The centers of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God (SJD) in Latin America are also suffering the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, with Peru (28,700 cases) and Ecuador (24,300) being the two countries most affected to date. Even so, all centers in all countries have had to rethink their activities to adapt to the new situation, as was evident at the April 17 meeting of the Cooperation and Solidarity Committee (COCOSOL) of the Hospitaller Order for Latin America, in which Juan Ciudad, an NGO, participated. Last month, our organization sent the first funds to cover the most urgent needs identified by SJD centers, allowing for the implementation of various measures to mitigate the impact of the epidemic and protect healthcare professionals. We share some examples.
Bolivia. We reach rural areas by supporting existing health networks.
Luisa Villca, project coordinator at the Cristo de las Américas Hospital of the Hospitaller Order in Sucre (Bolivia), tells us about the situation and the measures they are taking with the help they receive from Juan Ciudad NGO:
We are currently under quarantine in the city of Sucre, and throughout the country, we are only allowed to go out one day a week, based on the last number of our ID cards. Saturdays and Sundays are subject to a total quarantine. Furthermore, the government has now authorized people who were in other cities or countries to return to their cities of origin, so there will be an impact on rural communities, where many people are also returning.
In the city of Sucre, the second patient tested positive for COVID-19 was identified and referred by the staff of Cristo de las Américas Hospital, according to the care protocol, to Santa Bårbara Hospital.
With funding from Juan Ciudad NGO, Cristo de las Américas Hospital is supporting the training of Local Health Authorities (Health Promoters) at seven Health Centers in the Department of Chuquisaca, located in four municipalities with large populations living on very limited resources. The Potolo, Chaco, and Surima Health Centers are located in the Sucre Municipality; the Surima Chica and Pampa Lupiara Health Centers are located in the Tarabuco Municipality; the Escana Health Center is located in the Yamparaez Municipality; and the Nicolås Ortiz Comprehensive Health Center is located in the Yotala Municipality.
Grateful for the support we receive from Juan Ciudad ONGD, in these times we are living facing the COVID 19 coronavirus pandemic, the aid will allow us to deliver biosecurity protection materials to these seven Health Centers dependent on the Departmental Health Service of Chuquisaca, (SEDES CH); an institution with which the hospital has an Interinstitutional Cooperation agreement, so that 53 health professionals will be benefited, including doctors, nurses and nursing assistants, among others, being the only health referents in rural communities to be able to identify, treat or transfer to the city of Sucre any possible infected by the COVID19 coronavirus.
Training of health promoters in December 2019 in the Department of Chuquisaca.
In addition, food packages will be delivered to nearly 100 families and local health authorities (health promoters) in the 52 intervention communities served by the seven aforementioned health centers.
In this initiative, the Cristo de las Américas San Juan de Dios Hospital will be responsible for purchasing basic foodstuffs such as rice, oil, flour, pasta, lentils, quinoa, etc., in coordination with the heads of the Health Centers and the governing boards of the local Health Authorities in the intervention communities, according to the prioritization previously established by the Local Health Authorities (health promoters).
On the other hand, part of the funds will be allocated to the purchase of biosecurity protective equipment for the staff at Cristo de las Américas Hospital. Food packages will also be provided to staff, families, and volunteers at the center.
In this case, the initiative was coordinated with Elena Torrez Barroso, General Secretary of the Cristo de las Américas Hospital Workers' Union, to sign a contract with a supermarket. Through vouchers given to workers, they will be able to purchase basic necessities. This is an incentive for these individuals at this time, with a multiplier effect, as it will also benefit their families.
Colombia. Remote psychosocial support and monitoring
The San Benito Menni Center, located in Soacha, a densely populated municipality on the outskirts of BogotĂĄ, has had to suspend all in-person activities it carried out at its facilities, such as the soup kitchen, tutoring, and adult training workshops, maintaining its sole focus on delivering basic food items to families at risk of poverty.
The forced confinement has meant the loss of jobs for thousands of people who worked informally on a daily basis and were the sole breadwinners for all household members.
Just before the coronavirus epidemic hit, Juan Ciudad NGO began collaborating with this center on a project to empower female heads of household through training and job development. However, all workshops have been suspended due to the epidemic, and the three people hired for the project are now working remotely. They have refocused their activities on monitoring the physical and mental health of the women participating, as well as analyzing data and context to identify emerging needs.
View of one of the streets of Soacha, where the San Benito Menni Center of the Hospitaller Order is located.
The result of this work is the "Report on the Psychosocial Status of Participants in the Single-Parent Family Training Project," which includes surveys of 49 women and was conducted by the psychosocial support professional at the San Benito Menni Center and the social worker at FAMIC.
It is noteworthy that the majority of women are young, with an average age of 28 years, 94% are unemployed, and 10% lack any healthcare services, either public or private. Furthermore, regarding their emotional state in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic, 53% are worried, 24% are calm, 10% are nervous, and the rest feel anxious or sad.
These data have made it possible to guide specific psychological support and telecare initiatives, given the uncertainty surrounding the lockdown and the future development of the epidemic. It has also been found that the majority, 53%, do not have any support network, which is an added concern due to the financial vulnerability of these families.
In general conclusion, the report notes that "despite concerns about joblessness and their health, people are clear about the importance of quarantine and are following the appropriate recommendations for preventive isolation. It also found that many people were street vendors or recyclers and, due to the current situation, had to stop their activities. This has led to a widespread sense of concern and anxiety about the COVID-19 situation, and everyone is afraid of what might happen; but despite this, they remain calm and hopeful that the situation will improve so that everything will return to normal, as it was before the emergency caused by the epidemic."
By: Adriana Castro, Head of Communications at JCONGD.
Source: JCONGD Projects and Luisa Villca, project coordinator at the Cristo de las Américas Hospital of the Hospitaller Order in Sucre (Bolivia).
Photos: JCONGD â Infographic: own production JCONGD.
