19.01.2009
In the speeches, acknowledgement was given to the enormous financial support given by the Archdiocese of Melbourne (through Melbourne Overseas Mission), the generous support given by students of schools in Melbourne, other communities…
All the neighbours were invited, they were proud and excited because they were celebrating the opening and blessing of their new medical centre.
Over 200 locals came along to see it and to take advantage of the medical campaign organised through the local council with the local major hospital: dental care, general health check-ups, counselling, and immunisation for children. The hospital arrived with its tents and before long the centre took on a carnival atmosphere.
Local parishioners travelled from the other 14 communities of the parish to see what was happening in this, their most isolated part of the parish. They were impressed and taken aback by the size of this community within their own parish.
The mayor and his wife, the deputy mayor, came along as patrons to offer their well wishes and to offer ongoing support for the centre and the people of Paraíso.
In the speeches, the enormous financial support given by the Archdiocese of Melbourne (through Melbourne Overseas Mission) was acknowledged, the generous support given by students of schools in Melbourne, other communities, parishes and the many individual supporters of the project who have made the centre possible. The locals have no doubt they owe a great deal to the generosity of so many people from Melbourne and beyond.
The local people are making the medical centre a real asset to their community.
A group of eight women have committed themselves to manage voluntarily the dispensary, receive clients, keep the centre clean and maintain a small garden. They were presented with official jackets and are the face of the centre. As time came close to the launching, the women became more and more excited and more and more committed. They manage all the day to day matters of the centre. It is inspiring to witness the co-operation of these women from the three areas of the pueblo working together to promote a health program for their neighbours.
Our chief gardener has created an oasis in the centre of nothing, and although she cannot write, she certainly knows how to manage plants.
Our receptionist, with much patience, draws out information from mothers who are not accustomed to official documents and often have to sign by leaving their finger print.
Our dispensary, stocked with medicines provided by CARITAS Peru, is spotlessly clean and has the basic medicines needed.
We employ a doctor and a nurse for one day per week and the local council is providing a further doctor for one day. The Ministry of Health is expressing interest in working with us to provide basic dental care, registering us within their free health care system and working with us to organise health education programs for the people.
The project is up and running. It is humble and needs much more development but the people themselves, through their generosity and enthusiasm, are providing hope for their neighbours.
Fr Joseph Ruys is an Associate Priest working with the Columbans in Peru.
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