Acireale THE RELIGIOUSES OF THE DAY CENTRE S. CAMILLO OF ACIREALE CELEBRATED FATHER FRANCESCO AVI

A moment of the meeting

Father Francesco Avi, Camillian missionary, doctor of 82 years old, received a plaque of recognition from dr. Emanuele Rapisardi for the thirty-year ministry and health service carried out in Kenya at the "Tabaka Mission Hospital". The meeting was held in conjunction with doctors and nurses of our area who have served missionary service in Kenya; it was organized by the dr. Emanuele Rapisardi, radiologist of Aci Castello who, for 26 years during the holidays, has gone to Kenya in the "Tabaka Mission Hospital" to carry out his work for the indigents. Dr. Rapisardi, do you want to tell us how did you get the idea to make father Francesco Avi come here in Acireale? "I have known Father Francesco for many years, since I went for the first time to the "Tabaka Mission Hospital" as a volunteer and, I assure you, that working with him I learned a lot from both the professional and the human aspect. It’s enough to say that, when the Camillians entrusted him to direct the hospital of Tabaka, that at that time it was small, there were few beds and deficiency of medical equipment. Father Avi led the hospital to have 250 beds and the necessary medical equipment".

From the left, Father Francesco Avi and Mr. Rapisardi   

Father Avi, would you tell us something about Tabaka and the "Tabaka Mission Hospital"? "Tabaka, as you know, is a small town of about 3000 inhabitants, and thanks to the hospital, is known throughout the surrounding area; the population lives with the products obtained from the cultivation of land and the sale of various handicrafts. When I got to "Tabaka Mission Hospital" there was almost nothing; now we have a CT scan, an operating theatre and incubators. Many parturient women come to our hospital, so we were able to reduce neonatal mortality”. You are from Trento’s area, do you miss your Plateau of Pinè? "Yes, I miss it. A painter friend of mine, to relieve my nostalgia, painted on a fake window the Pinè landscape and my beloved little church in the background". Will you return to Tabaka? "Yes, when I improve my health conditions". The organization of the event, for the convivial evening, was entrusted to Sister Veronica Tondini, nurse of the Sisters of the Servants of St. Camillus sicks, who told us: "I was surprised when they told me about father Francesco Avi, I had heard about him but did not know him personally". To make an even more welcoming atmosphere, the octogenarian Camillian father Vincenzo Di Blasi, with his inevitable harmonica, delighted the diners with fine Christmas musics.

Tabaka Mission Hospital

                                                                                                                                                          Salvatore Cifalinò