St Agostina Health Center in Shire, Tigray—Etiopia

St. Agostina Health Centre has developed and expanded since the beginning of the Mission of the Sisters of Charity in Shire Endaselassie in Tigray, starting as a small dispensary, enlarging to a clinic with consultation rooms and a laboratory, and finally becoming a health centre with the addition of an X-ray department and a maternity ward. From the beginning, it was managed by a Sister of Charity, who was often a nurse. It is now managed by Sr. Mary Elrouman, who coordinates a staff of doctors, health directors, many nurses specializing in different fields, assistants, and administrators, totaling about sixty people. Currently, the centre serves between 250 and 300 people daily, some of whom come from distant villages. During the violent war that sadly affected the whole of Tigray from 2020 to 2022, the Health Centre remained open and functioning thanks to the generosity, courage and audacity of its staff, always ready to welcome those in need, regardless of their political affiliation or alignment. They treated wounded people who had been victims of terrible violence, managing to resist and continue to provide care for the sick and injured. They have experienced and continue to experience the closeness that Pope Leo speaks about in his message for World Day of the Sick 2026: “Being close to others does not depend on physical or social proximity, it depends on the decision to love. For this reason, Christians show compassion to those who suffer, by following the example of Christ, who is the true divine Samaritan who drew close to the wounded humanity. These are not mere gestures of philanthropy, nor are they signs in which one can sense that personal participation in the suffering of others implies giving oneself, going beyond the satisfaction of needs in order to ensure our person becomes part of the gift.”

Thanks to a project promoted by the UISG, in 2025 a new microscope was purchased to add to existing ones in the laboratory, which is one of the best equipped in the region. Two functional beds for patients and a vacuum cleaner for dental equipment were also purchased because a dentistry department had been opened, as there was only one private dentist in the city and people needed dental care. There is still a lot of equipment to be repaired, upgraded and replaced, as the lack of electricity and frequent power outages unfortunately often cause damage to the equipment. However, in spite of these challenges, we recognise that the dedication of the nuns and the passion of the staff for their work allow them to continue to serve such a large part of the population with generosity and quality. During the war, many took refuge in the government schools opposite our mission, and the nuns always provided them with help. Today, these refugees are welcomed, cared for and supported by the mission itself, maintaining its characteristic role as a House of Charity.

The brutal conflict has traumatised everyone, especially children and women, and now is the time to think about reconstruction, not only of the walls that have become unstable and the foundations that are collapsing, but also and above all of lives and futures. we grateful to the Italian Episcopal Conference for supporting us. We’ll be able to offer training to some of our staff so they can get the skills to provide psychological support and help people recover. May Saint Agostina guide and sustain this charity project named after her, which lives out real charity.