Fijian missionary helps poor in midst of COVID-19 panic
AS the Philippines recorded its eighth death to COVID-19 on Saturday, a Fijian Catholic missionary serving in Cebu City described how they had to reach out to the homeless in the midst of the deadly pandemic.
Iva Dicau Cagiveitala, originally from Naweni, Savusavu, in Cakaudrove has been serving as a Catholic Church missionary in the Philippines for the past five years.
Sharing her experience with The Fiji Times yesterday, she said in the midst of travel restrictions imposed by national and local governments, they not only had to keep themselves safe, but as missionaries had to look after the wellbeing of the poor they served on a daily basis.
“We still opened our doors to more than 30 hungry street dwellers who came to us yesterday for food,” she said.
“We know the risk of exposure is there, but in this Lenten season, as Christians, we are being called to go the extra mile, to offer sacrifice, to fast and pray fervently.
“Perhaps, our reaching out to our homeless brothers and sisters in the hype of this COVID-19 pandemic is one way of expressing our faith in our compassionate God and trying to enflesh the gospel of Jesus’ love — by laying down one’s life for others.”
Ms Cagiveitala said they were trying to get all their supplies in stock as travel restrictions were in place and schools would be closed from today.
“There were many panic buyers as people tried to stock up on food and medical supplies.
“Even I was supposed to have my two weeks’ vacation in Cagayan de Oro (another island in the Mindanao region), but have decided to cancel it and just stay home,” she said.
“We’re stocking up on food; canned foods, milk and these days people are mainly stocking up on alcohol hand rub/ sanitiser and vitamin C.
“On Friday I went shopping for our supplies and most consumers are allowed only two bottles (365mls) each of alcohol hand rub/sanitiser.
“Luckily there were three of us and so we managed to buy six for the 10 plus people we are living with.
“Vitamin C is also something we’re buying a lot. In our community, we have more than 10 elderly sisters, more than 10 staff and more than 10 construction workers who live in the same premises with us as healthcare workers; we provide our people with health education, on preventative measures on how to minimise the spread of the deadly virus, proper hand hygiene, avoiding crowded places, eating a healthy diet, taking vitamin C to boost immunity and avoid travelling.”
Ms Cagiveitala said there were also travel bans within the country.
“We can only hope and pray that not many people will be infected and those afflicted with coronavirus will be healed. Filipinos are very devoted and religious people, I’m sure their faith will certainly get them through this time of trial.”
The Philippines has recorded 98 confirmed cases of COVID-19.