Friday April 4 2014

Looking Back: TB in Glasgow

Tuberculosis was still a serious problem when this piece was first published, in April 1954. One young Christian group decided that mere words were not enough.

From Words To Action

East End Glasgow Young Men And Women Go Out

 The members of St Francis-in-the-East Christian Workers League live in a district which is a black spot for tuberculosis. Their church is in the middle of an area where bad housing takes it toll. They have come to the conviction recently that they must do more than condemn and deplore.

“Healing of the sick” is the commission to the whole Church, not just to doctors and hospitals. As Church people they came to the decision that they had something to do in easing the burden of those who have to spend a long time in hospital and in helping to combat ignorance and the conditions which give rise to the disease.

The advisor of the group arranged a meeting with the superintendent of a local hospital. He made one point very clear. Young people of that age group are at a dangerous period of life for contracting the disease; therefore it is not advisable to spend a great deal of time in the surroundings, especially visiting patients frequently. But a lot could certainly be done.

The first project was to raise funds for the Physiotherapy Department of this hospital.

On Saturday afternoons two of the girls help in the hospital canteen for visitors. Another section from the group undertakes the hospital visiting on a Sunday afternoon and sees patients from their own parish known to be suffering  from T.B.

What about prevention? They wrote to the city Health Officer who agreed to arrange a lecture if a sufficient number of young people would be interested. Over thirty of the Bible Study Group offered to attend.

One member through the interest of the group has entered the hospital as a trainee male nurse.

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