KOZHIKODE: In the old times, doctors cared more about the patients, not hospitals. As part of the International Women’s Day celebrations, senior Ayurveda women doctors were honoured under the aegis of the Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI). Elderly doctors Jagadamma and Leela shared their memories during their times and how the branch of medicine had advanced in recent times.
“During our times, we were more concerned about the patients. In modern times, the doctor does not have much of a headache. He does not have to memorise the ‘Kashaya Yogam’. Readymade tablets do the work. Nobody has to prepare them,” said Dr Leela. She had completed BAMS in 1965 and gave up her promotion as District Medical Officer, when she was asked to leave her family in Kozhikode and move to Thiruvananthapuram.“We had given priority to family. Women were supposed to concentrate more on the family. Now such concerns have changed,” she added.
Dr Jagadamma believes that Ayurveda has advanced globally and it has more acceptance as more foreigners are coming to India in search of Ayurveda treatment. The association also honoured Sumathy Amma, who runs Nanma charitable trust at Parambil Bazaar, which shelters 15 orphan children.
AMAI has plans ahead of World Health Day on April 7 to hold awareness classes and cultural debates throughout the district. On April 7, it will conduct a mass Yoga and Yoga dance at the beach. The association would also give free/subsidised medicines to the inmates of Nanma and free consultation every week, said AMAI women’s committee chairperson Dr Reeja Manoj.
Women’s Day celebrations were inaugurated at the Engineer’s hall in the Civil Station compound by District Collector N Prasanth. District Panchayat former president Kanathil Jameela honoured the senior doctors.
