Irene Condachi (7 June 1899 – 3 September 1970) was a Maltese physician, one of only two female doctors practicing on the island during World War II. One of the founders of the school medical service, she became the medical officer for the government school and is credited with eradicating

scabies Scabies (; also sometimes known as the seven-year itch) is a contagious skin infestation by the mite ''Sarcoptes scabiei''. The most common symptoms are severe itchiness and a pimple-like rash. Occasionally, tiny burrows may appear on the skin ...

in the education system.

Early life

Irene Condachi was born in Malta on 7 June 1899. Her family were recent migrants to the island from Greece and her father, Constanino Condachi was a merchant. She was raised in the Greek Orthodox tradition, which had a more tolerant attitude to women working outside the home. In 1916, she began her medical studies at the

University of Malta The University of Malta (, UM, formerly UOM) is a higher education institution in Malta. It offers undergraduate bachelor's degrees, postgraduate master's degrees and postgraduate doctorates. It is a member of the European University Association ...

, but left after one year. A decade later, she graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Naples. Continuing her studies, Condachi received a specialist's degree in paediatrics in 1928 from the

University of Pavia The University of Pavia ( it, Università degli Studi di Pavia, UNIPV or ''Università di Pavia''; la, Alma Ticinensis Universitas) is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. There was evidence of teaching as early as 1361, making it one ...

Career

Returning to Malta after completing her studies, Condachi became an assistant to Joseph Ellul, the professor in charge of Midwifery and

Gynaecology Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined are ...

at the University of Malta in

Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an Local councils of Malta, administrative unit and capital city, capital of Malta. Located on the Malta (island), main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, i ...

. In 1938, she was hired as the medical officer of the government school, and made her home on Luzio Street in Sliema. At the onset of war, with many men joining up to fight, women became more involved in the defense services for the island. Along with an

ophthalmologist Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgery, surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Followin ...

and a

dentist A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the mouth, oral cavity and other aspects of the craniofaci ...

, Condachi began the school medical service. Lacking transportation, she walked or hitched rides to visit the various schools of the island to inoculate and perform medical examinations on over 20,000 school children between 1941 and 1942. She was responsible for eradicating

in the government schools using a petroleum-based ointment. The conditions of her work were dangerous, as in 1941, government schools were converted into hospitals and refugee centers. While overseeing the hospital in the government school at

Qormi Qormi ( mt, Ħal Qormi ; pronounced in the Qormi dialect), also known by its title Città Pinto, is a city in the Southern Region of Malta, southwest of Valletta in the centre of the island. It has a population of 16,324 (as of March 2018), mak ...

, the facility was bombed and Condachi, her staff, refugees and students narrowly escaped to an underground shelter beneath the girls' school. One of only two women doctors known to have practiced in Malta during the war, Condachi continued as the Ministry of Education's medical officer until 1959. She was the highest-paid woman in government service in her era.

Death and legacy

Condachi died in 1970 and is remembered for her long career in providing medical service to Malta. In 2014, Simon Cusens completed his master's degree, "the first academic work" on the topic of Maltese women's history during World War II. During his research, he discovered Condachi's story which was to be included in a 2016 book.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Condachi, Irene 1899 births 1970 deaths University of Malta alumni University of Naples Federico II alumni University of Pavia alumni 20th-century Maltese physicians Maltese people of Greek descent 20th-century Maltese women 20th-century women scientists Maltese women scientists