By Matters India Reporter
Panaji: A call from Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa to help the government struggling to curb rising Covid cases seems to have done wonders among his people in the western Indian state.
Parishes and Church centers now vie with each other to set up Covid care teams to help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Among those welcoming the initiatives is Herbert Moniz.
“It would be helpful if all groups find a way to help people in this time of need, as teamwork is very strong way to reach out to a wider circle,” the 80-year-old Catholic told Matters India sitting in his two-bed room apartment in Panaji.
Pedre Aruppe Institute, the Jesuit retreat house at Raia, was among the first to open a center for persons who have tested positive.
“This center is providing them facilities that they cannot avail at home,” says Jesuit Father Pedro Rodrigues, the director. The facilities also include self-contained rooms, WIFI and nursing staff. The center has a panel of doctors headed by Brennen Tavares, along with nurses and volunteers to attend to the patients.
Vernon Xavier, a team member, says they transfer serious cases to hospitals.
According to Father Rodrigues, “The food is provided by well-wishers with the menu suggested by the doctors. A well-wisher has also sponsored a security guard.”
Another quarantine center blessed at St John the Baptist Church, Banaulim, also helps asymptomatic poor. “This center is basically for those who want to isolate themselves. The center will direct them and give them free service” assistant parish priest Father Mauvin Menezes told Matters India May 22.
The Benaulim center has 30 beds segregated into male and female sections with nurses, medicines and oximeters. In the absence of ambulance, they have arranged with “Goa Mile,” a transport firm, to take hospitals in emergency.
The “Cavelossim Covid Warriers,” comprising villagers, has set up helpline for Cavelossim residents, and provides ambulance for testing or hospitalization, medicine kit, and free meals for Covid positive patients, said Roy Barreto, a shack owner and a team member. “We also have two or three volunteers in every ward in the village who distribute food parcels provided by Hotel Novotel,” he added.
Father Pedro Costa, parish priest of Our Lady of Snow Church at Raia, says people have generously contributed to the setting up of the quarantine center together with the Divine Word Father Joachim Fernandes.
“Moreno Rebello, former Curtolim Zilla Panchayat member donated Oximeters, and social worker Anthony Barbosa contributed medicines for the center which will cater to the local residents,” the priest told Matters India.
Juliet Ferreira, a member of the team in Panaji’s Immaculate Conceptions Parish, said she joined the tele-service care team and attended two Google meetings.
“We get daily a list of positive people from Panaji and this is divided between three different members each day. The task is to call the patient and after the introductory conversation ask the person if they require help,” she told Matters India.
She said that she had a case where the person did not answer as he had no strength. He replied the message after four days and informed them of their condition.
“Quickly we arranged the necessary things for them and they were grateful,“ she added.