Buggianni laid to rest

long illness – was yesterday buried at her home in Mhondoro.
She was 81.
Dr Buggianni was buried in a reed carpet and a blanket at her request at her home at the Mission Centre.
Several high-ranking Government officials attended the burial.
Principal Director in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Innocent Tizora delivered President Mugabe’s condolence message to mourners at the burial.
“The President had strong relations with St Michael’s and Dr Buggianni that is why he visited the institution twice.
“When we were talking about her passing, he commended her work and that of other mission hospitals like St Albert’s Mission Hospital and All Souls Mission Hospital where a lot of people are going to seek medical attention these days,” he said.
Mashonaland West provincial governor, Cde Faber Chidarikire said Dr Buggianni had done a lot for the Mhondoro community and the void she left would be difficult to fill.
“We are saddened today by her death. She did a lot for the institution when she built it from a clinic to what it is today.
“It is not everyday that you find a person leaving the comfort of her country to come and work in a foreign land not for their benefit but for the benefit of others.
“It was only last year that we were with President Mugabe opening a clinic for HIV and Aids patients that was build from her efforts,” he said.
Mhondoro-Ngezi legislator Cde Bright Matonga urged staff at the hospital to continue with the good work done by the late Dr Buggianni.
“We should celebrate the life of Dr Buggianni because her works are here for all to see.
“Things should not change at the institution just because she has gone.
“We should all continue with her good deeds in her memory,” Cde Matonga said.
Chief Murambwa, who spoke on behalf of the traditional leaders, thanked President Mugabe for mourning with the Mhondoro community.
“I would like to thank President Mugabe for sending Government representatives to mourn with us. Dr Buggianni had become part of our community and initiated various programmes for our benefit.
“I urge Government to assist in ensuring that her good works are not in vain,” Chief Murambwa said.
Dr Buggianni was born in Italy in 1931 and did her secondary education in Mogadishu, Somalia.
She then studied medicine at Roma University of Sacro.
She briefly worked in Italy before coming to Africa.
She worked in Chirundu but went to India in the mid 1970s at the height of the liberation struggle for a year before returning to work in Zambia at St Theresa Hospital in Ndola.
She returned to Zimbabwe in 1981 and established St Michael’s Hospital from a small clinic.
The hospital was officially opened by President Mugabe in 1984. She also established a children’s home and a clinic for HIV and Aids that was opened by President Mugabe last year.