Drogheda Independent

SR GEMMA SET UP HOSPITALS IN AFRICA

- BY HUBERT MURPHY

THE MMM community in Drogheda is in mourning this week for Sr Gemma Breslin (94), one of the driving forces behind introducin­g vital services in African countries in the 1950s onwards.

She served in the MMM community for 70 years, including 50 years in Africa.

Born Mary Breslin in Ballina, Co. Mayo in 1923, she worked in a hotel before joining MMM in 1945. After profession, she helped in the Spiritan’s seminary in Kimmage for 2 years. She then joined two other MMMs in founding a new mission in Kabanga, Tanganyika –now Tanzania – in 1951. This developed into a general hospital.

In 1955, she began MMM’s first foundation in Uganda, at Kitovu. Here services were developed for people affected by HIV/AIDS and for women with obstetric fistula that became models for other countries.

In 1961, Sr. Gemma was asked to begin in yet another country, this time in Mzuzu, Malawi. She was to spend 22 years in Malawi before returning to Ireland in 2001. The hospital helped to train 1,000 nurses. She also pioneered a new mission at Nkata Bay in Malawi. She also served in MMM leadership for five years.

Sr. Gemma moved to Aras Mhuire in 2005 and died there peacefully on 22 February 2018.

Her sister, Breege, followed her into the MMM order.

 ??  ?? Sr Gemma Breslin
Sr Gemma Breslin

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