NAZARETH LEPROSY CENTRE – a disease regarded by the vast majority in the developed world as one of the Middle Ages. It is up there with The Black Death (Plague) as the scourge of medieval society. Perhaps then, it is no surprise that the Diocese has a centre for the disease so often mentioned in the Bible.
History Leprosy is stigmatized even here in Africa, where Leprosy and its close cousin Tuberculosis (TB) live closely with their new companion HIV. Treatment of the disease in Ifakara was pioneered by Sister Arnoda, who set up a small treatment centre made of mud and thatch until she died in 1962. The mantle was then passed to another Baldegg Sister Maria Paulo, whose name is still much revered in these parts. She started the project constructing the modern centre in 1964. Construction was completed at the end of 1965 and the new St. Vincent de Paul Centre (as it was then known) was opened by the Diocese of Innsbruck on 5th August 1967.
The Team and a calling The 8 members of the team here at Nazareth today have to be dedicated to treating the afflicted of what is stigmatized by ignorance even here, where the disease is present in the community, rather than a distant memory of the Dark Ages. Head of the Centre Sister Agatha is one of two trained nurses and has served here since 1992. Enock Kahisi, the clinician has being diagnosing patients for over 34 years. It might surprise you to hear that neither of them has ever contracted the disease infamous for being contagious by touch alone. This small hard working group care for 64 in-patients and another 72 in the community (as January 2019). They provide: 1. Initial diagnosis and treatment. 2. Out-patient supervision of drug treatment and counselling. Drugs are provided by the local government District TB and Leprosy Co-ordinator. 3. In-patient treatment for illness and complications in collaboration with St. Francis Referral Hospital. 4. Residential care for deformed; disabled and those with no close family. 5. Basic prosthetic aid for the deformed and disabled.
You might be wandering how only eight staff care for in-patients alone, eight times their own number. Not only are the patients’ family and the community expected to join in, but also the patients themselves. Leprosy is debilitating only in the later stages. Otherwise patients too can help with cleaning, food preparation, washing clothes etc
GET IN TOUCH
For more information or to support any of our activities, contact the
Secretary General on +255 784 482 018 or
by Email kayeraw@yahoo.com.
Alternatively you can also E-mail ifakaradiocese@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment