. My dream of helping the poor and the needy through the inspiration of Blessed Mother Teresa still continues. There is still a lot that is required to be done."