“My service consists of listening and supporting. Even if sometimes situations are complicated and I cannot resolve them, it is a way to tell people they are important.” Sr. Delphine Gakpe Amivi, tells us about her work as the head of the St. Joseph’s Hospital.
I am Togolese, born in Adidogomé, a city on the shores of the Atlantic. I currently work in Bebedjia, a town located in the Logone Orientale region of Chad, a crossing point on the road that leads from Cameroon to the Central African Republic, 650 kilometres from Ndjamena, the capital of the country. in Chad.
As Comboni missionaries we are called to share our life with other peoples and cultures. Although I confess that it was not easy for me to leave my country, my family and my customs, but I live all this on the basis of the faith that supports me.
In the community, we are six missionaries of various nationalities united by the Spirit that supports our missionary life. The challenges are various: the language, the terrible heat of Chad, and the cultural differences. I take everything as an opportunity to improve and grow as a person.
Since 2019 I have been working at Saint Jospeh’s Hospital for which I have been responsible for a few months. I am still learning, there are so many things to take into account!
The hospital was founded in 1992 by a Comboni bishop Michele Russo. Today there are 150 hospital beds, of which 46 are paediatric, 40 medical, 34 are maternity and 30 are post-operative.
Given its geographical position and the quality of the services offered, people from all over the country come to the hospital, but also from other African countries, such as Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Congo.
In the mission we have to get up very early to try to get everything done. We get up at 4 in the morning for personal prayer and at 5:30 we participate in the parish mass, together with many Christians. At 7:30 I am already in my office.
The first thing to do is to greet the staff and, even if it is not part of my job, to visit the sick. Humane treatment is essential in an African context. Then I check that everything is in order. One of my most challenging duties is to call the drug suppliers and keep in touch with them until the medicines actually reach the hospital pharmacy. The telephone connections are not good and the roads are very poor, which complicates things.
I also take care of the repairs and maintenance of the hospital’s furniture and equipment. All expenses are under the supervision of the accounting department and in coordination with the hospital director.
This is the most technical part of my job, but there is also a more human side. Many people, employees or visitors, come to my office. My service consists of listening and supporting. Even if sometimes the situations are complicated and I cannot resolve them, it is a way of telling people that they are important.
I spend my afternoons outside the hospital working with the young people of the parish. In addition to the training moments, I also take part in more playful activities with them and we have a lot of fun.
I live the Mission with joy, feeling that the Lord is with me, that he gives me the strength to persevere in difficult times and to be happy because He is with us.
