By Mary Noel Menezes, RSM
On October 24, 1935 six Sisters of Mercy arrived in British Guiana bound for Mahaica, where they began caring for the large number of patients at the Mahaica Leprosarium, as it was then called. They and many Sisters who came after gave 35 years of dedicated service there. Before the Sisters of Mercy assumed charge of the hospital, another group of Sisters of the Immaculate Conception from Moravia, Czechoslovakia, had worked for two years under Dr F G Rose. The General Council of the Sisters of Mercy had agreed, on the request of Bishop George Weld, SJ to provide Sisters for this sensitive work on condition that the medical authorities make improvements on the compound. It was difficult then, as now, to obtain trained nurses to work among those people who, unfortunately, were considered pariahs in the society.
For 35 years the Sisters who came from various Provinces of the Sisters of Mercy of the Union in the USA, from Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, New York, Scranton, St Louis and Omaha, gave devoted service to the patients suffering from Hansen’s Disease, and ensured that the physical plant as well was kept up to standard. The chapel, opened on February 2, 1936, still offers a place of worship, not only for patients but for Catholics in the area.
From 1965-1970 the Sisters of the Baltimore Province administered Mahaica. Their withdrawal, the result of Guyanisation and the lack of Sister personnel, was a sad day for the patients for whom the Sisters were not only nurses, but also friends, comforters and confidantes. One of the Baltimore Sisters, who gave many years of loving service, Sr Mary Luke, kept in touch with the patients and sent monthly financial help for them until she died in May 2007.
After the Sisters left the hospital Sisters Noel and Celine Marie continued to visit the patients, and with the help of benefactors assisted them in their needs; they still visit bi-monthly and still assist. Sr Carmen Gannon, MD, the last Sister
Administrator of Mahaica Hospital and founder of Project Dawn, now deceased, gave free and excellent medical care through her periodic visits to Guyana. Sr Sheila Walsh, former CEO of our Mercy Hospital, was another regular visitor. Srs Judith and Kenneth continue to visit the patients twice a month and give considerable help with their needs.
What of Mahaica today? Since 1970 the needs of the patients have increased, though the number of patients has decreased from more than 100 to 9. As the successive governments became more and more strapped for cash, the Mahaica Hospital was not high on the their priority list, so that more and more the Sisters have had to supply the patients, not only with foodstuffs but with other necessities. The patients look forward to the Sisters* visits each week when they receive a variety of food supplies. Over the years, with the help of a number of benefactors and organizations both at home and overseas, viz, Guyana Christian Charities (Canada, Inc), Aid to Guyanese Group (UK), the Rotary Club, Canada and Philadelphia, as well as the Sisters of Mercy in the USA, supplies such as blankets, sheets, towels, soap, toothpaste, powder, flashlights, batteries, thermos flasks, even wheelchairs have been provided for the patients. In the 1990s Mr Ferdinand Mahfood of Food for the Poor donated 3 refrigerators as well as chairs, pillows, blankets and sheets to the patients. Among other items Project Dawn donated a number of beds. A refrigerator and TV were also given to the women.
Another group which regularly visits and raises funds to help the patients is the International Women’s Aid to Mahaica Group. The administration of St Joseph Mercy Hospital and the Sisters finance hospital bills and also help with funeral expenses. Most of the patients are immobile, two blind and generally helpless. The cottages at Mahaica are in and have been in a state of disrepair and dilapidation for years now – it is rather dangerous walking from cottage to cottage. Recently one of the workers fell through a broken floor and was severely hurt. No one from the Ministry of Human Services, although notified of the state of the buildings and needs of the patients, has visited in years. Recently, some repairs have been done. The Director of Human Services has been informed of the state of the buildings and of the poor care given the patients by the staff. One of the patients, Herman Fullington, Member of the Guyana Legion (blind and many years at the hospital) also spoke to the Director and he has promised to visit the institution, hopefully.
The patients have a wonderful philosophy of life. It is a real tonic to visit these people who have so little of the world’s goods and who are indeed the forgotten ones in the society, yet they are always thankful to God for the blessings they receive through their friends and benefactors. For us,
who visit them and know them so well, they give us an abundance of their love and gratitude. Bereft of so much, of home, of family, of sight, of limbs they are indeed God’s special people.
