Remarks at the handover of Personal Protective Equipment
donated by the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI)
donated by the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The world is facing an unprecedented challenge with communities and economies everywhere being affected by the growing COVID-19 pandemic. The world is coming together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic bringing governments, organizations from across industries and sectors and individuals together to help respond to this global outbreak. The outpouring of global solidarity and support sparked by this shared challenge has been phenomenal.
I want to start today by acknowledging that even though COVID-19 has captured the world’s attention, there are still many other health issues people continue to face every single day, and that the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to work on.
Babies are still being born. Essential surgery is continuing. People still need emergency care after road traffic crashes; and they still need treatment for cancer, diabetes, HIV, malaria and many other diseases.
And for all of these, we need health workers. Today I want to send a personal and sincere thank you to every health worker around the Kingdom of Eswatini and assure you all my prayers: all the frontline workers especially doctors, nurses, support staff and volunteers
You do a heroic job. We know that this crisis is putting a huge burden on you and your families. We know you are stretched to the limit.
You have our admiration, our respect, and our commitment to doing everything we can to keep you safe and enable you to do your job.
You do a heroic job. We know that this crisis is putting a huge burden on you and your families. We know you are stretched to the limit.
You have our admiration, our respect, and our commitment to doing everything we can to keep you safe and enable you to do your job.
WHO has clear advice for governments, businesses and individuals.
First: prepare and be ready.
Every person must know the signs and symptoms and how to protect themselves and others.
Every health worker should be able to recognize this disease, provide care and know what to do with their patients.
Every health facility should be ready to cope with large numbers of patients, and ensure the safety of staff and patients.
Second: detect, protect and treat.
You can’t fight a virus if you don’t know where it is. Find, isolate, test and treat every case, to break the chains of transmission.
Every case we find and treat limits the expansion of the disease.
Third: reduce transmission.
Do not just let this fire burn.
First: prepare and be ready.
Every person must know the signs and symptoms and how to protect themselves and others.
Every health worker should be able to recognize this disease, provide care and know what to do with their patients.
Every health facility should be ready to cope with large numbers of patients, and ensure the safety of staff and patients.
Second: detect, protect and treat.
You can’t fight a virus if you don’t know where it is. Find, isolate, test and treat every case, to break the chains of transmission.
Every case we find and treat limits the expansion of the disease.
Third: reduce transmission.
Do not just let this fire burn.
Today we are happy to announce a donation of this very important PPE which include face masks, N95 masks, surgical gloves and sanitizers among others.
Together with food and water security, the Catholic Church in the Kingdom of Eswatini identified the provision of PPE as one of our priorities addressing this pandemic. It is a sign of our support and commitment to you, health workers, to keep you safe and enable you to do your job.
The recipients include Good Shepherd Hospital, Our Lady of Sorrows, Regina Mundi, St Mary’s, Florence, St Theresa’s, St Juliana, Hope House and St Phillip’s clinics.
This donation is for me “unique”. It comes through the Catholic Church in Italy. The Italian Bishops’ Conference decided to put some money aside to help institutions in our continent. We submitted a project and it was quickly approved.
In fact, they have supported two projects in Eswatini:
It is “unique” because you might be aware that Italy has been going through very difficult times because of this pandemic. They had a very long quarantine and their economy has been badly affected. Many people died. Still, all this did not stop them from thinking of others in their need. Mercy has no borders. Mercy does not stop at the border of a country.
It brings back to my mind the parable of the Good Samaritan when Jesus asked the lawyer: “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Lk 10: 36 – 36)
“Go and do likewise” seems to be the message of this donation. Hope and pray we never close our eyes to the suffering of others and never feel our need is such that we are unable to care for others in a similar situation.
May God bless you those who made this donation possible. May He bless all our health workers. May God bless you all.
The recipients include Good Shepherd Hospital, Our Lady of Sorrows, Regina Mundi, St Mary’s, Florence, St Theresa’s, St Juliana, Hope House and St Phillip’s clinics.
This donation is for me “unique”. It comes through the Catholic Church in Italy. The Italian Bishops’ Conference decided to put some money aside to help institutions in our continent. We submitted a project and it was quickly approved.
In fact, they have supported two projects in Eswatini:
- E 565 875.70 has been granted for personal protective equipment and
- E 188 622.00 for COVID19 awareness projects in the country.
It is “unique” because you might be aware that Italy has been going through very difficult times because of this pandemic. They had a very long quarantine and their economy has been badly affected. Many people died. Still, all this did not stop them from thinking of others in their need. Mercy has no borders. Mercy does not stop at the border of a country.
It brings back to my mind the parable of the Good Samaritan when Jesus asked the lawyer: “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Lk 10: 36 – 36)
“Go and do likewise” seems to be the message of this donation. Hope and pray we never close our eyes to the suffering of others and never feel our need is such that we are unable to care for others in a similar situation.
May God bless you those who made this donation possible. May He bless all our health workers. May God bless you all.
