At Juan Ciudad NGO, we continue to work intensively to respond to the needs and challenges of our partners, located in the San Juan de Dios social and health centers in disadvantaged countries, where the COVID-19 pandemic continues to compromise health systems.
According to WHO data, there are currently more than 32.7 million cases of coronavirus, of which one million have died worldwide. The most complex situation remains in the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia, where the number of infections remains very high, compared to the Western Pacific and Africa, where cases are lower and appear to be declining slowly. However, prevention and control measures must continue to be applied worldwide, and Protective materials are required in all health centers and updating protocols as we become better acquainted with how the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus behaves.
For our part, we are pleased to inform you that on September 29th, the 20th meeting of the Africa-Europe COVID-19 Crisis Committee of the Hospitaller Order. A body created in March of this year to coordinate aid to 16 San Juan de Dios centers on the African continent, which has represented a paradigm shift for the institution in its response to epidemics.
On this occasion, emergency aid was delivered very quickly and tailored to the real needs of its counterparts, allowing staff to be protected and essential health services to remain open, preventing thousands of collateral deaths due to lack of care, as unfortunately occurred during the most critical early months of the 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
Care of a non-COVID-19 patient at St. Joseph Catholic Hospital in Monrovia in September 2020.
As reported Valentine Bruku, financial director of centers for the African Province of St. Augustine: âGovernments are easing restrictions in many parts of Africa, and so patient attendance is gradually increasing, but not like it was before COVID-19.â The point is that even though many need health care, âPeople are more scared now than they were during the Ebola epidemic, Because even though there are no deaths like there were then, we don't know how the coronavirus behaves, and no one knows if another person is infected or if they can be reinfected â continues Valentine B. â, so all this confusion surrounding COVID-19 makes people very afraid."
Regarding the current challenges facing the San Juan de Dios centers on the African continent, he explains that, on the one hand, we still need support for PPE, protective equipment, the creation of isolation rooms, and safe transportation for patients and staff; and on the other, âThere is a great need to help poor people which is in the communities, since many have lost their jobs, and others are elderly people who are alone and do not have any resources for subsistence."
San Juan de Dios Clinic in Manizales in September 2020.
In Latin America, where the coronavirus is also testing the capacity of SJD centers in the most affected countries, such as Colombia, Peru and BoliviaAt Juan Ciudad NGO, we continue to promote ongoing cooperation projects, as well as new interventions.
Some examples are the San Benito Menni Center of Soacha, in BogotĂĄ, where training will be provided to women who wish to obtain the title of health assistant, continuing the project of empowering women heads of household. And the Christ of the Americas Hospital in Sucre, Bolivia, where work is being done to launch a pharmacy.
As in Africa, in Latin America the needs of the population are multiplying as the pandemic progresses, and therefore theThe Brothers of St. John of God are increasing social care of families and people in highly vulnerable situations, providing food, psychological support and healthcare.
If you want to collaborate with our cooperation projects and contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, We keep our Stop COVID-19 campaign open, so you can make your donation here.
By Adriana Castro, Communications Manager at Juan Ciuda NGO.
