In
response to the needs of the times Ranchi Province under the
guidance of Dr. Sr. Eileen Kujur osu responded to this noble task
at Ursuline Community Care Centre, Hesag. The centre takes
care of the stigmatized AIDS patients, who are rejected and
abandoned by their own society. The centre provides the patients
with nutritious food and appropriate medicine to fight against
opportunistic infection, such as diarrhea, fever, cold, cough,
tuberculosis, etc.
Kalajar
(Black Fever):
Our
sisters in Santhal Parganas are engaged in treatment and care of the
patients suffering from Kalajar, which has claimed many lives,
especially those of the Santhals living in the Gangetic terrain.
Malaria:
This
is a major health problem in Jharkhand claiming many lives all
through the year. Our Sisters engaged in healing ministry are
helping the poor in inaccessible malaria-prone areas in
collaboration with Government machinery and such NGOs as Caritas, to
address the lethal problem.
Leprosy:
Our
Sisters doctors and nurses of Chandmari Hospital in Chakradharpur
are collaborating with the Damian Social Welfare Centre, Amda, not
only to give physical healing to the leprosy patients but also to
give them a life of dignity and self esteem.
Safe
Deliveries:
The
Sisters nurses are working towards safe deliveries in the
Government-sponsored programme called 'Shishu Jan-ni suraksha' to
help mothers below poverty line.
Health
Record Book: The Health
Commission of the Ranchi Province has introduced 'health Record
Book' for each Ursuline Sisters of the Ranchi province in order to
have check up on a regular basis by qualified doctors, in view of
'preventive' measures for those who have no health problems, and
also 'curative' measures for those who have health problems.
Modernization
of our Health Centres:
We are trying to modernize our hospitals and dispensaries with new
equipments, like pulse-oxymeter, ECG machine, Ultra sound machine,
and so on.
From 1913 onwards Colonel Maddox, the Chief Medical Officer of Ranchi
Sadar Hospital, had been asking for the Ursulines to serve in the
hospital. Due to lack of personnel the request could not be complied
with. As God sent 6 more new Missionaries to India, Mother Anthony
could accept this new apostolate. A small bungalow with a tiny
chapel at the cost of Rs. 5000/- was built for 2 Sisters. Mother
Henrietta and Mother Sophie, who took charge of the hospital work on
October 18, 1915. When the Sisters arrived at the hospital, there
were only 22 indoor patients, men, women and children together.
People were afraid of coming to the hospital. Colonel Maddox, the
only Doctor, warned the Sisters of the need for patience and kindness with
the hospital workers as they were used to do their own sweet wish.
The Sisters soon overcame this difficulty with the workers. But the caste
system proved a real problem which required great tact and prudence from
the Sisters. Patients would not accept a glass of water from the
Sisters even at the point of death. The shadow of a Sister on their
rice bowl or drinking water was enough to cause contamination and the food
and drink would be thrown away. Slowly, but surely, the tact and
kindness of the Sisters put an end to such silly prejudices.
More and more patients started coming to the Hospital. By
December there were 425 patients and by 1918 there were 4000
patients. In the dispensary attached to the hospital they had up to
300 patients a day. Everything was free; they had free board and
lodging, free treatment and medicines and at times even clothes.
There was endless misery in the hospital-malaria, scarlet fever,
typhoid, cholera etc. The Sisters never kept away from rendering all
the services required though there was fear of contagion. They would
follow the example of the Divine Healer Jesus and be His true witness to
their faith. Mother Henrietta contracted typhoid and Mother Sophie
small pox, but as soon as they were well enough, they were back at work
with their dear patients. It is noteworthy that some patients even
asked for Baptism before dying.
February 1916 brought the first Cholera cases in its wake. When
fear of contagion kept doctors and workers at a distance, the Sisters
continued caring for the patients courageously trusting in God.
In March 1917, Dr. Vaughan replaced Dr. Maddox and appreciated the work
of the Sisters. He started a course on First Aid in the hospital and
Mother Ursula, Mother Margaret, Mother Gabriella, Mother Henrietta and Sr.
Sophie followed it. Later on several ladies of the town followed a
second course on First Aid and all were awarded certificates. The
female ward had to accommodate more and more patients. The high
caste ladies did not look down on the Sisters any more but trusted them
fully. The school children were also treated in the hospital when
seriously ill.
The British Government recognized the outstanding services of Mother
Henrietta to the poor in the hospital. She had shown wonderful courage and
devotedness to the patients especially during the outbreak of
Cholera. This distinction was conferred on her on the Birthday of
the Emperior, George V, on June 3, 1925. On November 3, 1926, Lady
Wheeler with her Aide-de-camp presented Mother Henrietta the Kaiser-I-Hind
Gold Medal in the name of the Governor.
In January 1933, Mother Odile joined the hospital staff to serve in the
male wards.
In January 1936, Mother Augustine replaced Mother Henrietta, in the
hospital. Mother Pauline, a trained nurse joined the staff and
helped Mother Sophie in the female, maternity and children's wards.
Many typhoid cases were brought in and Mother Pauline caught the
contagion. It took several months before she regained sufficient
strength to resume her hospital duties.
On September 27, 1944 the Kaiser-I-Hind Silver Medal was conferred on
Mother Augustine in the Convent hall by Lady Ruthenford, wife of the
Governor for her many years of devoted and outstanding services rendered
to the suffering humanity with kindness and goodness. This year the
hospital was promoted from the Municipality to the State level.
In 1947, Mother Madeleine joined the hospital and was appointed to the
Operation Theatre.
In 1950, Mother Augustine Desmet resigned from the hospital staff to
take up leadership in the community and was replaced by Mother Joseph.
Mother Odile took charge of the general supervision of the
hospital. In 1953, Mother Elise joined the hospital staff. In
1956 an A.N.M. Training School was started close to Sadar Hospital.
Mother Odile was officially appointed Matron of the School and the
Hospital. Mother Madeleine went to Belgium and Mother Francisca
(Mother An) replaced her temporarily on the hospital staff. In 1957,
Mother Joseph was appointed superior of Ursuline Convent Ranchi, hence
Mother An replaced her as Official Staff Member.
Rajendra Medical College Bariatu, Ranchi
In 1961 the construction of the Medical College
started. The lectures were already in full swing. Medical
students came to Sadar Hospital for practice with their professors,
lecturers and doctors. This created an amount of extra work,
difficulties and confusion but the common cooperation of the staff and the
personnel was praiseworthy.
About this time an 'A' Grade Nursing School was
opened in the Sadar Hospital. Awaiting their own building to be
constructed, the new staff and students were put up somehow in the
existing A.N.M. School. This added extra difficulty and increased
responsibility to the work of the 4 Sisters, for they had the entire
administration and supervision of the hospital and school on their
hands. But they could always count on the full support of the
authorities.
By 1964, the buildings at Bariatu for the Rajendra
Medical College were being completed. Mother Odile and Mother Elise
helped with the shifting of linen, medicines, etc. The nurses
appointed as well as 'A' Grade General Nursing students left for their new
quarters. The equipment for different departments was also
shifted. By January 1965 the Bariatu Government Medical College and
the Hospital started functioning. The Ursuline Sisters retired from
the scene.
