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Dr. Temsu Changkiri[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, March 20: Renowned surgeon Dr. Temsu Changkiri who was one of the pioneers of surgery in Nagaland passed away on Tuesday at around 7 am at Eden Medical Centre in Dimapur. He was 85.
Considered as the pioneer of surgery in Nagaland, Dr. Temsu (as he was simply, and famously, known) had various credits attached to his name. He was the co-founder and chairman of Prodigal’s Home, one of the first rehabilitation centres for drug users.
The doctor was also one of the founding residents of Fellowship colony in Dimapur. His clinic Fellowship Nursing Home is the first nursing home to be established in Dimapur. He was also served as the president of the Nagaland unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA); and an active member of IMA Dimapur branch.
A sincere and generous doctor, who often treated patients for free especially the financially poor, Dr. Temsu extended help to the injured Naga army personnel during the ‘insurgency period’ without any hesitation or fear. “He never cared about being questioned by the government of India for his activity because for him a patient is patient regardless of background, creed, colour or affiliation”, it was stated.
Dr. Temsu was the eldest of seven children. He did his schooling from Changki village and Kohima, pre-university from Cotton College in Guwahati and MBBS from Assam Medical College. He completed his post-graduation from All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in 1970 in Master of Surgery.
He joined the Jorhat Mission Hospital as Medical Officer in 1964, gave his services to Impur Mission Hospital and Aizuto Mission Hospital when required. After which he joined the Nagaland state government. However, not happy with the working system of the government, Dr. Temsu set up Fellowship Nursing Home in 1978. It is still running efficiently even today.
He is survived by his wife, son, two daughters and six grand children.