On Wednesday I joined a small group going to see the Italian "Blue Sisters" in a nearby slum. A friend of mine regularly collects clothes to be donated to a good cause.
they are known as the Blue Sisters because of their habits, but they are members of The Contemplative missionary movement of Father de Foucauld which was founded by Father Andrea Gasparino in Cuneo in 1951.
They have a small dispensary i
n the grounds of the
Church of de Mazenod on Bishwa Road.
Each Wednesday morning from 7.30 to approx.
1.30 p.m, the poor and destitute from the area come to the “Blue
Sisters” to receive milk for their babies, over-the-counter
medicine or prescribed medication. On an average Wednesday, the Blue
Sisters see around 200 patients.The sisters tend to everyone with
conditions ranging from simple wounds and cuts to more serious
physical and mental illnesses.
When needed, they contact the
surrounding government hospitals, e.g. Dhaka Medical Hospital and
College or the Dhaka Children’s Hospital to try to get
their “patients” admitted or medications prescribed. Hospital,
medication and doctor’s fees would be paid for by the Blue
Sisters. Unfortunately, in some serious cases, they have been unable
to save those who came to them for help, due to lack of funds.
Some of the families waiting for treatment
twins
A new dispensary built on the other side of the plot - it looks like it is ready for occupation.
We walked in the neighbourhood with one of the sisters, to visit a nearby slum. The houses occupied are built with corrugated metal sheets, bamboo, and scavenged canvas (including some political banners) - each place is about 3m by 3ms, and they have to pay around 2500tk (£25 / euro) per month in rent. The slum area is being pushed in on all sides by development, and is overlooked by some swanky buildings. It is only a matter of time before they are displaced.
 |
| somehow I resisted the urge to pinch her cheeks |
Many families scrape their living from collecting and recycling plastics
Head protector
these loads of sand are then carried on the head
purple family, with tattoos
Photo?
Let me see..
oh that's better!
The other days of the week the sisters accompany those in their care to
the hospitals, visit them in their hospital beds or make their
rounds through the neighbourhood. They check up on the families and
try to convince parents to send their children to school.
The Blue Sisters live a simple and contemplative life among the poor
people. For funds they depend entirely on the donations of kind
individuals and organisations. Now they have a newly built place to live and help the community
It was an inspiring visit - seeing how faith can drive action in such a positive way.
In my head the whole time I had the sound of the Stranglers
