National Award for Dr. Edward Lobo

By: H. R. Alva, Maria Advertisers, Mangalore

Dr. Edward Lobo, Chairman and Managing Trustee and the Man behind the wheel of Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Pamboor, Udupi District is in the National News today(27-09-2003) occupying the front pages of News papers in India. Dr. Lobo bagged the prestigious National Award for the Child Welfare given by the Human Resource Ministry of Government of India. This award consists of  a citation and cash award Rs.One Lakh.
 
Dr. Edward Lobo is a man of vision and dedicated hard work. Within a short span of about 10 years he created MANASA from nothing to the present International fame.The foundation stone of Manasa Centre was laid on 14th June 1995 and it started functioning from 1st June 1997. Manasa has already bagged the State Award for Child Welfare from Govt. of Karnataka last year and Dr. Lobo got the State Award for the service of handicapped children.More over several students of this Centre have won the medals at the National level Special Olympic Bharath and several other competitions.

Dr. Edward Lobo is known for his dedicated work in the Diocese of Mangalore. Today his achievements are talk of the town.
He was born on 25-2-1946 at Kulshekar, Mangalore had his early studies at the Cordel Parish School, High School studies at the Padua High school, PUC at St. Philomena College, Puttur and then Medical education at Bangalore.
 
After a year's service in the Perpetual Succour Hospital at Sastan he landed at Shankerpura in May 1970 to start his Medical Career and opened his NIRMALA CLINIC. From the Day One Dr. Lobo remaining a true Pangalite mingling with the people and activities of Shankerpura, Pangala parish. Happily married to Daphney this couple has 3 daughters and a son, all are well educated & well settled. Mrs. Daphney is an Officer of the Syndicate Bank.

Dr. Edward Lobo is a dedicated worker of Pangala Parish.He is the member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society from 1972. He founded Catholic Sabha unit at Pangala. Presently he is the Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council of Pangala.
 
Dr. Lobo is a Member of the Rotary International over 3 decades. He started his Rotary career as a member of Shirva Rotary Club. 1n 1984 he had been appointed as the "Governor's Special Representative" to start Rotary Club at Shankerpura. Presently this club is doing well in the society and started constructing a Rotary Bhavan at Shankerpura. Dr. Lobo has been awarded as PHF(Paul Harris Fellow), the International award by the Rotary Foundation for yeoman service to the Rotary Movement.

 
In 1982 Dr. Lobo founded the Nagarika Samithi (Citizens Forum), the first of it's kind in the Shirva area, to give service to the people of Shankerpura in the social field. This NGO has several achievements to its credit.
 
Dr. Lobo's services to the Catholic Sabha of Mangalore Diocese are praiseworthy. Though Manasa has been started under the banner of Catholic Sabha, I may not be wrong if I say that Manasa is the brain child of Dr. Edward Lobo.
 
Above all Dr. Lobo is a simple and approachable man. If his patients call him for treatment even at 12 midnight or 3 in the morning he is ever ready with a smile. Perhaps his motto is "Service first - Liesure next". Though he visited the patients in the night his day starts early in the morning. He attends mass, visits patients not in Pangala alone but also admitted in Udupi or Manipal, attends people and patients in his clinic at Shankerpura, visits and guides Manasa and helps people in and around Shankerpura. Though he works late in the night he is afresh. Perhaps he has got this gift and strength from Almighty.
 
I have been associated with Dr. Lobo for a long time in several fields like Rotary, Nagarika Samithi and observed his dedication very closely. Dr. Lobo is well deserved to get not only the National award but also the International awards. Hope that day is not too far.