About B.C.M. Hospital
History illustrates that a visionary’s dreams are often God’s own Dreams, which will take flesh come what may and will perpetuate. A person is born in one corner of the world, tended and nurtured, for a particular task, nobody knows the who, what, where of that task. In the fullness of God’s time, child berth takes place, perhaps amidst terrible human suffering and the dream start to express itself. The story of Bishop Conrad memorial Hospital (B.C.M. Hospital) Started when Rev. Fr. Gerrard Perrzini, an Italian Capuchin Priest and the Principal of Sacred Heart inter college at that time , met with a road accident on his way from Lucknow to Sitapur. As he lay waiting- unattended for a long time and suffering excruciating pain from the broken bones of his lower jaw and his right forearm- in the corridor of the government health centre, he thought of his less fortunate brothers and sisters. If this was the plight of principal of a prestigious school, what would be the fate of millions of people without name, fame or money? This time of agony was the precious moment of the conception of Bishop Conrad Memorial Hospital.
The foundation stone of the hospital was laid on 6th may 1978. Fr. Gerrard named the hospital after the Late Bishop Conrad, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Lucknow, who was also a great friend of his. He approached many congregations of sisters to entrust the administration of the hospital and he was greatly relieved when he received a positive response from Sr. Ida, the then Provincial Superior of the sisters of Holy Cross (Menzingen) in Kerala. The holy cross sisters true to the vision of their founders, Fr. Theodosius Florentini and Mother Bernarda Heimgartner, - “The need of the time is the will of God” – joined hands with Rev. Fr. Gerrard Perrzini to make his dream come true. The Bishop Conrad Memorial Hospital, Khairabad in the district of Sitapur was founded to care for the sick and suffering from complicated illness, specially the poor and the neglected in the district of Sitapur and the neighbouring districts.
The three pioneering sisters, two Germans, Johanna and Yolenta and one Indian, Sr. Maria Stella, arrived in march of 1980. Soon after one more sister, Sr. Tresa who specialized in community health joined them and they started surveying the nearby villages.
When the construction of the first block of the hospital was completed on the feast of St. Conrad, 21st April 1981, the hospital was blessed and inaugurated at a very simple ceremony in the presence of some priests and sisters of Lucknow Diocese and a few people from Sitapur, including Ms. Tresa, the head mistress of Sacred Heart Inter College, Sitapur. Fr. Gerrard the founder registered himself as the first patient. Dr. Maggie Tason a retired Gynaecologist joined the hospital on 3rd June 1981
Today BCM hospital is an independent, non profit, multi speciality hospital with 190 beds that serve as a regional referral centre providing Quality care in a major Clinical Disciplines.
Administrators Desk
We, the sisters of the Holy Cross (Menzingan) are well known for our dedicated services in Health Care and Nursing in Kottayam, Kerala. Our mission was extended to Khairabad in the year 1980 in the district of Sitapur, in Uttar Pradesh. We expanded our mission at the request of late Rev. Fr. Gerrard Perazzini of Capuchin, the founder, missionary and visionary who set his foot on Indian Soil in 1947.
Today, Khairabad is one of the major Healthcare enterprises of the Holy Cross Sisters who have their provincial house in Lucknow.
We, the sisters of the Holy Cross, believe that God calls us today to be women of hope empowered by the Word. The primary concern of our founders Fr. Theodosius Florentini and Mother Bernarda was for holistic Christian education, especially for girls of working-class families.
Sincerely,
The Holy Cross Sisters
MISSION
As sisters of the Holy Cross, with the mandate to bring life and hope, with the special focus to women and children, following Jesus our Lord and Master, who came to give life in abundance, and born out of compassion for fellow human beings, we bring healing and comprehensive health to all.
VISION
To respect, protect and promote life, upholding the dignity and right for life, to stand in solidarity with sick and suffering.
History of B.C.M. Hospital
“The little Capuchin” of Sitapur, as he described himself, the late Fr. Gerrard Perazzini, was a zealous Missionary, an Educationist, a Social Reformer, a friend of the poor and the sick. A poet by nature, he was eco-friendly too. In fact, he was a good blend of the hard and the soft. Once he was convinced of something great and good to be accomplished by him, he left no stone unturned until it was achieved. He was a winner, and for that matter, he could go even up to the court, valiant in battle!
Born on January 19,1919 at Sant Archangelo, Italy, he was a prodigy. While his only sister Elvira and his two brothers wondered at what would become of him, his beloved mother was confident that her son would one day make himself a great man. The young energetic, dynamic and fearless “Gino” as they affectionately called him, joined the Capuchin order. As a novice, on many occasions, he had arguments with his Novice Master and fought for his legitimate rights. The devil in him tempted him to fist his fellow conferrers occasionally, and every time he emerged the winner. None could equal him; all the same, he persevered and became a full-fledged Capuchin ever eager to serve his Lord and Master.
Late. Fr. Gerrard Perazzini
It was his dream to spend his life in India as a missionary. Little did mother India realize that she was embracing the feet of a “would be noble son” of hers, when the slender figured, magnanimous and challenging missionary set foot on Indian soil on 20 December 1947. Bishop Conrad de Vitto, Bishop of Lucknow welcomed him, with the affection of a father which he had missed from the age of six. Bareilly station awaited the young missionary. He had to find a job. Our hero, full of life and vigor desperately looked for challenging work. He went around and found an old building which was used as a military library and opened up a school there. Soon a stay order came because without permission from Government he had started school. He knew little about the rules of the country.
Later he bought another building and started school again. This school is today know as Bishop Conrad Memorial School, Bareilly. His small feet measured the distance, from Nainital to Bareilly to celebrate Holy Mass Fr. Gerard was transferred to Shanti Nagar in Gonda, where he lived in a hut thatched with straw and a cow dung smeared floor. His first visitor at night were rats, insects and creeping things. Animals kept company with this poor capuchin. He had to fight with dacoits. On one such occasion, a dacoit caught hold of his shirt to attack him. Fr. Gerard with all his might pushed him down into a river and told him “this is your place, drink plenty of water”. In moments ‘time, several of his men appeared with weapons, on the other side of the river. For a second his heart stopped when he regained his courage and decided to fight and not to flee. He shouted at the top of his voice that he has got weapons with him and he is ready to face them. Hearing this fled and his life was saved.
His next missionary station was in Sitapur, a jungle and a deserted place. He cleared the jungle and began to go out and talk to people and made friends. He had compassion for children and opened a boarding and admitted several children. He started to reach them in an old room. Children began to learn. This is the origin of the present Sacred Heart Inter College, Sitapur.
Father Gerard had an indomitable spirit, braving all oppositions and adversities he worked relentlessly for fulfilling his mission of serving the people. It is this spirit that changed the jungle area of Khairabad to s magnificent Hospital building and over the years the hospital has gone through various stages of development. Today it is a place of refuge for all the sick people around this place as well as people from faraway places.
An Italian by birth, but Indian at heart, he procured Indian Citizenship with much struggle. He embraced India as his home land and spent himself for the welfare of the country and the development of our people. He had the guts to stand before the Italian embassy and renounce his Italian citizenship and to embrace Mother India as his home country. This act of his, speaks volumes about his missionary zeal, his single mindedness and total commitment in life.
1978 - B.C.M Under Construction
Father Gerard was a silent observer, but his actions were loud. He noticed a number of physically disabled children around the village of Khairabad, stricken by polio. As his stumpy fingers moved fast over the typewriter, beautiful poems came out. He sent those poems to his friends abroad. His only sister, Elvira Gazzoni sold her property and sent the money to build a center for the handicapped children and the Elvira Rehab Centre Opened its Doors In1994.
Even though he reached there at score and Fifteen years of age, he had the wisdom of the latter half and the energy of the former. As his physical vision diminished, his charismatic vision flowered and bloomed. Imperceptible was an execution of his plans, he purchased several plots of land in Naipalapur and Sidhauli, and there blossomed in Naipalapur a Degree College and Post Graduate Institute of Management. He then moved to Sidhauli, he was in a hurry to complete the School building –God knows why? Did he have a premonition that the curtain to his life would be drawn soon? Yes, the call came unexpectedly for his come ward journey.
“Poor Gerard “, as he calls himself, built many a have for generations yet to come, he was blessed with a vision of his own eternal heaven which God has prepared for him. One day as he lay sick in “Meyo Hospital, Lucknow” he called out, which is mine? Which is mine”? When he came to his senses the Sisters who were attending him asked him what the matter was. He explained that he had a vision of several beautiful mansions and was eager to know which one was his. He was beaming with joy as he explained. In semi-consciousness, he connected it to Khairabad. He wanted to be in Khairabad for his rest.
When sister death embraced him on 16 May 2003, the people of Sitapur District and the Diocese of Lucknow lost a great friend of humanity and Zealous missionary. To take risks and face challenges were his hobby. With his eloquent and fiery speech, he could defeat any adversary. His spirit is present in every grain of sand on this campus. He left a legacy behind for us to perpetuate. “There is no substitute for hard work” he used to say and he proved it by his actions. He fought against illiteracy, Sickness, pain, and injustice and left his imprint wherever he worked for the future generation to follow. If a single person could do so much work, how much more can we achieve if we work hard together for the development of our country to improve the health conditions of our people and to establish the kingdom of God in this place.
