Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – The Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, whose members are known as the “Fatebenefratelli” (“Do-good-brothers”), is present in 51 countries all over the world, with nearly 300 facilities, run by nearly 1,250 brothers along with over 40,000 collaborators, with nearly 33,000 beds and nearly 20 million patients. According to information sent to Agenzia Fides from the Official Statistics of the General Curia of the Order, the categories for assistance are the following: 70 services for the disabled; 69 hospitals, 44 services for the mentally ill; 42 services for basic health emergency (clinics and pharmacies); 37 for elderly; 32 for social services, 3 for educational assistance, and 4 houses for assisted living.
Their 300 structures include: 116 day centers (for mentally ill, disabled, elderly, destitute); 113 clinics and day hospitals within a hospital setting; 78 clinics and day hospitals for mentally ill; 44 at-home services and support for families; 29 first aid services in hospitals; 19 services for mentally ill and disabled; 23 basic clinics; 21 pharmacies open to the public and pharmacies with herbal medicines; 17 educational services for the mentally ill and disabled (special schools for professional training); 28 other kinds of activities and services including counseling, soup kitchens, etc.
As for the geographic locations, the structures are distributed in the following manner: Europe (in nearly all the Countries): 197; Central and South America (in nearly all the countries): 46; Asia (India, Korea, East Timor, China, Japan, Philippines): 20; Africa: 18; Australia (including New Zealand and Papua New Guinea): 8; North America (United States): 7.
In the poorer countries, the centers seek to offer “total” healthcare services, in many areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Africa, where the Holy Father Benedict XVI has recently visited, the Hospitaller Brothers are present in the following countries: Benin, 2 centers; Camerun, 2 centers; Ghana, 2 centers; Mauritius Island, 1 center; Liberia, 2 centers; Malawi, 1 center; Senegal, 2 centers; Sierra Leone,1 center; Togo, 2 centers; Zambia, 1 center; Mozambique, 1 center; Kenya, 1 center. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 27/3/2009)
