At around eleven o’clock on Monday, June 30, 2014, the Grand Master of the Order of St. Gabriel, Consul of Côte d’Ivoire in the Rhône-Alpes Region, SEM Roland Roux de Chavanes, after a brief speech, handed over a check for €20,000 to Father Yvon Serge Hounsou, General Director of the « Mother and Child » Hospital in Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire).
At the opening of the session, Father Béal from the African missions of Lyon congratulated the Order of Saint Gabriel for choosing its premises to host such a large-scale event. He took the opportunity to recall his 30 years of experience in Côte d’Ivoire, repeatedly saying the word “AKWABA” (welcome to our home) to all the guests: Consuls General, Honorary Consuls, priests, Army General, Hospital Directors, knights of different orders, and representatives of all backgrounds, etc.
Taking the floor in turn, the Grand Master of the Order of St. Gabriel greeted all attendees. He then outlined the main missions of the Order: to serve humanity, and especially to work for the well-being of children and their mothers. Over the past years, the Order has supported several institutions and associations.
In 2014, two ambulances were donated to Saint Joseph Hospital.
Before closing the ceremony with various protocol signings, Father Serge Yvon Hounsou, Hospital Director, emphasized on behalf of the Holy See and personally the importance of this support. For him, this gesture is crucial as it will allow the rapid completion of major works in this hospital. With great relief and pleasure, Father Hounsou thanked the Grand Master of the Order of St. Gabriel, SEM Roland Roux de Chavanes.
