The new Governor of Nong Bua Lamphu in Thailand paid a visit to the SVD’s Mother of Perpetual Help Centre and Villa Marie Hospice recently – to celebrate a special birthday in his family.
Br Damien Lunders SVD says it is a common Thai custom on the birthday of a person, and in this case the wife of the Governor, to take food and gifts to a Centre such as the hospice or a children’s home.
“The Governor, Mr Chaitawat Niamsiri, and his wife were accompanied by members of the Red Cross working at the Government offices,” Br Damien says.
“They shared a meal with our patients from Villa Marie, as well as patients and teenagers from Ban Mae Marie.
“After the meal, they took a tour of the hospice and Centre, before returning to their offices.”
The Mother of Perpetual Help AIDS Centre works to make a difference in the life of people suffering from HIV/AIDS in the Northeast of Thailand.
Extreme poverty, isolation and stigma all collude to make the situation very difficult for people in the north-east of Thailand with AIDS. Young parents die leaving orphaned children who are often also HIV infected.
Since 1997 Mother of Perpetual Help Centre has been assisting babies and young children of HIV and poor families in Nong Bua Lamphu. The program started with assisting about 40 children and has grown into helping almost 400 people each year. Villa Marie Hospice is located on the same site.
One of the priorities of the Mother of Perpetual Help Centre over the years has been the AIDS Education and Awareness Program with school students, which now goes to 20 schools each year.
The Ban Mae Marie Home for Teenagers began as a home to care for orphans of AIDs, but has now been opened up for care of non-HIV-related teenagers and the elderly.
Meanwhile, hot on the heels of the visit by the Governor and his wife, came the first visit of the new SVD Superior-General to the Thai District of the AUS Province.
Fr Paul Budi Kleden SVD had a short stay in Thailand, on his way to Myanmar, but was able to visit all the SVD confreres in the Thai District working in the Udon Thani Diocese, says Br Damien.