HJBR Sep/Oct 2022

34 SEP / OCT 2022  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs “A cancer battle is difficult in many ways,” Gos- serand said. “That’s why it’s critically important to celebrate these patients’ achievements. I also hope this event can serve as a reminder to those going through their own journey with cancer that there is indeed life after diagnosis.” FranUReceives Gift from FMOL Sisters for La Verna Chapel in St. Francis Hall Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University received a significant monetary gift from Francis- can Missionaries of Our Lady Sisters for the cha- pel in the University’s new signature building, set to complete in December of this year. “Today is a very special day as we dedicated this chapel in the Franciscan tradition in naming it La Verna, where St. Francis of Assisi received the stigmata, the wounds from the nails and the lance that Christ suffered during his Crucifixion. He was one with God. May all who come to the chapel know the love that God has for them and how special they are in His eyes,” said Sr. Ann Cathe- rine Nguyen, FMOL regional minister. “We live our mission by meeting the needs of the community, especially through mission-cen- tered healthcare education. This gift ensures our ability to do so well into the future and to ensure that we continue to serve our students and pro- vide the highest quality programs with the high- est quality outcomes,” stated Tina Holland, pres- ident and CEO of FranU. The chapel will be approximately 1100 square feet and two stories tall with a balcony for medi- tative prayer. All furniture will be interchangeable to fit the needs of specific events. A San Dami- ano Cross has been commissioned and will be displayed and customized to include the images of saints that the FMOL Sisters and the Univer- sity take inspiration from St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and St. Bonaventure. The liturgical furnishings and tabernacle, along with the San Damiano cross, are hand crafted in Oberammergau, Germany, by the ALBL. The modern design will complement the buildings overall aesthetics. The chapel will hold services weekly and on special feast days of the church. Throughout the year, the chapel will be host to the Way of the Cross, reconciliation, Crowning of Mary, Divine Mercy gatherings, reciting of the rosary, and Eucharistic adoration. FranU offers degrees in nursing, health sci- ences, humanities, behavioral sciences, and nat- ural sciences. With 17 degreed programs and five certificate programs, the University is organized into three schools — the School of Arts and Sci- ences, the School of Nursing, and the School of Health Professions. The enrollment of about 1,400 consists primarily of Louisiana residents, though graduate programs attract a growing number of students throughout the country. LDH Surveillance Finding High Numbers of Mosquitoes Infected withWest Nile Virus The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has received reports of West Nile virus present in more than 175 mosquito pools this year, a num- ber much higher than last year at this time, when 13 pools tested positive. The high number of positive cases in the pool samples means there is a greater risk of West Nile virus spreading to humans. The Office of Public health is urging the public to take protective mea- sures against mosquito bites. West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes and can cause illness in people and animals. While 80% of human cases are asymptomatic, many people can develop West Nile Fever. Symptoms of West Nile Fever, which is a flu-like illness, can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea or rashes. A small percentage of people sickened by West Nile Virus can develop a severe form of infection called West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease or West Nile Encephalitis, which can result in hospitaliza- tion and death. Symptoms can include high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, numb- ness, coma and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks and carry the risk of death or permanent brain damage. While anyone is at risk of developing severe dis- ease, individuals with pre-existing medical condi- tions and those who are over 60 years of age are at a greater risk. The number of West Nile Neu- roinvasive Disease cases fluctuates each year due to many environmental factors and the weather, with previous case counts in Louisiana ranging between 4 and 204 cases each year. “Now is the time to start protecting yourself from mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding sites around your home,” said LDH State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter. “We’re getting early warning signs from our Mosquito Abatement District samples across the state that West Nile Virus could result in higher case counts among humans this summer.” FMOL University received a significant monetary gift from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Sisters for the chapel in the university’s new signature building, set to complete in December of this year. Pictured from left, Craig A. Netterville, FranU board chair; Sr. Helen Cahill, FMOL second councilor; Tina Holland, FranU president and CEO; Sr. Ann Catherine Nguyen, FMOL regional minister; Judith Roberson, FranU vice president for institutional advancement; and Sr. Martha Ann Abshire, FMOL first councilor.