AFRICA/CAPE VERDE - Capuchins start hospital for islands of Fogo and Brava

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Thanks to the work of the Capuchin friars and the Missionary Association AMSES (Associazione Missionaria Solidarietà e Sviluppo), the new Saint Francis Hospital Center has become a reality, at the service of the people of Fogo (40,000 inhabitants) and Brava (7,000 inhabitants). The hospital includes two operating rooms, six clinics, 27 surgery beds, two dentistry offices, a casting room, an intense therapy room, a laboratory for analysis, radiology unit, ultrasound unit...The social structure is called the “Mother Teresa of Calcutta House,” and houses elderly, poor, and terminally ill. Since 1947, the Capuchins from Piemonte (Italy) have been working in evangelization in Cape Verde, building churches, schools, shelters, and rain-water cisterns. The first group of Capuchin missionaries landed on the islands of South Fogo and Brava. Today the friars have seven mission stations and are present as well in the northern islands of the chain, in São Vicente, Santo Antão, and São Nicolau. The mission stations are run by 27 young Capuchin friars from Cape Verde and 8 from Italy, who are journeying together towards a hopeful future, towards an authentic service towards Cape Verde's youth. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 3/11/2009)


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