The Grand Hospitaller participated in the celebrations
The Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta Dominique de La Rouchefoucauld-Montbel flew to South Africa on 24th October, to take part in the celebrations for the 25 years of activity of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard, the Order of Malta’s South African relief organization.
Founded by a small group of only five members in 1992, the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard soon developed to become today the largest catholic relief organisation in South Africa.
Based in Mandeni, on the East coast of South Africa, the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard provides a comprehensive system of care through a centre that runs health care projects for HIV patients, child-care projects, assistance to the poor, first aid and emergency relief.
Over the past 25 years, the care centre, which is directed by Father Gérard T. Lagleder, has treated one and a half thousand Aids patients, it has assisted over three thousand terminally ill people in the Inpatient Hospice and has treated as outpatients two thousand and six hundred terminally ill people. Furthermore, it has looked after nearly five thousand sick persons and has transported from their home to the hospice over six and a half thousand patients. More than two thousand destitute people were also enabled to start a new life thanks to the relief fund of the organization.
During his stay, the Grand Hospitaller visited many premises of the care centre including the hospice, the crèche and the community centre.
