Zorko – On Friday, June 13, 2025, Bishop Alfred Agyenta joined staff from NABOCADO and the Catholic Health Trust to commemorate this year’s World Day of the Sick at the St. Theresa Health Center in Zorko.

The 33rd celebration of this significant day, which began on February 11 under the theme “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5), featured a variety of activities including health screenings, home visits, and health education on selected diseases, culminating in a prayer mass and a durbar.

In his message to the church community and healthcare staff, Bishop Agyenta emphasized the importance of compassion for the sick, highlighting it as the essence of the day. “We must be sensitive to the plight of the sick and suffering,” he urged. “As healthcare providers, you have the opportunity to be a source of hope and healing.”

Dr. Joseph Bangu, Executive Director of NABOCADO, echoed the Bishop’s sentiments in his address, calling for professionalism and improved standards in healthcare services among hospitals and their staff, particularly those affiliated with the Catholic Church. “We must strive for excellence in the care we provide,” he stated.

The World Day of the Sick serves as an awareness day in the Catholic Church, intended for “prayer and sharing, offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church, and reminding everyone to see in their sick brother or sister the face of Christ.” Instituted by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1992, the day is celebrated annually on February 11, coinciding with the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The event also honored the dedication of staff and management from Catholic health facilities in the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga with awards for their outstanding contributions to healthcare services.