AMONG THE LEPERS

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1926, 26 October 1926, Page 5

AMONG THE LEPERS

A THOUSAND PATIENTS TREATED. APPEAL FOR GIFTS. (By Telegraph. press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. Sfisters Mary Suzanne and Mary Berckmans, of the,third regular Order of Mary, members.'of thle nursing staff of the leper setitlemlemt at Makogai, are visiting "Wellington on health leave. They go to Auckland on "Wednesday, and lea-vlei on the 23rd on their return trip. Sistlsir Suzanne has been at the leper settlement Isince iits 'esitabWslhtoient in 1911. When the Gov|ernm|emt of Fiji decidedl in that yetar (to segiregate lepers tHiriai, they asked the Catholic mission tlo- provide a nursing staff. Over 1000 patien'ts hav/e been (treated there, inclu'diing 11 already there.

.In former years'lepers wtere regarded as- outcasts, and it was ltlholu)ght that nothing could be done for them; now it is gfrjeiatly changed. Everything it halt medical science and nursing skill can do .to arrest the disease, and in spm'-ai c'a'siss: cure it if taken in (the early stages, is done "At IMakogali we find that keeping tela patients eiheeirful and happy," states Sister Suzanne, "is an importanft factor in the treatment, and in this respect thief, public can rlender great assistance. The Governments of Fiji and New Zealand! provide what is necessary -stoi far as medical Itrealtment is concerned, aind laivery year .tlie (people of Ft ji send them extras for Chirisltmas. TWe patients now number about 140, and as between 50 and 60 come from island territory under'New Zealand jurisdiction, including a 'few from thte' Dominion itself, it would be greatly appreciated if generously disposed pjeople in 'New Zealand woul'di supplemeinit the Christmas/ fund or forward gifts for paltKents for Christmas or Easter. Besides, money gifts /thesis most appreciated' would be material for clothing for woimen, material for fancy work, writing material, toilet soap, tobacco, pipels for the men, and carpenters' and engineers'' itlools,"