Farewell to Mayiladuthurai’s ‘Florence Nightingale’

Mayiladuthurai city bid a tearful farewell to its personal “Florence Nightingale”, who lately died after many years of maternity service to the native inhabitants. Phyllis Rodrigues, 98, was a gynaecologist on the Dharmapuram Adheenam Free Maternity Home for over 35 years.

Dr. Rodrigues was born in Australia in 1923 to an Australian couple, and after spending her early years there, she moved to Chennai to examine drugs on the Madras Medical College in 1946. Some of her relations had moved to the then Madras and advisable the school for finding out drugs.

Following her commencement as an obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Rodrigues had the chance to serve on the Dharmapuram Adheenam Free Maternity Home, arrange in 1951. The then head of Dharmapuram Adheenam is alleged to have approached Dr. Rodrigues and requested her to function a health care provider on the hospital. From 1955 to round 1990, she labored because the chief physician on the hospital and lived on the Town Station Road.

Speaking to The Puucho about Dr. Rodrigues, Pannai C. Sivasubramanian, who lived subsequent door to her in Mayiladuthurai, mentioned the previous labored tirelessly for 35 years on the maternity residence. “She insisted on normal deliveries and it was very rare that any C-section deliveries were conducted under her care. Even late in the night, she would travel on a bullock cart to reach the house of the pregnant woman to assist with the delivery,” he mentioned.

Around 1990, Dr. Rodrigues stopped working due to failing well being and lived in Egmore, Chennai, for a couple of years after retirement. Her husband was an worker in Southern Railway and following his demise, she returned to Australia in 1998. “Her family kept in touch with us and even visited us two years ago. Her sister’s children came to see the house Dr. Rodrigues lived in and I even got to talk to her on a video call after over 20 years,” Mr. Sivasubramanian mentioned, happiness writ massive on his face.

Reminiscing about Dr. Rodrigues, Mr. Sivasubramanian mentioned he had by no means heard her increase her voice. “She was a very polite and lovable soul and everyone in Mayiladuthurai adored her loving nature. She loved animals and reared pups, turkey and other animals in her house,” he mentioned.

Dr. Rodrigues, who didn’t have kids of her personal, would invite Mr. Sivasubramanian, his siblings and mates to her home each Christmas, and put together a feast. He was saddened when he was knowledgeable of her ill-health a couple of weeks in the past. Dr. Rodrigues celebrated her 98th birthday this May.

Following her demise on July 2, the Mayiladuthurai Aram Sei Trust organised a prayer and memorial service on the maternity residence. Many individuals whose childrens’ delivery was assisted by Dr. Rodrigues took half and shared reminiscences.