THE REOPENING OF ST. TERESA HOSPITAL BY BISHOP EDWARDO HIIBORO AFTER FOUR MONTHS CLOSURE

The closure of the hospital caused a lot of pain, suffering, and loss of lives. It was as a result of a misunderstanding between the community and the hospital administration. A number of strong committees were instituted, and the first committee was the administrative committee which was delegated to research and find out the course of the problem, the second committee consisted of intellectuals, notable people, and people of goodwill, it’s role was to analyze the cause of the misunderstanding, practice dialogue with parties involved then present a report and recommendations to the administrative commission, the third committee was interfaith meant to bring about peace,  reconciliation, forgiveness, and understanding. 

The three committees managed to narrow down the subject matter scope and were able to prescribe possible solutions. The interfaith committee on the 16th of October 2020 carried out a workshop to educate the youths and community on what conflict is, how conflict develops, how it affects people, and what can be done to resolve and bring about peace. An open-air prayer was conducted by the interfaith committee present and the community at large, and the hospital was finally reopened. St Teresa hospital is one of the most reputable and best hospitals in the area, and the lack of its services had affected people terribly. And the bishop said that he regretted the loss of life, regret the suffering that had happened that moment, and also he regretted the loss of materials and resources.

A humble request was put across by the bishop to enable the hospital to provide maximum healthcare by encouraging people to support its purpose in the community. A task force was put forward to look into the recommendations stipulated by the different committees and start implementing them gradually to avoid another adverse situation.

The bishop called upon the missionary sisters of Comboni and allies of the hospital to work towards spearheading the hospital’s mandate so that with time it can reach its goal of becoming a referral hospital not only within South Sudan but also outside its borders: the Democratic Republic of Congo and the  Central Africa Republic. He called and invited everybody to come and join hands with him in order to build back St. Teresa Hospital to a very higher and spectacular level.

He also envisioned it to become a medical research institute where at times vaccines for new diseases may be manufactured for the advancement of medical equipment and also advocate for the training of health workers so they can supersede their annual targets.

Bishop Hiiboro said that he was so optistimic that the foundation that they were laying down would be the foundation that would hold ground and that his people, his community in  Western Equatoria State, in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio and South Sudan would get better treatment and better health services. He also stated that all he could do is to formulate policies to safeguard the hospital as that is his dream for the hospital. He also stated that whatever support and cost-sharing that was put in, was meant to enhance the growth and sustainability of the hospital.