Lost boy Marino Mauro, now a doctor from Syracuse, New York, returns to his hometown in South Sudan, which he fled as a child during the Second Sudanese Civil War.
Marino's eyes filled with tears as he flew over the Didinga Hills into the lush green valley of Chukudum. ‘I cried when I landed because I'd never seen such a beautiful place!’ he said.
Marino and his team of four from the United States were flown from Juba by Pilot Ide Gooden in a Cessna Caravan 5Y-NLD. ‘It's the first time visiting Chukudum for this team. The community was very happy to see them and gave them a warm reception,’ Ide shared.
Marino was unexpectedly greeted by many people dressed in traditional attire. ‘It was a complete but very pleasant surprise!’ he remarked.
MAF has very friendly and knowledgeable pilots who are able to navigate the geographical barriers to bring the help that is badly needed in remote areas of the country
This was only the second time Marino visited his birthplace since he left in the early 1990s. Having qualified as a doctor in 2021 after years as a Physician’s Associate, Marino was deeply moved by the lack of healthcare services he saw during his first visit three years ago, prompting him to start Marino Good Health.
‘In 2021, I visited my father's resting place and saw the hospital's dire condition. Healthcare is my professional background, so I naturally gravitated towards addressing this need,’ Marino explained.
Shocked by the lack of services compared to the U.S., Marino felt compelled to give back. ‘I live in the US and have everything. I want to leave the world a better place for my children and others' children too,’ he said.
With advice from medical friends, Marino formed Marino Good Health to support his home community. ‘The name reminds me every day that I have to make this work,’ he shared.
During his recent trip, Marino, and his board members—Dr. Geraldine Cabero, Dr. Amanda Roy, and psychiatric nurse Morgan Rodriguez—assessed the needs of Chukudum Hospital. They observed dirty mattresses, which were a source of infections, and replaced 50 mattresses, bringing much-needed medicine.
The team also conducted training sessions on basic life support, infection control, stress management, and managing anxiety and depression. They learned about the hospital's struggle with treating Tuberculosis (TB) due to the lack of proper nutrition for patients undergoing treatment, causing patients to flee and potentially spread TB.
Back in the States, Marino plans to source stretchers, provide cleaning materials, and replace more mattresses to improve the hospital environment, aiding infection control and promoting patient recovery.
Marino hopes to partner with MAF to bring in staff and supplies through their three weekly shuttle flights, as he establishes his ministry in Chukudum. ‘We are a very small organization, but you've got to start somewhere,’ Marino shared pragmatically. ‘We'll go back and work hard to realize some of the things we want to do.’
"Lastly, I am very happy to have come across MAF. We were unsure how to get to Chukudum given the challenging infrastructure. I have learned with great appreciation that MAF has a track record in providing aviation and logistical support to remote locations like Chukudum. MAF has very friendly and knowledgeable pilots who are able to navigate the geographical barriers to bring the help that is badly needed in remote areas of the country," he concluded.
I am very happy to have come across MAF. We were unsure how to get to Chukudum given the challenging infrastructure. I have learned with great appreciation that MAF has a track record in providing aviation and logistical support to remote locations like Chukudum.