YAMOUSSOUKRO: First Lady Dominique Ouattara visits SAINT JOSEPH MOSCATI Catholic Hospital

This visit of the wife of the Head of State is part of a promise made in September 2022 to Mrs. Mariella Enoc, during her visit to the Pediatric Hospital of the Infant Jesus of the Vatican in Rome. Indeed, on the sidelines of the state visit of the President of the Republic, H.E. Alassane Ouattara in Italy, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara visited the hospital founded since 1869.  During her visit, the President of Children Of Africa and Mrs. Mariella Enoc adopted and signed a memorandum of understanding linking the Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital of the Vatican and the Dominique Ouattara Mother and Child Hospital of Bingerville.

The wife of the Head of State arrived at the Saint Joseph of Moscati Catholic Hospital around 11.36am. After the greetings to the elected officials, executives, members of the Catholic clergy present, as well as to the patients present, the First Lady, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara accompanied by Mrs. Mariella Enoc, President of the Pediatric Hospital of the Child Jesus of the Vatican, as well as Mr. Pierre N’Gou Dimba, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage, visited various departments of this Hospital opened to the public on January 12, 2015.  The wife of the Head of State visited, among others, the Neonatology, Pediatrics, Imaging, Laboratories and many other services. After the visit, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire held a working meeting with Mrs. Mariella Enoc, President of the Infant Jesus Hospital, Dr. Ombretta Pasotti, Director General of the Saint Joseph Moscati Catholic Hospital, H.E. Jean Salomon Lezoutié, President of the Board of Directors (PCA) of the Notre Dame de la Paix International Foundation and many other personalities

Taking the floor, the First Lady, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, congratulated the hospital management team the for the quality of care and professionalism of the services which is offered to the people. She also expressed her wish for a partnership between the Catholic Hospital and the Mother and Child Hospital of Bingerville.

H.E. Mr. Jean Salomon Lezoutié, Chairman of the board of directors of the Our Lady of Peace International Foundation and Bishop of Yopougon said the word of welcome to the wife of the Head of State. He was delighted with her visit. He praised the commitment of the First Lady for the well-being of the people through the Mother and Child Hospital of Bingerville.

Dr. Ombretta Pasotti, Director General of the Saint Joseph Moscati Catholic Hospital, presented the mode of operation and the new challenges for the Catholic Hospital to be more at the service of the poor.

N’Gou Pierre Dimba, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage reiterated the commitment of the Ivorian Government to accompany the Catholic Hospital for the well-being of the populations.

After this meeting, the First Lady explained the meaning of her visit. “When we were in the Vatican, I visited the Infant Jesus Hospital, and I promised to Mrs. Enoc that I will come and visit the Saint Joseph Moscati Catholic Hospital in Yamoussoukro which I had not yet visited. So the promise is now fullfilled. I must say that I was very impressed by this hospital, which is not only beautiful  but also has very competent staff. I would really like to congratulate them and invite the population to come and get treated here because this hospital is great. It is within the reach of the population. It has undeniable technical skills and a very nice technical platform,” explained Mrs. Dominique Ouattara.

Opened on January 12, 2015, with a current capacity of two hundred (200) beds, the Saint Joseph Moscati Catholic Hospital, named after Saint Joseph Moscati, commonly called the doctor of the poor, is a non-profit charitable hospital, built by the Our Lady of Peace International Foundation and managed by the Camillians.  It operates according to the principles of charity and Catholic Christian morality (respect for life, dignity and promotion of  human basic rights).

It is governed by the convention of May 20, 1992 signed between the Government of the Republic of the Ivory Coast and the Our Lady of Peace International Foundation.