The Ministers to the Sick, better known as the Camillian congregation, marked the 40th founding anniversary of St. Camillus Polyclinic in Makati City on April 30.
The polyclinic, which is one of the congregation’s global service institutions to serve the sick and the poor, was established in 1980.
It is located in the poor section of the country’s business capital and caters to low-income families.
The clinic has always been active in medical missions that are inspired by the worldwide mission of the congregation.
The clinic’s first mission was in 1981 when a group of volunteer workers with the Jaycees and Jaycerettes of Las Pinas led by Father Luigi Galvani went on “service-oriented visitations.”
In August 1981, “Operation Love the Sick” had its second mission in Bagong Barrio in cooperation with the Jaycees of Caloocan City.
“It was flocked by a lot of people seeking medical services,” reported the Camillians in their Facebook page.
It was followed by a medical mission in Antipolo assisted by Father Hans Schmidt of the German Society of Divine Word Missionary.
From 1982, the Camillian outreach programs made its presence in poor areas of Metro Manila.
After several years, the Camillians in the Philippine province continue to be involved in a “never-ending humanitarian project” of “caring, comforting, and counseling the poor and the sick.”