Aum Sri Sai Ram
An Appreciation of
Late Dr.N.Sivarajah
-----------------------------------------------
My Humble Salutations to
the Cosmic Power!!!
Jaffna Medical Association
has given me this noble and humble task of expressing
an appreciation and
respect to Late Dr.N.Sivarajah.
Friends I shall squeeze
this tribute into the time allocated.
He was born in Negombo
almost 80 years back, grew in Diwulupitya, had the primary and secondary
education at St Mary,s college, Negombo,
Pre University
Education at Ananda
College, Colombo and for a short time at Jaffna Hindu College. Graduated as a doctor from the University of
Ceylon, obtained post-graduate degrees from the Tropical medicine & Health
Institute, London and from the Post Graduate Institute Colombo.( MD & DPH)
Held various posts in the
Department of Health such as DMO, MOH,Port Health officer, traversed the length
and breadth of Sri Lanka serving in Amparai, Mawathugama, Kegalle, Vavuniya,
Manipay, Kayts,Anuradhapura and Colombo.
In the University Of
Jaffna,he served as Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Community
Medicine from 1988 to 2003. After this he became the Coordinator
In Jaffna for the WHO from 2003 to 2013.
In the JMA, he was a Life
Member, Vice President from 1982 till
1985., President of this Noble Association in 1986/87 and was the Editor of
Jaffna Medical Journal
from 1988 till2003. His articles and abstracts in the JMJ from
1986 till 2010 focused on Parasitic Infestation and Nutrition of Children,
Heroin Addiction(drug
was introduced into Jaffna
in 1983), & Pattern of Cancer Disease in Jaffna District.
He had written an
appreciation of Dr.V.Krishnarajah , Past President of JMA, Editor of JMJ and
Consultant Surgeon at Jaffna Teaching Hospital In JMJ 1994.
He vehemently pointed out
the aberration in the Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates published during the
Civil War period. He found out that only
50 % of the deaths were registered during that period.
Other than the JMA, he had
headed several other Organizations such as Jaffna Science Association(2001 to
2002) , Association for Health Education and Development(AHEAD) &
association for the rehabilitation of the Disabled(AROD)
Other than Medical
Students, he had lectured to Students of Allied health &n Science Department,
Students of Nurses training College and Schools.
He had edited a magazine
“Suha Manjari” to the Para Medics.
He always talked how he
played a role in One Day Stoppage of War to distribute vaccines throughout the
island. He also talked about how the
communicable diseases were controlled or prevented in the refugee camps.
During his close
association with the terminally ill cancer patients, he observed the common
regrets expressed by these patients during their last days. These regrets as expressed by the patients
are :
1.I wish I’d had the courage to live a
life true to myself and not the life others
Expected of me.
2. I wish I’d had not worked so hard ,
neglecting the family
3. I wish, I’d had the courage to
express my feelings
4. I wish that I had stayed in touch
with my friends
He had passed on these
observations by E mail to our mutual friend Dr.Philip
Veerasingam in April 2014.
He was a man of resolute and strong will. He became a victim of violence on 24.08.2009
in his Department office. The
perpetrator of the violence left the Faculty
without finishing the course. This did not deter him from doing his work
with enthusiasm.
Friends! We paid our last respect to his body in
this hall last Sunday 11.03.2019.
The body is no more. But we can pay respect to his work and ideas
eternally.
After associating with him
for many years, I came to know his motto which is
“Prevention
is better than cure”
Later on he changed it
into:
“Prevention benefits far more patients than
clinical medicine.
Prevention is
more certain than cure”
We humbly bow down to his
ideals and exemplary life.
May the Cosmic Power
bestow Peace in All.
Thank you
Dr.R.Ganeshamoorthy
15th March 2019
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