A lot has happened in less than 40 years since B.C.M. Hospital’s Founding in 1981 but our devotion to the original vision, in meeting the health need of the people has not wavered. Here are a few highlights from the journey so far -
-
St. Francis Leprosy Centre was started with 14 beds and free clinics for out patients on Friday every week, providing multi drug therapy, ulcer care and protective MCR footwear.
-
21st April - B.C.M. hospital was blessed and inaugurated.
-
Rev. Fr. Gerrard, the founder, registered as the first patient.
-
3rd June - Dr Maggie Tason a retired Gynaecologist joined the hospital.
-
25th July - Dr George D’Souza and Dr. Raghavendra Tantri from St. John’s Medical College Bangalore joined the hospital.
-
4th May - The first child birth was conducted in the hospital.
-
4th August - Dr. Sr. Leena the Obstetrician, And Gynecologist joined along with Anesthetist amd the Sr. Incharge of the operation theatre.
-
16th September - Dr. Ajai Kumar Mehrotra, the first Surgeon joined the hospital.
-
18th September - the operation theatre on the ground floor of the hospital was blessed by Fr. Gerrard.
-
18th September - The first patient with Duodenal Perforation, who had been treated by Quacks for five days was admitted and operated.
-
24th September - The first abdominal Hysterectomy was performed.
-
10th June - Dr. Rakesh Srivastava, physician and Cardiologist joined the hospital.
-
TB clinics on every Thursday of the week for patients with Tuberculosis were started and drugs were given at concessional rates or even free.
-
18th August - The permission was granted for opening of a school of Nursing with an annual intake of 30 Candidates.
-
1st March - First batch of students for the diploma course in general nursing and midwifery admitted.
-
16th June - Marked the blessing and inauguration of Bishop Conrad Memorial School of Nursing and Hostel.
-
New outpatient block was built.
-
The first ultrasound machine was installed and functioning
-
Elvira Rehabilitation Centre for Treatment and rehabilitation of the handicapped was established
-
2nd February - Dr. Nalini Casabianca, A senior Laprologist trained in reconstructive joined St. Francis Leprosy Centre.
-
8th March - Jeevan Jyoti Community Centre Strarted community- oriented programs with the support of 20 volunteers workers.
-
The new leprosy complex with 30 bed inpatient facility, outpatient department, record room, laboratory, minor operating, physiotherapy commenced operations.
-
Reconstructive surgery with leprosy patients with deformities.
-
August - The commencement of Revised National Tuberculosis Control program (RNTCP) covering a population of 1lakh.
-
The new labour room, antenatal, post natal wards and NICU were opened.
-
The new leprosy complex with 30 bed inpatient facility, outpatient department, record room, laboratory, minor operating, physiotherapy commenced operations.
-
Reconstructive surgery with leprosy patients with deformities.
-
August - The commencement of Revised National Tuberculosis Control program (RNTCP) covering a population of 1lakh.
-
The new labour room, antenatal, post natal wards and NICU were opened.
-
19th January the new administrative block of the college of nursing was blessed and inaugurated.
-
The new laboratory Suite was established in accordance with the requirements of the blood Centre
-
New Blood Centre block opened.
-
2011- College of Nursing New Block Opened.
-
2012 - Intensive Care Unit Renovated.
-
2014 - Indoor Beds & Private Ward Increased.
-
Dialysis Unit Opened with 1 positive & 2 Negative Machines.
-
Labour room renovated.
-
National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) entry level accreditation was granted.
-
Solar Plant for electricity installed.
-
Sewage and Effluent Treatment Plant Installed.
-
Modular Operation Theatre and modifications of OT Complex as per New Guidelines of NABH.
-
Computed Tomography Scan by Pacific Promoters installed.
Hospital Inaugration
1981
Operation Theatre Inaugration
1982
Nursing School permission granted
1989
Nursing School Inaugration
1990
Rehab centre established
1994
Senior Laprologist joined
1999
New Leprosy complex
2000
New Blood centre block
2010
-
Program for control of Filariasis was started under the partnership of German Leprosy and TB Relief Association (GLRA)
-
Modular Intensive Care Unit renovated with HEPA Filter, as per NABH Guidelines.
-
Central Sterile Supply Department renovated with advance machines.
-
Linen & Laundry Department renovated & equipped with advance machines.
-
5 part Haematology Analyzer Installed.
-
Covid-19 Pandemic, Infection prevention measures initiated with proper guidelines & major infrastructural changes taken place.
-
2020 - Fully Auto Biochemistry analyzer installed.
-
2020 - National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) Full accreditation were granted.
-
2021- Endoscopy Service started
Nursing college new block
2011
Indoor Beds increased
2014
ICU Renovated
2012
Solar Plant installed
2018
ICU Renovated
2019
NABH full accreditation granted
2020
Endoscopy unit started
2021
TB clinics started
1983
Leprosy centre started
1987
NABH accreditation
2017
Labour room renovated
2016