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diseases, including Lues which infected most of the Black communities in
the former Transvaal colony since 1882 349 .
Helene had brought some of the Black patients from Houtbosberge and
settled them behind the mission station in Bochum. In addition to Lues,
Helene tackled ailments such as leprosy, fractures, malaria, blood cancer,
kidney pains, epilepsy, pneumonia, tuberculosis, periostisis and many other
diseases which were prevalent in that area 350 . She performed her duties
with diligence and courage and her contribution soon came to touch and
cover the entire Blouberg-Makgabeng communities. The government also
assisted the hospital, which was later named after Helene Franz, by
periodically sending doctors from Pretoria and Pietersburg 351 .
The missionary activities of providing medication, particularly by the Franz
family, impacted on the medical practice around the Blouberg-Makgabeng
area. Until then, communities received medical help from the local
herbalists, bone diviners and traditional medicine men and women. New
medical identities emerged with new medical treatment by missionaries.
Just like with the Gospel and western education, scores of people flocked to
Bochum hospital for treatment of their ailments. Old identities of herbalists,
bone diviners and traditional medicine men and women were then infiltrated
349 M. Jackel, Gananoa, p. 36.
350 Ibid, 36 – 40.
351 Ibid, p. 38.
198