The medical work in Sompeta was started by Dr. Zella, M. Clarke in the year 1911. Till 1935 It was a hospital for women and children.
The founders of the Arogyavaram Eye Hospital are the late Mrs. Evlyn Gullison and the late Dr. Ben R. Gullison, who served this institution faithfully for over 36 years. On November 4th 1939 the Arogyavaram Eye Hospital Building was dedicated and opened for service
“AROGYAVARAM” means ‘THE DIVINE GIFT OF HEALING'
In 1963, Gullison went to Canada on a fund-raising tour. In Alberta, he met a man who was to transform his dream into reality. Art Jenkyns was one of a group of Calgary businessmen who responded to Dr. Ben's plea for help. He was the president of “Baptist Men,” an active church group that soon formed the “Dr. Ben Gullison Club”. Later they re-named themselves OPERATION EYESIGHT.
In 1976, Dr. Coupallai along with men and women who received inspiration from the teachings of Jesus Christ formed a society to run the hospital with the motto of rendering service with love and compassion to the blind and sick people who come to this hospital irrespective of caste, creed and colour and thus put into practice, the teachings of Jesus Christ both in word and in deed.
Dr. Gullison and Dr. Coupallai set a shining example of compassion for patients. They excelled in their work. All those who succeeded them followed the example set by these stalwarts.
Dr. John Coupallai and Dr.(Mrs)C.Coupallai served the institution from Aug 1949 to September 1978. Dr. David & Dr (Mrs.) David served the institution faithfully from May 1976 to April 1994. Dr. Sudeep Das & Dr (Mrs.) Saguna served from July 1997 to January 2006.
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