We want to inform you that we continue working to maintain our international development cooperation projects and initiatives, adapting to the new context and following daily health information and recommendations regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
Our organization has already had to face some health crises, such as the last Ebola epidemic of 2013-2016, so now We are applying the experience gained In the development of our activities, we are fully aware of the importance of acting quickly and always in coordination with health authorities and other local and international stakeholders.
Currently the Juan Ciudad ONGD team works remotely and maintains a close communication with all our counterpartsYesterday, we sent a series of recommendations to the centers of the Order of Saint John of God in the nine countries where projects are being developed: Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Kenya, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Ghana, and Liberia.
The objective is to provide measures to adapt each intervention to the current needs for prevention and control against due to the coronavirus epidemic, and gather information on the situation of each counterpart. These measures include project continuity and maintaining salaries and payments to our local collaborators.
Street view from the entrance to St. Joseph's Catholic Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. Photo: Juan Ciudad NGO.
In addition, we are receiving Many messages of support from Brothers and collaborators from Africa and Latin America, showing solidarity With the critical situation we are experiencing in Spain and Europe, their fortitude and resilience are an example to follow and a source of inspiration for us, as our counterparts live in contexts where health crises are constant and invisible to most of Western society.
From our experience, we know how complex it is to manage social and healthcare in the context of an international health emergency. So, we're in charge from here. All our support and gratitude to all the people who are directly involved in the fight against SARS-CoV-2, from different areas, mainly healthcare personnel, but also from the rest of the areas involved.
Juan Ciudad NGO statement dated March 18, 2020, regarding the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic
