Seoul: after 17 years, "Raphael clinic" for migrants will have its own building
Seoul ( AsiaNews) - After 17 years in operation and nearly 180 thousand migrants treated for free in a corridor of the seminary in Seoul, "the Raphael Clinic " will move to its own building where it will continue its charitable work in favor of the poorest of the South Korean population . The institution, inspired by the late Card. Kim was in fact forced to operate for nearly two decades as a "corridor hospital" , on the third floor of the Haehwa parish building and in a part of the seminary in Seoul.
This great instrument of charity was founded in 1996 , when the then Cardinal Archbishop of Seoul Stephen Kim Sou- hwan convened a group of doctors at the University of Seoul to encourage them to help the misery of so many foreigners who came to Korea to work . Without health coverage, and often undocumented, these foreigners, for the most part from Asian countries - especially China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines - had no way to get medical care. "Their life - the cardinal told those present - knows too much misery. Please create a medical activity that can help them".
The next year, thanks to many doctors volunteering for free, the clinic was set up. The prelate offered them a facility in the local parish, while the name was chosen by the then Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul Msgr. Peter Kang U -il. The bishop, now titular of the Diocese of Cheju and President of the Bishops' Conference of Korea, indicated the Archangel Raphael as a protector of the new institute.
One of the doctors who has lent his services to the clinic from the outset, Dr. Ann Kuyri , recalls: "With professors and students of medicine we brought some chairs and many boxes of medicines and began to treat foreigners in the church hall . At first the migrants were afraid to come to us, because they had not money. I remember that the very first, at the door, asked : 'is it true that I can see a doctor here? Is it true? But I have no money ... 'that was the situation". In the early days the clinic was attended by about 30 foreigners per day, today there are more than 300.
Card. Kim did everything possible to support the work of this clinic and talked about it at every possible opportunity . Immediately after his death, on 23 February 2009 , an anonymous sponsor donated € 2,300 to the "corridor" hospital. And in his will, the late prelate left a large sum to the clinic. Thanks to this "avalanche of aid" , supported by some migrants who have improved their economic and working situation, next June, the clinic will open in its own building .
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12/02/2016 15:14
11/08/2017 20:05
