Always Be The Good Samaritan
Matthew 25
Marian Health Clinic
Renew efforts, restore hope. On February 5, 2018, the Marian Health Clinic was inaugurated; and over two years, 6,000 neighbors received medical treatments. In collaboration with the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, the clinic is open from 7:30- 17:00, Monday through Friday, with hours slightly lessened on Saturday. Though all patients are attended to regularly, Thursdays and Fridays are set aside for pre-natal care, as well as children under the age of 5. Expectant mothers are given a card, providing details of medicines and precautions to be taken through the advancement of their pregnancy. Likewise for the little ones, a checklist indicating their height and weight, as well as nutritional and vaccination requirements .
Furthermore, diverse medical tests - i.e. pregnancy, Malaria, and HIV, - are administered at the post. Time and again, the most bereaved scenes are the positive cases of HIV; whereby the patients are henceforth given counseling, and are reported to the Rural Health Centre for further follow-up and medication. While we are presently a “Level 1” hospital with regards to Zambian Health Requirements - providing equitable access to cost effective, quality health services - the next stage is to advance to Level II; concretely commenced by a ground-breaking ceremony on April 9, 2021. Such a hospital will have a doctor on hand, as well as a councilor, medical lab, etc. For example, an area of great concern is labor facilities; the majority of mothers give birth at their own home, and remain content with traditional practices unless in dire need.
As health was a most active apostolate of our Holy Founder, may “there be few words and many deeds,” to keep his spirit going to all of Lusaka’s peripheries.