Hope and new life filled the air today as St. Theresa Mission Hospital officially launched the construction of its first-ever Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a groundbreaking step toward saving the most fragile and precious lives: newborns.
The solemn and joyful event was presided over by Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura–Yambio, together with the Vice President and Executive Director of SRF, the principal donor and partner in this transformative initiative.
The Bishop and the SRF representative jointly blessed and laid the foundation stone of the new NICU, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the hospital’s mission of compassionate service and modern healthcare.
This specialized neonatal center, the first of its kind in the entire region, will make St. Theresa Mission Hospital a fully-fledged Mother and Child Hospital, capable of providing advanced care for newborns who require intensive medical support.
The new facility will be officially named the “Dan and Patte Winter Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”, in loving memory of the late parents of the bishop’s dear friends and benefactors, Dave Dettoni. Subsequently, it will be fully furnished by the Reed Family.
In his address, Bishop Hiiboro movingly stated:
“These parents, now at rest, continue to give life, not to their own children, but to many children who would not survive outside such a center. Their love transcends generations and borders. We, their South Sudanese brothers and sisters, must learn from such generosity and begin to think and act in ways that bring life to others.”
Community leaders, hospital staff, religious sisters, and local authorities attended the event in large numbers. Their faces shone with gratitude and pride, recognizing the immense blessing this project brings to families across Western Equatoria and beyond.
Several speakers expressed deep joy and appreciation, calling the initiative “a miracle for mothers and infants who for long have suffered silently.”
The SRF representative reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to continue supporting healthcare and human development in the region, praising the Catholic Diocese of Tombura–Yambio for its leadership and integrity in serving the people.
Construction work is expected to proceed swiftly, with completion envisioned in the coming months. Once operational, the Dan and Patte Winter NICU will not only serve the people of Yambio but also offer referral services to other hospitals across South Sudan and neighboring countries.
Today’s ceremony was more than the beginning of a building, it was the birth of hope, compassion, and solidarity.
Bishop Hiiboro concluded; “Every brick laid here today is a brick of love. Every child who will breathe here will be a testimony that faith, friendship, and humanity can truly save lives.”
