Fr Robert McCulloch and the St Elizabeth Mobile Medical Outreach Team in Pakistan - Photo: Fr Robert McCulloch
Catholic social teachings state that every human is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore each person has inherent dignity that is worthy of respect, love, and the right to life that is not discriminated against because of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, ability, or sexuality.
Zero Discrimination Day has been celebrated on March 1st since 2014. While its initial focus was on the stigma of aids and the discrimination carriers of the virus faced, it later expanded to zeroing out all types of discrimination as a form of prevention while promoting compassion, peace, inclusion, and justice for all marginalized and oppressed peoples.
Columban Missionaries working in 15 countries around the world live alongside and accompany people groups facing discrimination.
“Never see a need without doing something about it” – St Mary Mackillop - Photo: Fr Robert McCulloch
In Pakistan, Columban Fr Robert McCulloch urged St Elizabeth Hospital to provide healthcare to thousands of isolated and marginalized people in the rural Sindh province. Due to poverty and lack of resources, healthcare for them and their children were neither a priority or necessity for governing authorities, but Fr Robert and his team saw this issue as discriminatory and a stripping of their human dignity.
So, with little money, an old broken-down vehicle, and a team of committed Muslim doctors and Christian nurses, the St Elizabeth Mobile Medical Outreach program began. Inspired by St Mary Mackillop’s words of, “Never see a need without doing something about it,” the program today provides medical care to over 50,000 people annually in the Sindh province. Reflecting back to 2009 when the idea was discussed, Fr Robert remembers a brief exchange,
“Father, it’s never been done before.”
“Yes”, Fr Robert replied, “and we have no money, so start praying!”
Fr Robert’s idea for the Mobile Medical Outreach has over the years been resourced by generous benefactors who helped develop and sustain free and essential medical services for vulnerable communities. The program does not discriminate and comes to the aid of Muslim, Hindu, and the minority Christian groups in this rural province, demonstrating both the power of prayer and the willingness of the human heart to respond to systems of discrimination with acts of compassion, service, and love.
Adi Mariana Waqa is the Columban Partnership Coordinator at St Columban's, Essendon
Created in the image and likeness of God – all people, especially the most marginalized have a right to access medical care and be treated with dignity and respect - Photo: Fr Robert McCulloch
