Dibamba community celebrates 60 years of hope

The celebration of the 60-year anniversary was an opportunity to change the image of the community.

Today, there is no new leper patient at the leprosy centre in Dibamba, instead the centre is made up of former patients. There are about 24 patients entrusted to the care of the Carmelite Sisters, who currently occupy the hospital. They were able witness the celebration of 60 years of the meanness organized for over a month by the Management Committee of Dibamba since December 21, 2014.

But beyond the celebration of the 60th anniversary, there was the need to say thank you to all who participated to make the place what it is over the years, the religious from the date of inception in 1954, the State and traditional authorities, different patrons. And above all, members of the community of Dibamba-leper had at heart to show that the place is now far from the negative image that weighed on the leper dozens of years ago. His Majesty Madiba Songuè, head of Bakoko, noted: "the first patients have endured very difficult times. But today, people come from everywhere to assist them".

On the same vein, the president of the Cogedi, Jean-Claude Bahombe, said during the Pontifical mass: "for 60 years, disfigured faces are smiling, mutilated hands begin to work, people experiencing rejection have regained their dignity". Leprosy Dibamba, has become a "land of love, life and hope", with descendants who can take in charge and who participate in the improvement of the living conditions "of this place which was considered hideous", added S.M. Madiba Songuè.