Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Raipur (Agenzia Fides) –Jeevodaya Centre in the diocese of Raipur was originally Pallottine for people with leprosy. Today the patients are persons with AIDS or TB. The recent inauguration of new structures for people with these and other pathologies, was presided by the Catholic Archbishop of Raipur. Archbishop Joseph Augustine Charankunnel, who said: “The doors are open to today's lepers', persons suffering with AIDS. The Church offers this assistance thanks to strength which comes from God.
Today we happily agree to collaborate with civic institutions to launch other such programmes of social assistance ”.
Jeevodaya Centre, situated not far from d Raipur, was opened in 1969 by Pallottine Fathers to care for people with leprosy. Today it still cares for children with leprosy, following the process of healing and re-insertion into society. It has been able to do this thanks to donations from benefactors all over the world.
The new department for persons with AIDS and TB was opened thanks to cooperation between the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India and the Indian government. The local Church says this example of institutional collaboration can be a model for all India, a successful undertaking, to be repeated in other states and for other social initiatives. The local Catholic Church is always ready to make available her energy, religious personnel, structures and competence to assist the more disadvantaged and marginalised sectors of the population.
James Veliath, a member of the Bishops' Commission for Health, said that the local Church has intensified its assistance to persons with AIDS, with new Medical Centres in the states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Orissa, Bengala Occidentale and Bihar. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/1/2009 righe 27 parole 273)
