AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Covid 19: health projects to raise awareness, train and prepare health workers

Wednesday, 5 August 2020

Yopougon-Kouté (Agenzia Fides) - The St. Laurent parish of Yopougon Kouté celebrates today 5 August the ceremony for the delivery of protective face masks, hydroalcoholic gel, sterilizers and ventilators, infrared thermometers and other material to some hospitals in the area.
The medical material, purchased with the help of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) and Caritas Italy (CI), is distributed by Avsi, Missionary Community of Villaregia, the Soleterre Foundation and the Consolata Missions Institute.
Last April the Presidency of the Conference of Italian Bishops allocated € 6 million, to which another 3 million were added in May, for the Coronavirus emergency in Africa and other poor Countries in the world. Thanks to these resources, from the 8x1000 funds to the Catholic Church, 381 were funded in health initiatives and 160 in training.
CEI and CI contributed to this global initiative by financing 10 health projects in the capital Abidjan and in other cities which benefit from as many health facilities. Each of them, located mainly in the suburbs and rural areas, received between 10 and 15 thousand euros, according to the need and the number of beds in the facility.
Seven of these projects were accompanied by the NGOs Avsi and Soleterre, by the Missionary Community of Villaregia, which is entrusted to St. Laurent parish of Yopougon Kouté, and by the Consolata Missions Institute, a reality that has been operating in Ivory Coast for several years through human development and promotion projects. In addition to the preventive measures implemented by the Ivorian government and WHO, the national response has placed a strong emphasis on supporting and strengthening the health system.
The 4 bodies have accepted the invitation of CEI to collaborate to optimize aid and as a sign of unity between entities and organizations that recognize themselves in a common and shared service towards the poorest brothers. In addition to the provision of health equipment, the 7 projects aim to support initiatives for the awareness of the population, training and preparation of health personnel.
The ceremony will see the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio in Ivory Coast, Mgr. Paolo Borgia, representatives of the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the administrative authorities of the Ivorian city. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 5/8/2020)


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