This article is from page 61 of the 2008-03-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 61 JPG
SR ETHEL Normoyle is trying to decide exactly how many beds will be provided in the medical ward of the new care centre and hospice built by the Irish.
“Tm thinking thirteen beds, be- cause I want families to be able to come and spend time with the pa- tients – we don’t want them on top of each other’, she says,
The thinking is typical of the ethos of Missionvale. “Only the best is good enough for the poor’, is a say- ing often on Ethel Normoyle’s lips.
The 9,000 square foot centre will help her to provide much more of the best. The best quality of care, the best quality of life and the best chance for many of the children who have nothing else.
One section will be used as a treat- ment room, where treatment will be holistic . Drug regimes will be drawn up but clients will also be giv- en space to tell the care givers and medical staff about other aspects of their lives and needs.
The wards are places where the very sick will be taken care of and while
many will find in them a place to end their lives in dignity, many more will be treated with retroviral medication and rehydration and go back to their families to fight another day.
The social worker and administra- tors who deal with a spaghetti junc- tion of red tape in securing state al- lowances and grants for the people of the township will have a space of their own to work in.
Another room will provide an edu- cation facility for people who are ill, to teach them how best to manage the HIV virus, to try to stay as well as possible and most importantly, the try to educate the township’s popula- tion in how they can prevent AIDS from claiming new victims.
Finally, there is one room which will constantly be filled with hap- piness. That is the room where pro- grammes for the orphans and vulner- able children will be held. That room will be where they will be taught, fed and valued. It will be constantly filled with song and laughter.