World Day of the Sick: Salesians Highlight Programs Supporting Medical Care Needs of Africa’s Youths

“The hospital provides medical care for the large population in Lubumbashi and its surroundings. Patients of all ages rely on the hospital services, including Salesians and families being served from the Salesian center in the area,” the report indicates.

SDB members have reported that “the old generator that had been in use for some time had broken, leaving the hospital in a precarious situation. With the new generator, the hospital will run more effectively and efficiently.”

“Afia Don Bosco Hospital has 156 beds and specialized services including radiology, an emergency department, general medicine, internal medicine, pneumology, gynaecological and obstetric, dermatology, dentistry, kinesiotherapy, paediatric, general surgery, neurosurgery, psychiatry, ophthalmology, oncology and more,” they say.

St. John Paul II instituted the World Day of the Sick in 1992 “to encourage the people of God, Catholic health institutions and civil society to be increasingly attentive to the sick and to those who care for them.”

SDB members also take pride in their services in the West African nation of Niger, where they share about the support towards 250 families displaced from the communities of Makalondi and Torodi.

“Salesians are feeding 350 children who are at risk of dying from starvation. They have also been able to establish an emergency fund for the immediate needs of displaced persons,” they say.

Having been displaced from their respective families and communities, the SDB members in Niger say, “Parents found it difficult to provide food for their children over the weeks of terrorist displacement. This lack of food was already degenerating into starvation and death until the support was provided. Since the provision of the support, the children have been cared for and nourished.”

According to the February 11 report, Salesians are also providing a range of other services for families including “temporary shelter for 61 families; water and kitchen items for cooking; and medical tests and treatments, especially for malnourished children and elderly people.”

“Salesians are also ensuring access to education with preschool activities for children, literacy training for out-of-school adolescents, and awareness programs around personal hygiene, safety, first aid, and security,” SDB members say.

They add that “those who need extra support are also able to access counselling.”