CUMURA, from "Damned Land" to Land of life
Cumura means "damned land". And it is here, in this land covered by tropical vegetation that the
Franciscan Friars in 1955 built their most important center.
A pole of activity that has given hope to the entire Guinea-Bissau. Yes, because Cumura in figures is a
series of schools for a total of 1,500 students, from kindergarten to high school; and is also a leper colony
where patients arrive also from neighboring countries; is a hospital full of many wards. Only the maternity
registers 160 births per month. The leper colony collects an increasing number of patients suffering from
AIDS, TB and leprosy, diseases far from be eradicated here. In fact, increasing.
Now the Franciscan Friars would like to build a new tests laboratory because the current one is now
decaying and allows only 60 blood tests per day.
It all began many years ago, with the care of lepers, who were previously confined as in a lazaret. They
had to self-sustain, no one would get near them.
Just for medicines Cumura spends 100,000 euros per year, though being able to buy at 10% of their price
thanks to the work of a Dutch company. The Cumura hospital has 100 employees. Their salaries are paid
partially by the State, the balance is paid by the Friars. In fact is paid by the benefactors who hand over
many offers and aids to them .
Speaking about employees: schools have 40, 12 workers are engaged in building maintenance, 5 work in
the various workshops (because here they try to do everything in-house), 15 labourers. All are in the
Franciscan Friars's payroll (some only partially).
And then there are the Sisters, also Franciscan. They are 5 in Cumura and are an active part in the
management of the nursery and some hospital wards such as Pediatrics and Maternity.
"Providence has always helped us" Brother Memo says, the one that uses the forklift and is also the
Cumura's treasurer "and every month we are able to find the about ten thousand euros needed to make
everything go." A hand also lends Father Piergianni, Brother from Montecchia di Crosara (Verona), with a
long white beard, who knows how to work as a master builder, an electrician, a plumber ... and knows how
to use the computer; Brother Gianfranco, from Ceggia (Venice), a factotum who in 20 years has been
round all the missions in Guinea Bissau. If the founder of Cumura, Father Settimo Ferrazzetta,could see
them today working like bees in the hive, would be proud of these three Venetian Friars (together with
Brother Memo, Brother Piergianni and Brother Gianfranco , also operates the Father Superior Ernesto,
Pastor of Cumura) and of their Portuguese Brothers. One of them, the young Father Victor is also a doctor
and there is no day that he is late to the refectory for some urgency in the ward ... He smiles when asked
how do you sustain these paces. A question of faith ? Professional ethics ? Maybe both. Of course Cumura
is an anchor for the future of Guinea. An example among many of the hundred, thousand, ten thousand
Cumura around the world, where missionaries and lay people, through their volunteer work, every day
allow Africa to look at its future with a bit more of hope.
translated from a writing of Renato Malaman
Franciscan Friars in 1955 built their most important center.
A pole of activity that has given hope to the entire Guinea-Bissau. Yes, because Cumura in figures is a
series of schools for a total of 1,500 students, from kindergarten to high school; and is also a leper colony
where patients arrive also from neighboring countries; is a hospital full of many wards. Only the maternity
registers 160 births per month. The leper colony collects an increasing number of patients suffering from
AIDS, TB and leprosy, diseases far from be eradicated here. In fact, increasing.
Now the Franciscan Friars would like to build a new tests laboratory because the current one is now
decaying and allows only 60 blood tests per day.
It all began many years ago, with the care of lepers, who were previously confined as in a lazaret. They
had to self-sustain, no one would get near them.
Just for medicines Cumura spends 100,000 euros per year, though being able to buy at 10% of their price
thanks to the work of a Dutch company. The Cumura hospital has 100 employees. Their salaries are paid
partially by the State, the balance is paid by the Friars. In fact is paid by the benefactors who hand over
many offers and aids to them .
Speaking about employees: schools have 40, 12 workers are engaged in building maintenance, 5 work in
the various workshops (because here they try to do everything in-house), 15 labourers. All are in the
Franciscan Friars's payroll (some only partially).
And then there are the Sisters, also Franciscan. They are 5 in Cumura and are an active part in the
management of the nursery and some hospital wards such as Pediatrics and Maternity.
"Providence has always helped us" Brother Memo says, the one that uses the forklift and is also the
Cumura's treasurer "and every month we are able to find the about ten thousand euros needed to make
everything go." A hand also lends Father Piergianni, Brother from Montecchia di Crosara (Verona), with a
long white beard, who knows how to work as a master builder, an electrician, a plumber ... and knows how
to use the computer; Brother Gianfranco, from Ceggia (Venice), a factotum who in 20 years has been
round all the missions in Guinea Bissau. If the founder of Cumura, Father Settimo Ferrazzetta,could see
them today working like bees in the hive, would be proud of these three Venetian Friars (together with
Brother Memo, Brother Piergianni and Brother Gianfranco , also operates the Father Superior Ernesto,
Pastor of Cumura) and of their Portuguese Brothers. One of them, the young Father Victor is also a doctor
and there is no day that he is late to the refectory for some urgency in the ward ... He smiles when asked
how do you sustain these paces. A question of faith ? Professional ethics ? Maybe both. Of course Cumura
is an anchor for the future of Guinea. An example among many of the hundred, thousand, ten thousand
Cumura around the world, where missionaries and lay people, through their volunteer work, every day
allow Africa to look at its future with a bit more of hope.
translated from a writing of Renato Malaman
Some images from Cumura (click on photos !)
