ASIA/INDIA - Hospitals and Christian doctors at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus

Wednesday, 1 April 2020 coronavirus   pandemic   healthcare   solidarity   social works  

New Delhi (Agenzzia Fides) - "Over 1,000 hospitals and 60,000 beds guaranteed by Christian institutes, hospitals and clinics are ready and equipped to provide medical care to Covid-19 patients. Christian communities in India are strongly and traditionally engaged in social works in the field of education, health care and assistance to the poor and needy": this is what Redemptorist Father Mathew Abraham, president of the Christian Coalition for Health and general director of the Catholic Health Association of India reports to Agenzia Fides (CHAI. as reported to Agenzia Fides, in a letter to the Indian government, the "Christian Coalition for Health" offered all the facilities available in India, where the total blockade has been imposed until April 14).
Father Mathew Abraham expressed the coalition's full solidarity with the government to address the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic, noting that "Christians will work in the best possible way for the health and well-being of the nation's people in order to combat the pandemic" .
For days, Christian hospitals have re-organized their wards, staff, and health care equipment to address the challenges posed by the disease, and "are already working with local government health officials in this effort against this pandemic". In particular, those situated in remote areas "are preparing handmade masks or plastic coveralls as protective equipment for their health workers", it notes.
The coalition unites the health networks managed by various Christian denominations in India, and also makes use of the work of over 1,000 female doctor and about 50,000 Catholic nurse nuns.
A month ago, the Coalition launched an online "Help Desk" at its headquarters in Hyderabad to assist people under stress due to the coronavirus crisis, available on the website or www.coronacare.life. (SD-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 1/4/2020)


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