LEPER SANCTUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 11, 26 September 1944, Page 5

LEPER SANCTUARY

SCENES FROM MAKOGAI Recently a small girl—only six years old—arrived at the settlement. She was a leper. Red } swollen eyes showed, what she had been through; she had cried for the three full days while en route to the station. Among the patients welcoming the new ar~> rivals was a small boy who rushed, madly to the little procession. It was her brother. How those two children hugged and ykissed each other . . . how the tears flowed . . . united in a living and only children. The. patients now number which includes. 393 men 169 wo-; men, 47 boys and 22 girls; 107 of the patientsf. are from New Zealand Dependencies. During the past two years 70 patients have died and rio fewer than 106 have been discharged as cured. The departure of discharged pati-» ents is a very touching scene. Many tears are shed by those who leave as well as those who remain behind. For years they have all been members of one large afflicted family and this wrench, causes, much out-pouring of the heart. Xhe children and young girls become, so much attached to the women who have mothered them that sometimes they do not wish to leave. However, those who remain are cheerful and many live in hope of their being cured someday. Forwarded to us by P. J. Twcmey 172 Bealey Christ.* church.