It was a visit full of meetings and events that the Italian Ambassador to Dakar, Caterina Bertolini, made to Guinea Bissau in recent days. Bertolini, who serves as ambassador for Senegal, Cape Verde, Gambia and Guinea Bissau, first met some Italian missionaries who have been working alongside the population in Bissau for years. The ambassadress then went to the headquarters of Radio Sol Mansi, Guinea Bissau's main radio station, set up thanks to the initiative of Italian missionaries, a place for dialogue, the exchange of ideas and encounters between different cultures to promote good information. There was then a lively meeting with representatives of Italian cooperation organisations, with whom the ambassador discussed the country's development priorities, challenges and opportunities for Italian cooperation. Bertolini then visited two important health centres in Guinea Bissau, the Madrugada clinic and the Bor hospital, both founded by Italian missionaries and operating thanks to donations from Italian non-profit organisations with Italian technical and medical staff. During the visit to the Nhacra hospital run by Sister Valeria Amato, the ambassador presented the nun with the honour of Cavaliere dell'ordine al merito della Repubblica italiana. For many years Sister Valeria Amato has been contributing to the improvement of the country's healthcare system, and with her commitment and determination she manages the 'Caterina Torrinani' hospital, a reference point for almost 30 thousand inhabitants in the Oio region.
The Ambassador's official visit also included a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Guinea Bissau, Carlos Pinto Pereira, and the presentation of her letters of credence to the President of the Republic, Umaro Sissoco Embalò, with whom Caterina Bertolini reviewed the positive cooperation between Italy and Guinea Bissau, characterised in particular by the strong presence of missionaries and cooperators in the country.
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