INTRODUCTION

Schieffelin Institute of Health – Research and Leprosy Centre (SIHRLC) located near Vellore in Tamil Nadu, was established in 1955 to care for the leprosy patients in and around Vellore and to set up a research institution to probe into the multifaceted problems of leprosy. Dr. Robert Cochrane was the moving force behind this venture.

A plot of land, 15 km from Christian Medical College (CMC) hospital, Vellore and 4 km from any approach road, was obtained from the Government. With the close cooperation of The Leprosy Mission (TLM) and the American Leprosy Missions (ALM) and CMC, the project gradually materialized.

The Institute is named in honor of Mr. William J Schieffelin, the then President of the ALM, which funded the building project. Dr. Ida Scudder, the founder of CMC, turned the sod on 6th September 1952. Mr. William Bailey, Secretary of Southern Asia TLM, supervised the programme. The buildings were completed and the Schieffelin Leprosy Research Sanatorium (as it was then known) was declared open on 20th June 1955.

The Schieffelin Leprosy Research Sanatorium was renamed as the Schieffelin Leprosy Research & Training Centre in 1974. The institution was registered as a company in 1977 and became independent from all three founding organizations.

Leprosy services were integrated into general health services in 1997. In 2006, in order to reflect the integrated nature of the institution, the institution was renamed as Schieffelin Institute of Health – Research and Leprosy Centre (SIHRLC).

Over the past six decades SIHRLC has treated leprosy and its complications, carried out state of the art research to understand the disease, and trained all levels of health personnel in the management of leprosy.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF SIHRLC

SIHRLC’s contributions to different aspects of leprosy are significant.

  • The leprosy control programme in a defined geographical area around Karigiri started in the 1960’s. In collaboration with the Govt. of India, WHO and ILEP organizations, the prevalence of leprosy was brought down from 250 per 10,000 to less than 1 per 10,000 in 2006.
  • Leprosy services were integrated into general health services.
  • Pioneering clinical, epidemiological and laboratory research studies into the disease have thrown light on the intriguing aspects of leprosy.
  • Paul Brand’s path breaking innovation of tendon transfer surgery for leprosy deformed hands and feet, was perfected at Karigiri. This has transformed the limbs and lives of thousands in India and all over the world.
  • A unique animal laboratory was set up in 1969 to grow leprosy bacilli in the foot pad of mouse and carry out research, as these bacteria do not grow in artificial media unlike other bacteria.
  • Many best practice methods in the management of leprosy and its complications were evolved
  • Invention of Micro Cellular Rubber (MCR) in 1965 addressed the problem of injury and ulceration of feet.
  • It was in Karigiri’s control area that the Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) was field-tested by the WHO in 1982. The treatment regimen had formatting impacts on the National and International History of Leprosy.

More than half a century hence, SIHRLC, Karigiri continues to focus on leprosy, being a tertiary referral centre for the management of leprosy, training health care workers in leprosy in the integration phase and carrying out research in the unsolved issues of leprosy.

Over the past six decades, SIHRLC has grown into a centre of excellence in tertiary care centre for leprosy services, International Leprosy training centre and a state of the art Leprosy Research Centre.

REBALANCING

Since the integration of leprosy into general health services in 1997, SIHRLC has collaborated with the government in taking on TB, HIV/AIDS, Diabetes and Disabilities program in its geographical area. Since 1998 it also developed into a quality secondary care centre adding on services such as General Medicine, General Surgery, OG and Paediatrics to the already existing Dermatology, Orthopaedics and Ophthalmological services.

The services of this institution are delivered in three centers –

Two First Referral units located in Katpadi (Paul Brand Integrated Health Centre or PBIHC) and Gudiyatham,

and a Base Hospital located at Karigiri.

The First referral units provide OP services, while the Base Hospital provides OP/IP services with excellent operation theatre and support. All units are equipped well with facilities, established laboratory and other supporting facilities.

MILESTONES

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1948

Acquisition of land at Karigiri.

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1952

Turning of sod by Dr. Ida Scudder.

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1955

Hospital declared open on 20th June.

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1957

Mat weaving unit started for rehabilitation of treated leprosy patients with Social Welfare Board assistance.

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1962

Collaboration with Swedish Red Cross for Gudiyatham Leprosy Epidemiology Project; Micro Cellular Rubber (MCR) Mill started.

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1964

St. Luke’s Chapel dedicated.

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1965

Women’s ward and SRC ward added.

