The Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH) celebrated its 9th Foundation Day in Jorhat (in Assam) with much gaiety on Friday. The College had much to cheer about with 48 of its students passing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) Postgraduate (PG) examination.
This was announced by Dr Debajit Hazarika, Principal of the College, in his address in the general session. He praised the students and wished they would touch “dizzying heights of success” in their career. Till date, 373 students have passed out from the college, the fourth in Assam, which has an intake of 100 students per year.
Several awards and scholarships were also announced. The family members of Late physician Goleswar Sarma offered an annual award of Rs 50,000 to the topper of the first professional MBBS exam. Professor of Anaesthesiology Lily Das in memory of her parents offered Rs 6,000 and Rs 4,000 to the students who stood first and second, respectively, in the final MBBS examinations.
Professor of Anatomy Tarini Kanta Das offered Rs 10,000 to the student who would top in Anatomy in the first professional MBBS exam. There was also a running trophy for the best scientific model made for a group by the Biochemistry Department. Hazarika further said that the Medical Council of India (MCI) had made an assessment on August 28 last regarding JMCH’s application for starting PG courses in nine departments.
Hazarika further announced that the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme would build two toilets in front of the In Patient Department (IPD) and Out Patient Department (OPD) and set up a potable water treatment facility for the hospital, hostels and quarters.
Jorhat Member of Parliament (MP) KP Tasa had given Rs 2.6 lakh from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Fund for a drinking water facility in the OPD. Businessmen of Jorhat OP Gattani and Makhan Gattani would build a dharamshala for attendants of patients who had to stay overnight and also a separate waiting lounge with toilet facilities.
The Government had announced a grant of about Rs 48 crore for completion of the hospital buildings and an additional Rs 30 crore to be given in instalments of Rs 10 crore annually for replacement of equipment and repairs. Hazarika said that the College still lacks an auditorium and indoor games stadium.
He asked the doctors to be compassionate while dealing with the distraught and keep their humanitarian and ethical values intact. In the morning, teachers, nursing staff, students and employees of JMCH took out a walkathon in collaboration with the Jubilee Foundation with the theme – ‘The Importance of Organ Donation: Walk for Life. Walk to Life’.
Later, a free blood donation camp was organised. Among those who attended the general session were Jorhat MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and Assam Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor (VC) KM Bujarbaruah. At night, a cultural function was held.