AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - The Church makes its structures available to combat COVID-19

Thursday, 2 April 2020 coronavirus caritas local churches

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Bissau (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church of Guinea-Bissau is ready to make its health facilities available to national authorities in the context of the fight against COVID-19. This is what emerged from yesterday's meeting, April 1 held in the Diocesan Curia of Bissau between the Secretary General of Caritas Guinea-Bissau and a government delegation, composed of the ministers of health, economy and the coordinator of the inter-ministerial commission.
Ms Maria de Fátima Gomes, Secretary General of Caritas Guinea Bissau, said that His Exc. Mgr. Camnate Na Bissign, Bishop of Bissau, offered the support of the Church and thanked the government for the trust.
"The government can be sure that we will cooperate in case of need, through our hospitals where we already have an emergency plan", said the head of Caritas.
Regarding the uncertainties related to the increase or not of cases of infection in the Country, the General Secretary of Caritas Guinea says that precautions have already been taken, which necessarily include the "stock" of medicines and basic foods to possibly support families in need.
"Caritas is preparing help for the most needy families in case the situation gets worse, and we will do it through surveys that will be carried out through our structures in the parishes and we will take the government's request seriously because the role of the church is to serve", she said.
It should be stressed that support will also be extended to the various health centers in the Country.
Caritas Guinea-Bissau conducted a national awareness campaign through its parish structures, distributed posters on how to prevent coronavirus and offered bleach to the most needy.
Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau health authorities announced on April 1 that the number of coronavirus-infected people in the Country has increased to nine, based on test results obtained in the past 24 hours. The new patient, who joins the eight already known cases, is a 23-year-old Guinean citizen who returned from Senegal where he is studying on March 10. (A.B.) (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 2/4/2020)