The first hospital in Kamanyola, a gift from Fr. Crippa’s family

From Fides ServiceJune 3, 2011

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“Pere Crippa Joseph Hospital,” The first hospital in Kamanyola, a gift from Fr. Crippa’s family: Fr. Crippa arrives with a “bicycle load” of bricks

“The Diocese of Uvira, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, inaugurated on May 30, in joy, in cheerfulness and thanksgiving to the Lord, its first hospital”: don Etienne Esube tells Fides, Secretary-Chancellor of the diocese. “The new structure - writes don Esube - the first of its kind, is located in the parish of Mater Ecclesiae Kamanyola (80 km from the episcopate of Uvira), and has a width of 17 hectares.”

The hospital is a free gift from Fr. Giuseppe Crippa`s family, of the Xaverian Missionaries of Parma, who died in October 2009, when they started work on building the future hospital (see Fides 18/12/2009). The inauguration ceremony was attended by His Exc Mgr François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo, Archbishop of Bukavu and Apostolic Administrator of Uvira, father Crippa's sister, the General Superior of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Mount (returned to Uvira after being forced to leave because of the war in 1996 and employed in the hospital), the regional Superior of the Xaverian Missionaries of Parma, several priests of Uvira and Bukavu, the civil authorities.

The new structure consists of 5 main buildings and seven secondary. The hospital is also located at the junction between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Given its importance, the structure received numerous donations. In particular, the Congolese government provided a lot of medicines, X-ray equipment and ultrasound, and several wheelchairs. The Head of state offered a contribution to create a fund to support the healthcare structure.

After the opening ceremony, the delegations traveled 17 km from Kamanyola to visit the Center for the Community Development of Kiringye, another work of the Diocese of Uvira, where padi rice and peanuts is produced and in turn provide the electric energy to the workshop for the production of oil, which has recently resumed its activities after the losses suffered in the wars of 1996 and 1998. "These events will form part of the rebirth that gradually affects the Diocese of Uvira, which is preparing to celebrate the golden jubilee starting from April 16, 2012," concluded don Esube.