Covid-19: Caritas Georgia
stands by those in need
 |
| Members of Caritas give out food the homeless and needy (ANSA) |
Caritas Georgia is assuring its closeness to those most
affected by the Covid-19 coronavis pandemic.
By Vatican News and Caritas Georgia
Caritas Georgia, one of the agencies affiliated with Caritas
Internationalis, says that though the coronavirus affects all segments of the
world population it is “particularly detrimental” to those who are living in
poverty. For this reason, Caritas in Georgia “is putting all its efforts” into
standing next to the country’s “most vulnerable”.
Anahit Mkhoyan is the Director of Caritas Georgia. She says,
“we live through extraordinary days and this is the time to reprioritize things
in our lives. It pushes us to define what is important to us and stick to these
important things as hard as possible”. Having dedicated itself to the
prevention of the spread of the coronavirus, Caritas Georgia has “developed an
action plan, which aims to maximize the safety of beneficiaries and employees”.
The lonely and elderly
One of the priorities Caritas Georgia has identified is with
the elderly and people with chronic diseases – those who are most susceptible
to the virus. Members of Caritas Georgia have been distributing food and basic
hygiene items to the lonely and elderly of their Day care Centre and running a
Humanitarian Soup-Kitchen”.
Their Home Care service continues to assist the most
deprived patients, especially the lonely elderly who are in need of
health care. The medical team has been trained and acquainted with all the
necessary instructions. They strictly follow all safety precautions to ensure
their own as well as their beneficiaries’ wellbeing.
Children in need
Caritas Georgia also reaches out to “children in need”. It
continues to operate “small family-type homes and 24-hour shelters for
street-connected children”. Systematic cleaning and disinfection of the indoor
and outdoor areas of the premises are carried out in accordance to the
recommendations of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health.
Anyone wishing to leave the service is “strictly controlled” and visits are
limited . Employees pay special attention to ensur that the children’s free
time is respectful of the quarantine conditions.
Caritas Georgia’s Mobile Groups work in collaboration with
partner organisations as well as with the government to patrol the streets and
offer help to street children. If necessary, the children are transferred to
the quarantine area arranged by the state.
The spread of COVID-19 has led to the closure of educational
institutions all over the world, which in turn has resulted in the transition
to online and at-home learning. To limit the disruption of the educational
process, Georgia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports
introduced the model of distance learning. Therefore, to respond to current
needs, the Caritas Georgia team has worked to adapt their services to the
current situation. They have elaborated “a new action plan to support distance
learning in target schools and give recommendations to teachers, children and
their parents”.
Along with this, an online education programme was
elaborated for the children from socially unprotected families, who are involved
in Caritas Georgia’s Day Care and Art Therapy education system. Food and
hygiene packages are distributed regularly in the homes of those participating
in the programme”.
Single mothers
Caritas Georgia also provides support to single mothers and their
children in the St. Barbare Mother and Child Day Care Centres. The
beneficiaries are provided with meals and hygienic items. They are involved in
various entertainment and educational activities facilitated by the Centre.
Homeless and socially disadvantaged
Speaking of the homeless and socially disadvantaged, Caritas
Georgia intervenes in order to reduce the risk of contracting the new
coronavirus through the Batumi Shelter for the Homeless. It has implemented
24-hour a day work schedule and responds to all the needs of the
beneficiaries to protect them from the virus.
Addressing parishioners, Bishop Giuseppe Pasotto, President
of Caritas Georgia, said “our Caritas has an impartial heart, it cannot close
its eyes or turn its back on those closest to it. If someone is in trouble,
take care to let them know about it, and ask Caritas Georgia to demonstrate the
support of the Church and effective love. But we all need to make sure that
Caritas Georgia is ready, within its capabilities” to support those who cannot
find help elsewhere.
Finally, Caritas Georgia is maximally trying to respond to
all the needs of the people approaching the organisation for help. It is
actively working to adapt its services and gain the additional resources to
protect the country’s vulnerable groups from the pandemic.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét