1 comment.€3,600 donated for Peru Dental Clinic by Hospitaller Order of St John
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A Dental Clinic in the Parish of Saint Martin de Porres, Iquitos, Peru, has received a donation of €3,600 from the Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem
The Parish Priest Fr. Raymond Portelli, expressed his sincere thanks for the donation, which he said would cover the wages of a dentist for a year.
The clinic was opened recently in memory of Dr Ethel Zahra Vento a young Maltese dentist who passed away last year.
Fr. Raymond explained that their dentist attends throughout the week to around 50 patients, most of them are children. All the patients are of very poor origin, most of them come from along the rivers of the Amazon Rainforest.
He said that they come to Iquitos, looking for help. “Our parish, situated in the outskirts of the city is becoming a landmark for many villagers who come to the city looking for a solution to their problems.”
The Dental Clinic together with the dental chair was built just two years ago, with the help of the parish and other NGOs. “Our objective is now to keep it open serving the poorest of the poor,” said Fr. Raymond.
He went on to say that besides the Dental Clinic they have a laboratory and primary care medical service together with a pharmacy.
Fr. Raymond said, “the running of the clinic is a great challenge but with God’s help and generous organisations like yours I truly believe we can continue serving. I assure you that with this donation we will continue serving those in need.”
The Grand Prior Chev Mark Agius and the Deputy Grand Prior Dame Carmen Bellamy at the Victory Day Celebrations in Xaghra
I praise and congratulate the knights and dames of the Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem for their donation to Fr. Raymond. For some reason, the problems with teeth is grave in Peru and a clinic for the poor and in this case, extreme poor, is a God sent. Fr. Portelli is a true Missionary for tending to both physical and spiritual needs of his flock in very difficult and dangerous environment. Maybe Maltese clinics can twin with this clinic to be of continuous help and support.