It’s easy to forget just how important, valuable and necessary good doctors are – that is until you get ill or sustain an injury. Doctors Day puts hard-working doctors in the spotlight, and encourages us to be considerate of the long hours they work, their compassion, and the effort they put into practicing medicine.
All around the world, Doctors’ Day is celebrated, as we all recognize the contributions that physicians make in the community and to individual lives. Countries celebrate Doctors’ Day on different dates.
It can be an overwhelming job, to say the least. They have to diagnose different conditions and treat a wide range of people on a daily basis. The outcome is not always good, and this can be difficult to deal with. It is hard to imagine what doctors go through. Plus, they’re always available for us. Unfortunately, illnesses and injuries don’t wait for a convenient time to strike. They can happen at any time and on any day, and that’s why it is so important that we always have doctors to rely on when we’re not feeling like our usual selves.
History of Doctors’ Day
Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of a doctor in Georgia, believed her husband and other physicians deserved more recognition for their hard work and set out to make this idea a reality. The first observed Doctors’ Day occurred on March 30, 1933, exactly 91 years after Dr. Crawford W. Long’s remarkable discovery of ether anesthetic, which was used for surgery on the 30th of March in 1842. Almond mailed greeting cards to all local physicians. On this date, flowers were placed on the graves of deceased doctors, including Dr. Long. Because of this, red carnations are widely viewed as the symbolic flower for this day.
History of National Doctors’ Day in India
National Doctors’ Day is celebrated on 01 July every year in India. It was first observed in 1991 to commemorate the iconic and internationally renowned medical practitioner Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. July 01 happens to be his death and birth anniversary too.
Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (01 July 1882 – 01 July 1962) was a renowned physician, educationist, freedom fighter, social worker and politician. He also served West Bengal for 14 years as a chief minister and was awarded with the highest Indian civilian award, “The Bharat Ratna” on 04 February 1961.
He devoted his life to the people, treated many and inspired millions. Furthermore, he was also Mahatma Gandhi’s personal physician.
In the year 1976, the B.C. Roy National Award was instituted in his memory to recognize eminent persons working in the areas of medicine, science, public affairs, philosophy, arts and literature. Our very own Dr. Wilfred de Souza, Goa’s only surgeon-cum-CM received the Dr. B.C. Roy award as “Eminent Medical Man & Statesman” from the Medical Council of India at the hands of the President of India, H.E. Shri K.R. Narayanan.
Today as we continue to celebrate medical advances we think that it is only right to thank all doctors everywhere. After all, just imagine how life would be if there weren’t any doctors in the world!
-Dr. Lorna Fernandez