Seychelles Bids Farewell to Aviation Medicine Pioneer Dr Shobha Hajarnis
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Colleagues and friends gathered yesterday at the Sheikh Khalifa Diagnostic Centre for an emotional memorial service honouring Dr Shobha Hajarnis, who passed away on April 14 while undergoing treatment in India. Born in Pune in 1947, Dr Shobha arrived in Seychelles and found her true calling in aviation medicine, becoming a global advocate for pilot health, especially in Seychelles, combining her understanding of flight with medical expertise.
She also served as director general of Public Health, leading disease surveillance and vaccination initiatives, including polio and measles campaigns. The ceremony heard tributes from Minister for Health Peggy Vidot, Dr Jude Gédeon, Captain David Plows, and Dr Vanessa Lesperance, who each described her warmth, dedication, and lasting impact on the country’s health system. Dr Gédeon shared that Dr Shobha served in the Ministry of Health for over four decades, holding several high-ranking roles including director general for Disease Prevention and Control.
Dr Shobha’s family remembered her love for Seychelles, its serenity, people and culture. She spent more time in Seychelles than in India, and longed to return to Seychelles even in her final days. The Soroptimist Club and the Occupational Health Unit, of which she was a founding member, paid tribute to her as a beloved mentor and physician. The ceremony ended with a beautiful poem by Dr Bernard Valentin and a farewell song ‘Oh Mon Pei Cheri’ by the Ministry of Health’s choir.
