Status: In Progress

Introduction:

In March 2002 we started building a new convent for the Sisters of the Child Jesus (SCJ) at Chilonga Mission. The Zambian Congregation of the SCJ is the managing agency of "Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital" at Chilonga. Twelve (12) of their sisters are working in the hospital as nurses, administrator, accountant and clinical officer.

The old convent, built in the 1950s, has been slowly dilapidating. Last year we had to support the rear wall with wooden beams from the outside. Yet the gap between the rear wall and the sidewalls was still growing bigger. Experts, asked for their opinion, told us that repairs are not advisable due to the bad state of the building. It was built in mud-bricks with little cement and no reinforcement beams of steel and concrete. In short, it was not worthwhile to repair. We needed a new convent.

General Situation and Environment:

The White Fathers founded Chilonga Mission in 1899. In 1956 the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SSHJM) started to administer health services to the people of Mpika. The then British Government did not allow the Catholic Church to start any institution within 30 km of the District Administration (BOMA) and, therefore, Our Lady's Hospital was built in Chilonga, some 25 km South of Mpika. It started as a 40 bed Rural Health Centre and in the course of years developed to its present size of 230 beds, together with schools for Nursing and Midwifery.

During the last decade the founding sisters have handed over the management of the hospital to the Zambian Congregation of the Sisters of the Child Jesus (SCJ). Twelve of their congregation (SCJ) are currently working in the hospital in different capacities. The congregation is also represented in the Hospital Board and the Diocesan Health Board.

The sisters' convent is situated near Chilonga presbytery, in Mpika District, in the Northern Province of Zambia. It is 25 km south of Mpika Township along the Great North Road, the main link between Lusaka and Dar es Salaam. Mpika is Zambia's largest district covering over 50 000 km² with an estimated population of over 155000 people. Chibemba is the language spoken in the area.

Road infrastructure in the district is poor. The tarmac road to Dar has been repaired. The other roads are mostly dirt roads in bad condition. Most people are living as subsistence farmers, growing maize, cassava, groundnuts and beans. There are also some livestock, but these are not farmed commercially.

Figures issued by the World Bank (World Development Report 1997) indicate that the proportion of the population of Zambia living below the poverty line in the years 1981-1995, was 84.6%, one of the highest recorded levels in the world. Within Zambia itself, the Northern Province is one of the poorest areas, lacking the proximity of the urban areas.

With the rapid decline of the mining industry in the Copperbelt, the last decade has seen the earlier migration to the big cities begin to reverse. Many workers are returning to their home villages. A large number of returnees have carried the AIDS virus with them, introducing infection into the rural areas. The AIDS pandemic has left very few families unaffected. The extended family, traditionally providing support, is simply incapable of coping with the unprecedented burden of orphans.

Project Background:

Chilonga Hospital has, for some years, been the centre of an Anti-AIDS project with a strong home-based care component. The home-based care team, headed by one Sister of the Child Jesus is working in this vast field.

One SCJ sister is working as Manager Administration of the Hospital, another as Chief Accountant. They have six ZEN (Zambia Enrolled Nurses) and ZRN (Zambia Registered Nurse) nurses working the wards of the hospital. Two sisters are clinical officers and one is in the Hospital kitchen, bringing the number to 12 sisters working directly in the institution.

One sister is working in the pastoral fields, looking after the girls of the parish. Pastoral care of the sick is one other field of her activity.

The New Building:

Brother Roger of the White Fathers in Kasama made a plan for the new convent. It is built directly in front of the old building, so that, during the time of construction, the sisters can still use the old convent as their living quarters untill the new building is ready.

The convent has 13 bedrooms, one sick bay and one guestroom. Dining room, recreation room, chapel and sacristy count for the rest of the rooms. The total building comprises of 536 m². That is roughly 41m² per resident including all side-rooms.

Financing:

The project has been sponsored by the following donors:

The total construction has been estimated at 206,700 US Dollar; it will cost us a bit more, because of some lay-out changes and costs that had not been calculated properly. But we will manage from our own funds and hopefully some private donors will come to our aid. The convent is currently at roof level, windows are in as well. We hope to open it officially in the beginning of 2003.

We are very grateful to all our donors. The presence of the religious sisters at "Our Lady's Hospital" at Chilonga is crucial to the healing ministry of the local diocesan church. Thank you for your help and God bless.

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