The Covid Care and Compassion Centre will be housed at the Pedro Arrupe Institute in Raia. Captured by : Joseph Assis Fernandes / Wikimedia Commons
PANAJI
The Jesuits of Goa Province have started free Covid care services in the State and as part of this initiative, will start the Covid Care and Compassion Centre at Pedro Arrupe Institute (PAI) in Raia on Thursday.
In an effort to offer support to those affected by Covid in the State, the Jesuits and their collaborators will provide food, medicines, and emergency services to those who in need of assistance.
The Jesuits have begun to provide care and relief with the help of their partners in mission like friends, family, staff, alumni and benefactors.
The PAI Covid Care and Compassion Centre at Raia, which is approved by the government, will be opened on Thursday and will have 30 self-contained rooms to cater to patients who are asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic or with mild symptoms as well as those who need home isolation. The patients will be monitored and guided by a panel of doctors.
These facilities will be made available to the people of all faiths in the State and efforts would be made to reach out to the poor and needy and those who have no home-isolation facilities.
Besides, rooms will also be available for quarantine at various Jesuit houses.
Counselling and spiritual direction will be available for those who need to talk to a friendly person who will listen to their fears and support them as they face these challenges
In addition, online Masses for Covid patients, their family members and for any family who needs them, medical kits for those who test positive, awareness, preventive kits, and immunity boosters (sanitisers, masks, vitamins, etc.) for the poor, rations for the poor and migrants and tele-consultancy services for those who do not have a family doctor will also be offered by the Jesuits in the State.
In order to implement these services, the Jesuits have also appealed for a helping hand to reach out to others. They have sought the services of volunteers (especially nurses), medical equipment, medicines, financial support and prayers.
The Jesuits have received the support and collaboration from LESA-President Vernon Xavier, Ignatian Laity team lead by Pascoal B Noronha and a team of doctors lead by Dr Brennan Tavares.
Further details of the PAI Covid Care and Compassion Centre are available with Fr Pedro Rodrigues (Ph: 9822935203), Fr Orville de Silva (Ph: 7083248496), Vernon Xavier (Ph: 9823360536), Pascoal B Noronha (Ph: 9822123497), while details of the Jesuits services are available with Fr Simon Fernandes - Relief Coordinator (Ph: 9421289724) and Fr Merwin D’Souza “ Fund raising (Ph: 9871588406).
