Dr. Oswald Madecki

 A short biography - By Juliana Taiwo /Abuja

O. Madecki was born on February 28, 1920 in a Polish border town - Cieszyn. He attended Medical School of University of Wroclaw and graduated in 1951. After few years of work in Silesian Hospital as a surgeon, he went to Germany where he worked for one year, and through the assistance of Medical Mission Institute of Wurzburg, was sent to Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1959. Upon his arrival, Madecki observed that the old hospital was too small and no longer up to standards. He built new blocks at Lantaro where the Sacred Heart Hospital had an existing Obstetric Department.
With Madecki's personal contact, a new pavilion was built with new equipment for the operating theater, laboratories, Blood Bank and X - ray facilities.
The Sacred Heart Hospital thereafter, became a center for Research on tropical diseases and also training of Nigerian doctors.
Before Madecki's death in November 1985, he was able to complete a TBC hospital that had been his dream since the beginning of his missionary work in Nigeria. The 125 bed TBC hospital was officially opened on his birthday, February 28, 1986.
Madecki was honoured with many awards and titles, among them, Chieftancy title of Egbaland. The Holy See honoured him with a title of Knight of St. Gregory, while the German and Polish Governments also honoured him with a First Class Order of Merit, and Commander of the Order of Merit, respectively after his death.
Madecki is said to be a living example of good cooperation between nations. He has proved that love towards humanity has no boundary or religion. His work got recognized by many. One of them is President Olusegun Obasanjo, who knew Madecki personally and helped him in many ways. While alive, Obasanjo on many occasions expressed his warm words of appreciation for Madecki's work and commitment towards helping vulnerable people.

« Il faut chercher avec le cœur» - Le petit Prince
«It is only with the heart that one can see clearly» - The little  prince