<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The pandemic triggered by
\nthe new COVID-19 caused fatalities all over the world. We are well aware of
\nthat. But we are also aware of the fact that its tragic aftermath has so far
\nfavoured the strengthening of human solidarity and cooperation. In Romania, a
\ngreat many non-governmental associations and civic or private initiatives
\nsupport vulnerable areas, as well as the natural persons worst-hit by the
\npandemic’s socio-economic aftermath. A telling example of that is the Emergency
\nFund for Hospitals. It was created as early as the initial stage of the
\nCOVID-19 outbreak by the Save Romania Children Association. The association has
\nfor many years now been jointly working with maternities and medical units.
\nThese days, the money donated by companies or natural persons for the Emergency
\nFund is earmarked to those who have been on the frontline in the fight against
\nCOVID-19. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The representative of the Save the
\nChildren Association, Stefania Mircea:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The
\nRomanian medical system has engaged in the war against the vulnerabilities we
\nare familiar with, so it was all the more needed for us to be responsible and
\nstay united. Everybody’s lives depend on the medical staff that has been on the
\nbarricades, and a doctor who is deprived of protection is putting his own life
\nin danger, at once jeopardising the lives of the people around him. The medical
\ndoctor and the medical staff are, unfortunately, the most exposed to that,
\nsince they do not stay at home. They are on the frontline in the fight against
\npandemic, a scourge that, as we all know, has claimed the lives of so many
\npeople around the world. Besides, with no protection equipment, with no medical
\nequipment, they cannot save us, and they cannot save themselves either. We have
\nbeen receiving demands from medical doctors countrywide who need medical or
\nprotection equipment. We record their application in a registry and, with our
\ndonations, we try to reach the destinations where our stuff is most needed.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A bank account has been
\nopened for this emergency fund. Prospective donors can use it, and they can
\nalso use a text message for that. So far, the donated sum amounts to roughly
\n500,000 Euros. Of that, around 135,000 Euros have been spent for medical
\nequipment and materials. 35 medical and patients’ care units as well as 74
\nfamily doctors’ offices in 17 counties have benefited from the aid provided by
\nthe Save the Children Association. Medical ventilators, a portable echography scanner
\nkit, disinfection devices, cleaning and disinfection kits for hospital wards
\nand operating theatres have been donated, as well as gloves, bonnets, hospital
\nbooties, overalls, visors. Three incubators for premature babies have also been
\ndonated, as well as disinfection solutions. But the most impressive aspect of
\nthis campaign was the mobilization of the laypeople. Of the total sum of money
\nthat has been donated, 92,000 Euros have been donated by natural persons. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Stefania Mircea:<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is so
\nimpressive to be able to see how laypersons have understood that solidarity was
\nmost needed. Even one of the medical doctors we have worked with has launched
\nan appeal to his patients, and people donated various sums of money, ranging
\nfrom small sums to bigger sums, in a bid to help the medical system. It is so
\nimpressive. So often we have heard that the crisis we are going through is
\ntantamount to going through a war. That is why the need to be humane was so
\ngreat. In times of crisis, people are quick to help the others and from the
\nbottom of our heart we thank those who have
\noffered their support so far, also making an appeal to the people, to continue
\nto get involved and donate, no matter how much or how little, and under what
\nform. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The elderly, especially the
\nneedy and the lonely, have also been among those most exposed to danger during
\nthe pandemic. The SNK Association, through its Seneca Ecologos and Seneca
\nPublishers, Romania’s first green publisher, during the pandemic, has been
\ndoing what it has done before: promoting responsibility, this time towards the
\nelderly, through Our grandparents,
\nwhich is one of their programs. The program kicked off under the slogan We
\nprovide safe donations and deliveries of food and hygiene products for the
\nvulnerable elderly people. Initially, the project was thought out for only one
\nmonth, but its scope turned out to be broader afterwards as, providing help for
\nthe elderly, the people working with the Seneca Association have also
\ndiscovered other categories of vulnerable persons, day labourers, single
\nmothers, people who have been made redundant or furlough employees. That is why
\ndonations were most needed, made by companies or natural persons. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The representative of the SNK Association, Anastasia
\nStaicu:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For the first
\nmonth, we approached 85 grandparents, while at the moment we provide help for
\n700 people in 24 counties and more than 30 localities. We have also reached the
\noutlying areas. We offer our help in Bucharest, that’s for sure, but we also
\ntry to reach various areas countrywide, the less accessible places. For the
\nfirst month alone, the project was implemented using the Association’s
\nfinancial resources. Then we spread the news we would like to carry on, so more
\npeople joined us, thousands of people of the Declic community, all of them
\ndonated sums of money. And their donations overwhelmed us. The sum amounted to
\nas much 80,000 Euros, or thereabouts and with that sum we can provide help for
\nsome 700 people every month. We work following a weekly plan, and we do not
\nhave only individual cases. For instance, we also help 250 people placed in 15
\nelderly care homes in Giurgiu ( in the south). Also in Giurgiu, we offered
\npacks to child care centers and to care centers for people with disabilities.
\nEverything we have received helps us a great deal, so that in turn we may carry
\non with our help. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Every week, SNK volunteers deliver
\nthree self-contained packs, with food and hygiene products: milk, bread, potted
\ntomato sauce and vegetable stew, carrots, lemons, toothpaste, soap and kitchen
\ntowels. As for the project itself, it may continue as soon as the state of
\nemergency ends and restrictions are gradually eased. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Anastasia Staicu:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We shall carry
\non as much as we can afford it,
\nresource-wise. Also, we shall do that as long as the state of alert is in
\nplace. However, in a couple of months’ time we hope solutions can be found at
\nstate level. All private aid initiatives, for the time being, are a shield
\nprotecting those who are most vulnerable in times of crisis, but we keep our
\nhopes alive that, later on, the authorities will also intervene to do their
\njob.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Until then, one of the most
\nsensible gains of this extremely difficult period is provided by the solidarity
\nprivate donors have shown so far.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Romanian NGOs help the disabled and the needy in times of crisis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":143545,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42997],"tags":[43807,35416,35426],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-143544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-society-today","tag-disabilities","tag-pandemic","tag-resources"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n