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1969

Radda Barren Research Laboratory started for Experimental Pathology work with animal house.

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1970

Administrative Block, Guest House and Splint Workshop opened.

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1974

Board of Governors formed – Karigiri gets autonomy status.

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1982

Multi Drug Therapy introduced; opening of Lazarus Ward.

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1983

Foot Care Centre – gift of ICCO Project, Netherlands; Indian Merchants Chamber Award 1982 for Mat weaving Project.

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1986

Inauguration of new Medical Ward – gift from CBM.

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1987

Inauguration of Data Processing Unit- gift of ALM and TLM; New Operation Theatre- funded by ICCO Netherlands. Karigiri Video Unit dedicated, courtesy GOI, USAID.

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1990

Epidemiology Block Extension funded by Baptist Union of Sweden.

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1993

Ofloxacin Multicentric Field Trial -WHO sponsored.

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1994

Local Area Computer Network -LAN launched. New Eye OPD dedicated-funded by CBM.

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1995

Recognition for Ph. D. For DPOE Course by RCI and by CMAI to start DMIIT one year Course.

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1997

Integration of Leprosy control with general Public Health Services by Tamil Nadu Government. Leprosy control project area Gudiyatham Taulk handed over. Best Institution Award given by Tamil Nadu Government for Services rendered for the Rehabilitation of Disabled 1996-97. SHARP (Society for Help and Rehabilitation of Persons Affected by Leprosy and other Disabilities) started.

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1998

Epidemiology becomes Community Health Department. Ear, Nose, Throat Surgery Unit started. NATIONAL Award 1997 – 98 from the Prime Minister for ‘The Best Institution serving the cause of Rehabilitation of the Disabled’.

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1999

General Anaesthesia Services and General Surgery Unit, Molecular Biology Laboratory Project launched.

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2000

Trauma General Orthopaedic Units inaugurated with Casualty Services. Formation of SHGs for Rehabilitation of Leprosy affected and other disabled.

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2001

Vision Statement re-drafted. Department of Information and Communication formed. Karigiri School of Nursing with Diploma in Nursing Course started. DNB Course in Dermatology started.

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2002

Karigiri website launched @ www.karigiri.org ; DNB course in Orthopaedics started.

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2003

Community Geriatric Health Care Course started; Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit with Labour Room opened; Paediatric Unit started; Recognized as Family Planning Centre and as Nodal Treatment Centre for RNTCP; Mid Term Evaluation for implementation of Karigiri Consultation Committee’s recommendations; Strategic Planning Workshop on Karigiri’s future conducted.

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2004

New Rubber Mill fully renovated with new equipment; Orthotic Workshop – extended with new equipment; PG Diploma in Podiatry Care for Physiotherapy graduates; Golden Jubilee Scientific Workshop conducted; Turning of the sod and laying Foundation stone for the new Dr. Paul Brand Integrated Health Centre at Katpadi.

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2005

Inauguration of the Paul Brand Integrated Health Centre; Dental unit started.

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2006

Recognized as Blood Storage Centre by the Tamil Nadu Government.

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2007

MCR unit renamed – Mammen Mapillai MCR Unit; Golden Jubilee of the Rehabilitation unit – Block Printing facility inaugurated.

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2008

CMAI recognition to start Diploma in Radiographer’s Techniques; Recognized as a “Centre of Excellence for Foot Care” by the World Diabetes Foundation; Recognized as “Sentinel Surveillance Centre for Drug Resistance” in Leprosy by WHO.

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2009

Rebalancing of OP Services; Courses for DLOs and SLOs under NLEP.

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2010

Dedication of new staff bus, Lazarus ward, Interns hostel, Extension of Gudiyatham hospital, Inauguration of the AHBAAS project.

2011

Inauguration of College of Health Sciences at PBIHC; SBI ATM in the campus.

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2012

Inauguration of new renovated building for College of Health Sciences.

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2013

Donation of Ambulance by State Bank of India, Vellore.

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2014

Extension of operation theatre. Strategic planning for 2015-2019 meeting held.

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2015

Extension of new OP building inaugurated.

RESEARCH SNIPPETS

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CONTACT INFO

The Schieffelin Institute of Health – Research & Leprosy Centre (SIHRLC),
Karigiri, (via Katpadi) – 632106, Vellore District,
Tamil Nadu, India.

Phone: 0416-2274-223

Mobile: 9442274224

Web: www.leprosyhealth.org