World day of the sick: St Joseph hospital Mutolere offers free medical service to over 300 locals
- FEATUREDUPCOUNTRY NEWS
- February 11, 2023
- No Comment
By Byamukama Libino
Kisoro – Several members of the community on Friday benefited from free medical services at St. Francis Hospital Mutolere while admitted patients were blessed through prayers and other sacraments led by Fr. Leopold Mubangizi, to commemorate the world day of the sick.
The world way of the sick was established by St. Pope John Paul II in 1992 as an awareness day in the Catholic church intended for prayer and sharing for the good of the church, and as a reminder to everyone about the face of Christ. The day is celebrated every 11th day of February since 1993.
According to the chaplain of St. Francis Hospital Mutolere, Fr. Mubangizi, the celebrations were made a day before at Mutolere because the majority of the staff are always busy on Saturdays.
During the commemoration, patients were visited in their different wards by a charismatic team led by Fr. Mubangizi praying for the sick, giving them holy communion, anointing them with holy oil and sprinkling holy water on them to protect, and bless them in the name of God.
The same team delivered donations including soap and salt to the sick people, and their caretakers totaling to over 300 people.
Speaking to Wallnetnews, Fr. Mubangizi said that the major objective of the day is praying for the sick, medical workers, and providing support to the sick.
He noted that it was his first time to anoint large number of the sick ever since he became a priest. He called upon the anointed to believe and keep praying to God to heal them.
Fr. Mubangizi called upon medics to always do their jobs wholeheartedly because healing a body part of a person is like healing Jesus.
Meanwhile, about 200 community members were given free medical services including cervix cancer screening, eye screening, blood sugar testing, urine testing, scanning pregnant mothers, HIV and syphilis testing, testing of haemoglobin levels and blood groups, testing blood pressure and doing other body measurements like temperatures.
The hospital nursing senior, Sister Beatrice Kefuruka commended the public for turning up in promising numbers.