The over 160-year-old iconic St. Peter’s Church – Bandra, run by the Jesuit priests has an equally iconic Health Cell arm that has been catering to the healthcare needs of the underprivileged of society for the past 73 years. Just as the Church is steeped in history, its Health Cell too has a glorious past.
This cell was the brainchild of Dr. Alfred Camilo Rebello an outstanding doctor known for his generous and philanthropic contributions to Society.
Dr. A C Rebello had his early primary education at the very same St. Stanislaus School, run by the Church and then passed his Senior Cambridge at St. Xavier’s High School, Bombay. He then proceeded to Grant Medical College and secured the MBBS degree of the University of Bombay in 1913. In London, he worked under renowned Doctors at various hospitals and clinics.
On his return to India, he was appointed as Professor of Dermatology and Honorary Physician in the Skin Department of J.J. Hospital. In 1926, Dr. A. C. Rebello was appointed the First Honorary Dermatologist of the King Edward Memorial Hospital and Honorary Lecturer in Skin and Venereal diseases at the Seth Gorkhandas Sunderdas Medical College. On his retirement from these hospitals in 1946, he continued to be a Consulting Dermatologist.
A pillar of St. Peter’s Church Bandra, Dr. Rebello founded the St. Peter’s Sodality Skin Clinic in 1946 with the co-operation of Rev. Fr Ribot, S.J., the then Rector, to cater to the needs of the poor and middle class of greater Bombay; even the neighbouring States would avail of his gratis services. Every Thursday for the next 25 years he would devote the day attending to patients, which was continued by his son Dr. D.J.A. Rebello.
Thanks to this glorious past and magnificent contribution, St. Peter’s now boasts of its proud Cell that serves over 200 new patients annually and has been at the job since the last 73 years.
The cell presently has over 10 doctors catering to key medical services like homoeopathy, orthopaedics, dermatology, ENT, dentistry, physiotherapy and general medical services. It conducts regular camps and seminars to promote healthcare and serve the lesser privileged with love and compassion!
I remember the clinic very well and the good work that was done. My mum Phyllis Lopez used to work with Dr Rebello in the 1980’s. She would help him with the administration and appointments. So good it is still opened to help the needy. God bless the hands of the doctors who help.