Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - In 2004 the 10,062 little patients treated at Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome were from many different countries and spoke many different languages and compared to the previous year 2003 their number doubled. They came from 128 different countries (114 in 2003): 15.6% from Rumania; 12.4% from the Philippines; 9.3% from Bangladesh; 7.7 from Peru, 6.4 from Albania, 3.7 from Libya, 3.6 from Ecuador, 3.5 from China, 3.2 from Poland and the remaining 34.7% from other countries.
The increase in number is due to demographic dynamics as well as the knowledge that the hospital is geared to catering for people of many different languages and cultures. By law in Italy everyone has the right to healthcare whatever their orgin. Italian and other European Union citizens, legal immgirants from other countries even illegal immigrants can request a healthcard from the local healthcare office ASL.
Bambino Gesù is open to all with respect for the law in Italy and with respect for human rights and the Christian duty to help those in difficulty. The Hospital is an international point of reference for healthcare for children putting into practice the Christian teaching “care for the sick and serve the infirm” with intense humanitarian activity abroad where assistance is most needed, paying hospital expenses for child patients from non European countries. (AP) (19/7/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:28; Parole:361)
