Emelia Mulenga very sadly died on the 29^th May 2023. She was just 25.  She was born and spent her early years on the Copperbelt.  At the age of nine, her mother sent her to Lusaka with her younger siblings to live with their aunt. Unfortunately, their aunt went away on business for 6 months at a time, leaving Emelia to fend for herself and her two sisters. When she went to the clinic, she was chastised by staff accusing her of having children at such a young age, not knowing they were her younger sisters.

She became a street child, earning a living by sweeping the streets and selling knick-knacks. This experience put her in a very good position for managing the OVC programme.

At the age of 12, she came to live with distant relatives in Katete and restarted school. It is incredible that she managed to catch up having lost 3 years of school and graduate at grade 12 at the age of 18. She found employment as a general assistant at the St Francis’ Nurse Training School and there I met her in 2021. I asked her what she liked to do when off duty. She said she liked to look after children and after further discussion, I asked her if she would be willing to look after between 700 and 1,500 children.

Typically, for Emelia, she said that it wasn’t possible, and then said “maybe”.  Several meetings over the next nine months convinced us, and her, that she might be suitable for overseeing the OVC programme.  She took up the post in June 2022.

In late 2022, she achieved a Counselling Diploma (part of a Public Health course), by correspondence. She had intended to go on to complete a degree in 2023.

In the 11 months that she managed the programme, she turned it around, increasing the numbers of children from 712 to 1,055.

She had a remarkable ability to communicate effectively, not only with the parents and guardians, but also with the children.

Her passing is a very great and sad loss to not only the staff at St Francis, but also the children in the OVC programme. She was loved by all.

Following the passing of Emelia Mulenga (see Obituary), Cynthia Nyendwa was appointed to run the scheme, starting work in July 2023.  She has a teaching diploma.

The programme now looks after 900 children.  It was one of the first such programmes to be established in Zambia in the early 1990s.  It was set up in response to the sudden onset of HIV/AIDS that led to the early deaths of many, especially the 20 to 50-year-olds in the late 1980s, leaving an increasing number of orphans. The orphaned and vulnerable children are cared for by members of their extended families, so they do not lose contact with their relatives and culture.

It is much less expensive than establishing Western style orphanages that cost, per child, as much as the wage of a labourer.

The OVC programme helps children to attend school by paying for school costs (church schools), exercise books, pens, soap for washing clothes and by contributing towards their clothing.  For those wishing to attend a boarding school, the programme will meet part of the boarding fees.

Each village has a guardian who oversees the children/families. The guardian is also responsible to the team based at St Francis’ Hospital. The team visits each of the 37 villages regularly – three times a year.

If it were not for donations from the Zambia Society Trust, the Old Catholic Church in Bonn and many private individual donors, this scheme would cease to exist. For this we are very grateful.

In recent years, several young people who have graduated from the OVC programme, have achieved excellent results at Grade 12.  They have found places to train as nurses or doctors. Individual donors have come forward to sponsor their training. We now have seven young people being sponsored: five in Nurse/Midwifery Training at St Francis and two who are reading Medicine at the University of Zambia. 

If you are interested in sponsoring a young man or woman for either nurse or medical training, please contact Andrew Cairns by email: andrew.cairns[at]fosfkct.org.uk.

St Francis’ Hospital is the biggest mission hospital in Zambia with a bed capacity of 450.

The Hospital was founded in 1948 by Revd Dr Francis Trefusis as an Anglican Hospital.

The Hospital’s vision has been to serve the population in Katete, particularly the underserved and the vulnerable by providing free but quality health services. The Hospital has grown from a small dispensary with only two nurses and one Doctor to a third level Hospital with over 600 members of staff.

As we celebrate this important milestone, on behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of St. Francis’ Hospital, I would like to welcome you to this celebration and I am very happy you have honoured our invitation.

Allow me to recognize the contribution of many people who have been part of this marvellous journey.

I would like to applaud the Government of the United Party for National Development and previous governments for working closely with the Church in the provision of health services, especially to the underserved population.

The upgrading of this hospital to the third level last year is another demonstration of the Government’s commitment to bringing specialized health care as close to the family as possible. I pay special tribute to Dr Francis Trefusis who pioneered the hospital’s construction from 1948 to 1952, also Dr James Cairns who was

Medical Superintendent for 38 years and has continued to support us.

Special tributes also go to Dr Hugo Heij, Dr Ziche Makukula, Dr Shelagh Parkinson and Dr Simon Chisi who have been in charge since Dr Cairns’ retirement and to Dr Lalick O.C. Banda who has been at the helm of the Hospital since 2016.

I would be failing in my duties if I didn’t recognize the valuable contribution of the following partners to the growth of this institution:

• Medical Support Group of the Netherlands
• Friends of St. Francis Katete
• CBM Canada
• Christians Aware Team
• Churches Health Association of Zambia
• 500 Miles
• Fistula Foundation
• The Caritas Organization of the Catholic Diocese

Lastly, allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the Anniversary Organizing Committee for working tirelessly to ensure today’s success as well as to individuals, organizations and businesses who contributed financial and material resources towards hosting this event.

May God richly bless you!

Rt. Revd Bishop William Mchombo

________

The United Party for National Development (UPND) applauds the contributions of the church and various partners of St. Francis’ Hospital for supporting the institution in the delivery of health services. Speaking during the Thanksgiving Service, the Provincial Minister for the Eastern Province Hon Peter Simon Phiri MP, said the Government was very happy with the role of the Church and the various partners in supplementing Government efforts in the delivery of health services, especially in rural areas. The Minister

also paid tribute to Dr Francis Trefusis and Dr James Cairns. Speaking earlier, Mr Andrew Cairns, who spoke on behalf of all the partners, thanking the Government for collaborating with the Church Health Institutions in enhancing the delivery of health services. He said the partners of St. Francis’ Hospital are very proud to be associated with the Hospital’s developmental milestones and will continue mobilizing funds to enhance service delivery. He reiterated the commitment of the partners in sourcing a CT scanner and expanding the solar project.

Giving a vote of thanks, Mama Nyangu, who represented HM Kalonga Gawa Undi, said that the traditional leadership is very happy with the work of St. Francis’ Hospital, despite operating under very difficult circumstances. She thanked the Government for providing the necessary drugs and medical supplies for the health facilities in the district.

Fred Ntongwe (St Francis’ Senior Hospital Administrator)

In 2023, St Francis’ Hospital was 75 years old, the same age as the NHS in UK!  A celebration was held on 6^th May 2023.

The event was preceded by a Thanksgiving service which was celebrated by Bishops William Mchombo and George Lungu. The homily was given by Canon Father Rogers Banda, the General Secretary of the Zambia Anglican Council.

The event was also attended by the Provincial Minister for the Eastern Province: Hon Peter Simon Phiri MP, on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

Over one thousand people from all walks of life attended the event.