Among them, 5 are handicapped from infancy meningitis. They can neither
walk, or move, or speak, or even eat without assistance. Their eyes
alone and their smile are the only way they have left to express their
thankfulness to the Sisters, who patiently, at any time in the day and
night, love them and take care of them.
If it were not
for the Bishop, they would have died in want of food and care. Jeanne
Marie, our latest little one, weighed only 10 pounds when she arrived;
and she was 3!
As for the children
in the neighborhood, a primary and secondary school was opened, for
without instruction, what future can a child get? The only participation
requested is used to pay the teachers a salary. The Friars and Nuns
teach on a voluntary basis, without any compensation.
Unfortunately,
the cheap participation requested often still represents an obstacle
to enroll a child into the school, for if the parents do not have
enough money to buy food, how could they pay for school?
Malnutrition,
lack of hygiene, scarce education, everything contributes to a higher
rate of medical problems, and many are the children that pass away
each day from pathologies that are not treatable without a cost, even
if very modest.
Therefore, the
Most Reverend Bishop opened a health center where both volunteer physicians
and nurses commit to offering consultations and medical care. A nutrition
program will also be developed soon, especially for malnourished children.
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In the mountains,
the situation is even worse. Draughts are working ravages at this
time, and the crops, only source of revenue for these families, do
not produce anything because water is just non-existent.
A real and severe
famine is settling in there. These isolated populations, because there
are no roads, usually spend 2 hours on foot to reach our health center,
which is the nearest from their places.
The sick that
are bedridden get carried on a donkey's back, and those who cannot
make the trip are left up there to die, because they can be given
no care whatsoever.
In front of such
a situation, the Priests, Friars and Nuns, Servants of Our Lady climb
these steep hills, on foot or riding a horse, to consult, nurse, or
distribute medicine and the succor of religion to these people, with
prayers, words of comfort, and whenever possible, some food, given
at least twice a month.
Malnourished children
are more and more numerous, and their state is ever worsening.
Alone, we cannot
do anything. With your help, a huge relief task will be carried out
towards these poor people, and many lives of children will be saved.
Here are some
figures:
- A child at the
orphanage needs US $35 a month for food, shelter and health care,
plus an additional $50 in September for school fees and supplies.
- $50 will pay for a school year, for an illiterate child who has
no future
- $90 represent one-month salary for a teacher, who can give instruction
to a class of 24 pupils, 24 poor kids that otherwise would have no
access to education at all, which however is one of the fundamental
rights of childhood.
- $70 allow to properly feed a child who is dying from starvation
under the very eyes of his helpless parents. This amount enables to
purchase the milk, proteins and vitamins needed. Top
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