URSULINE SISTERS OF TILDONK RANCHI INDIA

Home

Pioneers

Origin

Education

Mission work

Mahila Sangh

Evangeli-
zation

Social Action

Gumla Health Services

The dispensary at Ursuline convent, Gumla is the arduous work of sister Pauline Vandevenne, popularly known as "Madarin".  from the very beginning Sister Pauline took this ministry of healing as her special call.  She did everything possible to stop the superstitious way of dealing with sickness and patients.  she went from village to village as far as Palkot on her scooter (the only scooter in Gumla to ply on the roads) which she called "Lambretta"; or cycled to nurse the people or to conscientize them.  Thousands of babies came into this world with the tender and skilful touch of Sister Pauline.

There was a small infirmary close to the Convent which she converted into a dispensary.  The room attached to the dispensary became the infirmary for the children.  The Jesuit Fathers' out-house was bought for the indoor patients.

In 1964 with the aid from "Misereor" the extension work began.  In 1966 the dispensary was ready which was blessed by Rev. fr. De Meester S.J.  On August 22, 1966 the new dispensary started with two delivery cases.  In 1977,  4 more rooms were added to it.  In 2002 still a few more rooms were added to the building for outdoor patients.  In this way the dispensary stands today with the same status of a mini-hospital.  It has been equipped with all the primary needs of medical aid.

The dispensary has had the privilege of having its monitor and guide in the person of Sister Pauline for nearly half a century.  Many a Sister Nurse has been guided and helped by her skill and wisdom.  The dispensary owes a lot for its upkeep to some of its most devoted lay workers and nurses.  Special mention is to be made of Miss clementina Xalxo, who gave her best services half a century under sister Pauline (1950-2000).  Many young nurses have served the institute for shorter on longer periods.  It has also been a centre for the trainees of St. Ursula's Auxiliary Nursing School at Lohardaga for experience.

Some of the lay nurses, inspired by the sacrificial life of the Sisters have become Ursuline religious and a few have joined other Religious Congregations.

Though there were only 18 beds, yet there was no dearth of indoor patients.  Outside the campus, there is another building with rented rooms for outdoor patients.  The maternity department is its best contribution to the people of Gumla.