On World Health Day, Salesians Highlight “access to health care” Initiatives in DR Congo

Kinshasa, 08 April, 2023 / 9:00 PM

On the occasion of World Health Day (WHD) marked April 7, an entity of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) has highlighted health initiatives that provide access to care for people living in poverty around the globe, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

In a Friday, April 7 report, the leadership of Salesian Missions says, “Salesian missionaries offer more than 150 medical clinics and hospitals in mostly rural areas around the globe that serve a wide range of medical care needs.”

“In many countries with Salesian programs, dental care and other necessary health services are offered to poor youth and their families who might otherwise have no access to health care,” SDB officials say in the report published by MissionNewswire, the official news service of Salesian Missions, which is the U.S.-based development arm of SDB.

In the DRC, SDB officials say, “Salesian missionaries have launched a modernization project for Afia Don Bosco Polyclinic in Lubumbashi.”

“Built in 1987, the Salesian health clinic provides health care to people living in Lubumbashi. After more than 30 years in operation, the clinic is now in a position to expand and upgrade its facilities,” they say in their April 7 report.

The General Director of Afia Don Bosco Polyclinic, Fr. Ghislain Kaya, and the Superior of the Mary Most Holy Assumption of Central Africa Province, Fr. Guillermo Basañes, laid the foundation stone to launch the new construction.

In his speech during the event, Fr. Basañes has been quoted as saying, “The time had come to modernize the health facility to provide quality health care.” He highlighted the work of Salesians in this region.

Celebrated annually by the World Health Organization (WHO) on April 7, World Health Day was established in 1948.

This year’s theme, “Health for All” envisions that “all people have good health for a fulfilling life in a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.” 

In the April 7 report, the interim Director of Salesian Missions says the ministry of SDB missionaries around the globe goes beyond education.

“While Salesians are primarily focused on education, they also provide other services that meet basic needs including health programs,” Fr. Timothy Ploch says.

Fr. Ploch adds, “Salesians aim to serve the whole person by making sure that health needs are met and this is especially important in communities where there are few resources.”