916,650 benefit from QRCS response to Covid-19 in Panama
Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has concluded a Covid-19 pandemic control project in Panama at a total cost of $20,000.
The project is aimed at supporting public authorities and the fellow national society in the fight against Covid-19; reaching out to vulnerable communities that have high sources of coronavirus contamination; and delivering food, medical and protective aid to inaccessible areas, QRCS has said in a statement.
Under the project, food parcels, personal protection equipment, cleaning supplies and medicines were distributed under the supervision of Larissa Rodríguez, general director of the Panamanian Red Cross.
About 916,650 people were directly reached out (51% men and 49% women) in three provinces: Colon, Panama Oeste and
Veraguas, covering more than 80% of the country’s total population highly affected by the pandemic, the statement noted.
Several partners were involved in the implementation of the project, including International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Spanish Red Cross.
In addition, volunteers of the Panamanian Red Cross launched community awareness campaigns to send messages to the public about the risks and prevention of the virus.
An all-terrain vehicle was purchased to help with the humanitarian work of the Panamanian Red Cross Emergency Operations Centre.
The project is part of QRCS’ initiative to back the fellow national societies in 22 countries across six continents, aimed at protecting 320,000 people against the virus, with a total budget of QR2,236,827, the statement added.
These countries are Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Laos, Vanuatu, Ethiopia, Chad, Senegal, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Mali, Sierra Leone, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Venezuela, El Salvador, Peru and Panama.
The list of activities conducted by QRCS in support of these countries includes the provision of equipment and supplies for health facilities, provision of medicines and medical supplies, protection for medical professionals and volunteers, provision of food and shelter for families worst affected by loss of income, and provision of protective supplies (masks, gloves, sanitisers, etc).