Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Healthcare was not always a priority for the Missionaries of Africa, also known as the White Fathers. Their specific charisma from the beginning (1868) was first evangelisation and dialogue with Islam. Later dialogue with other religions was included and ecumenical dialogue with other Christians, then also caring for the poor and promoting peace and justice.
The White Fathers started their mission Algeria and Tunisia and then went also to South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, and parts of east and central Africa, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire and Mauritania.
Much of their activity is integrated with local pastoral work and spiritual animation on the level of parishes and Basic Ecclesial Communities.
Although the Missionaries of Africa have never opened a hospital of their own, their members have always helped to provide care for the sick and in particular education. Missionaries of Africa help with the management of numerous clinics and healthcare centres. For example at Niele in the north of Côte d'Ivoire where dispensaries offer free medicine to poor people, the medicines are supplied with the help of the White Fathers; Missionaries of Africa help with the management of Kaliua Health Centre in Tanzania and a clinic at Bunkpurugu in Bolgatanga diocese, Ghana. They run the New Hope Centre for HIV/AIDS patients in Burundi, which provides anti-retroviral treatment, laboratory tests and other basic medical services.
In Uganda and Zambia there are White Fathers works in the areas of preventative medicine, rehabilitation of patients who have recovered and also guaranteeing the terminally ill a dignified death. Another area in which the White Fathers are involved is spiritual assistance in hospitals. Recently a White Father was asked by the Catholic Bishops of Sudan to provide counselling for people traumatised by years of civil conflict in southern Sudan.
These are just a few examples of how Missionaries of Africa combine their primary mission of first evangelisation and proclamation of the Gospel with service in other areas including the field of healthcare. (AP) (23/2/2005 Agenzia Fides Righe:33; Parole:355)
