World Day of the Sick 2022

NEWS UPDATE

30th anniversary of the World Day of the Sick
SFLG urges Catholics to read the message of the Holy Father Pope Francis

11 February 2022, London, UK: On the 30th anniversary of the World Day of the Sick, St Francis Leprosy Guild urges its supporters and the wider Catholic community to read the message of the Holy Father Pope Francis.

Holy Father Pope Francis (New copyright ALAMY)

I wish to reaffirm the importance of Catholic health institutions: they are a precious treasure that must be guarded and sustained; his presence has characterized the history of the Church by its closeness to the poorest sick and to the most forgotten situations. How many founders of religious families have heard the cry of brothers and sisters who did not have access to health treatments or who were not well cared for and have given themselves to their service! Even today, even in the most developed countries, their presence is a blessing, because they can always offer, in addition to the care of the body with all the necessary expertise, also that charity thanks to which the sick and their families occupy a central place. At a time when the throwaway culture is widespread and life is not always recognized for the dignity of being welcomed and lived, these structures, like houses of mercy, can be an example in the protection and care of all existence, even the most fragile, from its conception to its natural end.

Thirty years ago, St John Paul II introduced World Day of the Sick to encourage Christians, health institutions and civil society alike to address the needs of the sick and support those who care for them.

SFLG's CEO, Clare McIntosh

Today our Holy Father, Pope Francis has reaffirmed the importance of Catholic health institutions. He described them as a precious treasure that must be guarded and sustained. That is exactly how I feel about our wonderful leprosy centres," said SFLG's Chief Executive Officer, Clare McIntosh. She added:

"Pope Francis points out that over the centuries, mercy towards the sick has led the Christian community to welcome and cure sick people of all kinds, especially those who cannot find the care they need due to poverty or social exclusion. His words perfectly describe the world in which many people with leprosy live today.

I am delighted to announce that our very own Doctor Tony from Labrea will be speaking at the Dicastery* webinar for the World Day of the Sick. It is a great honour to be invited and a wonderful opportunity for our work to be mentioned.

Dr Antonia Lopaz Gonzalez uses a hospital boat to visit villages along the River Purus to find and treat new cases of leprosy. Her team evaluates cases, raises awareness and provides training for care assistants in every village visited. They also provide physiotherapy, orthopaedic support, shoes, education campaigns and school fees.

Hospital Fluvial or "hospital found in a river"

The Ipiranga Committee Association, led by Doctor Tony operates in the River Purus area of the Amazon. Against a deluge of Covid-19 during 2020 and 2022, Dr Tony's team is still fighting leprosy, with thousands of cases diagnosed each year.

These are very intense and complicated months but we continue with the passion and determination of always and especially when in this year of 2022 we will celebrate 30 years since we started our activity in this part of the Brazilian Amazon and we have been able to do it thanks to friends like SFLG." said Dr Tony.

Dr Tony Lopez Gonzalez

Many people with leprosy live in rural areas where access to medical facilities is scarce. Through SFLG's support, Dr Tony's team reaches people that otherwise could not be found, by navigating along the Purus River in a hospital boat.

Dr Tony with local residents

Rural settlement along the Purus River (a tributary of the Amazon River) visited by Dr Tony

*A dicastery is a department of the Roman Curia, the administration of the Holy See through which the Pope directs the Roman Catholic Church.

Labrea, is located on the Purus tributary of the Amazon River, Brazil.

For information about leprosy read our Leprosy Q&A
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