By Jimmy Odoki Acellam
November 20, 2022, was a historical day in Uganda; the beatification ceremony of the Venerable Guiseppe Ambrosoli, (now Blessed Joseph Ambrosoli) that took place at Kalongo Parish, Archdiocese of Gulu. A lot has been documented about the wonderful works of Fr. Dr. Ambrosoli. Some books published include: CALL ME GIUSEPPE (Father Ambrosoli, doctor and missionary), Father Giuseppe Ambrosoli (A WITNESS OF CHARITY). Among the first few things that Dr. Ambrosoli thought about when he arrived in Kalongo was establishing a school to train midwives. Henceforth, he founded Kalongo St. Mary’s Midwifery Training School, which has been producing excellent healthcare workers and midwives over the years.
The students who go through this school experience the goodness and wonderful works of Fr. Dr. Ambrosoli. Piloya Emily, a Midwife and Assistant Nursing Officer at Kawempe National Referral Hospital was a student at Kalongo School of Midwifery from March 2016 to November 2017. She has wonderful memories of her time at the school. Although Emily wasn’t able to travel from Kampala to attend the Beatification ceremony because of a tight schedule at work, she used technology to follow the ceremony virtually. Having been brought up at St. Jude Orphanage Gulu, under the care of Brother Elio Croce, the beatification meant a lot to her. “The kindness, love, altruism and care Bro. Elio showed us made me relate very much to the theme of the beatification: ‘God’s servant to the suffering people’. Both Dr. Ambrosoli and Bro. Elio dedicated their lives to help the less privileged in Acholi,” says Piloya.
Brother Elio was very humble and lived a very prayerful life, which I strive to emulate. Also, serving patients require being morally upright, the fear of God, an upright conscience, being prayerful and focused to do the job well. Reflecting on the lives of Dr. Ambrosoli and Brother Elio, Emily is grateful for the lessons she learned from their exemplary works.
February 22, 2023, a Ugandan-born nurse and dedicated midwife, Magdalen Awor working in South Sudan with Doctors of Africa CUAMM was awarded the prestigious “Guardian of Life Award” by the Pontifical Academy of Life from Rome. This was in appreciation of her commitment and dedication to serve, delivering babies in very challenging situations, circumstances and hard to reach areas in Rumbek (South Sudan).
Piloya draws inspiration from colleagues in the profession like Magdalen and her recent achievement. She is no stranger to the difficulties in healthcare work in South Sudan, having worked in Imatong (South Sudan) with AVSI, an Italian NGO for 9 months as a midwife before leaving for studies in Kalongo. Perhaps one day, Piloya too willget recognition for her dedication and service to humanity. She is on the verge of enrolling to do an undergraduate degree in Nursing while continuing to work. Her journey in medical care is something she is enjoying, although it has not been a bed of roses. She is however grateful to everyone who supported her to be able to serve, be independent and support others as well. Emily was brought to St. Jude Orphanage, Gulu, around 1998 as a child. She was then taken to St. Joseph’s Primary School for one year and transferred to Mary Immaculate Primary School where she studied up to Primary seven. Emily joined St. Mary’s College, Aboke where she studied both her “O” and “A” levels. “Brother Elio never missed visiting us during school visitation days and we always looked forward to seeing him,” says Emily. “He showed us real parental love, checked how we were performing academically,” she added. After completing secondary school, she joined Lacor Nursing School and studied a Certificate in Midwifery for 2 years. Thereafter, she worked briefly before enrolling at Kalongo School of Midwifery. Emily completed her studies and because of the great reputation of the school and her good grades, she didn’t struggle very much to get a job.
After going through rigorous interviews, she was offered a job at Kawempe National Referral Hospital where she currently works. Much earlier, a benefactor approached Brother Elio and offered educational support to a few children under his care. Emily was chosen as one of the beneficiaries while embarking on her studies in Kalongo. She is grateful to Dr. Matthew Sebastian for his generosity and kindheartedness; for being ‘the Good Samaritan.