AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - “A gesture of peace in a country torn apart by war” Bishop Kussala lays foundation stone for hospital in Nzara

Tuesday, 24 April 2018 healthcare   bishops   caritas  

Juba (Agenzia Fides)- "The Church continues to integrate government efforts to supply essential help to people in need ", Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, of Tombura-Yambio (in South Sudan), President of the Bishops’ Conference which includes Sudan and South Sudan
On 21 April Bishop Barani presided the ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone for a health centre costing 2 million US dollars in his diocese which will include a surgical theatres, a maternity clinic and ward, a surgical war and a blood bank. The new structure will be built at the small town of Nzara, some 24 km north west of Yambio.
“Today’s ceremony marks the transition from planning to reality,” said Bishop Barani. ““Since I became a bishop nearly ten years ago I have always prayed and planned to provide efficient and effective health centre for the neediest in society. Despite the persisting negative impacts of the civil war in our country, today we are witnessing an active gesture of peace which is extremely opposed to war.”
Fighting broke out in South Sudan, in December 2013, when President Salva Kiir accused his former vice president Riek Machar of attempting a coup, an accusation which Machar rejected.
" The laying of the foundation stone marks the start of the main construction works for the new full-fledged secondary Hospital ", said Bishop Barani who tanked the various partners who support the project financially.
" The project was initiated by the (Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio) CDTY, the Comboni Sisters, CMMB, Edmond Rice Foundation, Sudan Relief Fund and many of our close friends,” Bishop Barani says.
I think this news can be useful since most time we only provide sad news from South Sudan,” Bishop Barani said. Regarding the site chosen the Bishop explains “The decision in favour of the chosen site was taken on the basis of a variety of criteria, such as the size of the site and its location, the interest of CDTY (By the way we spent nearly 50 per cent of our yearly budget in Nzara, this area has huge programs of the diocese), the size of the site – and of the building to come – has been chosen in view to possible extensions,” Bishop Barani clarifies.”.
"From day one of this project I have had entrusted it to St. Theresa of the child Jesus, St. Josephine Bakhita, Titarani Gasi Abangite (whose vision this hospital is) and now to the Risen Lord to provide a decent place of medication to our people,” says Bishop Barani, who concludes “St. Theresa Bakhita pray for us and may all who are engaged in this project be blessed and may we realize its completion with you, Our Risen Lord Amen!”. (D.B.O.) (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 24/4/2018)


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