The “Helping Algarve” movement, launched by a group of foreign residents in the region and which «quickly joined some businessmen and individuals», raised more than 350 thousand euros in just one week to buy equipment to help the National Health Service the Algarve to fight the Covid-19 epidemic.
The first equipment purchased with the money raised, a portable X-ray, will be delivered tomorrow, Tuesday, at the Hospital de Faro. Next, more "necessary equipment for the protection of health professionals and for the provision of adequate health care to those in need of treatment" will arrive.
The funds raised were donated by a group of 60 patrons, who agreed to the “Helping Algarve” appeal. And whoever wants, can also join, participating in the fundraising that takes place online.
According to its creators, the movement arose “from the recognition that the Portuguese Central Administration does not have the capacity to meet the equipment needs with the necessary speed. The Algarve's local hospitals – Faro, Portimão and Lagos (University Hospital Center of the Algarve) – need external help from the State Budget to avoid getting into a situation of chaos and disruption. This amount will allow doctors, nurses and other staff to work in a safe environment, and hospitals to provide medical care at the level that the current situation demands.”
“Collectively, we can help stop this scourge by donating money to our local hospital system and helping healthcare professionals who are on the front lines. That's what we did: we united for a cause that, having arisen through the initiative of the foreign community residing here, will benefit the entire population. In addition to the amount already raised, a page was also launched Go fund me to publicize this initiative and allow those who want to contribute to do so in an easy and accessible way. Everyone can help», summed up Duncan Irvine, spokesperson for the “Helping Algarve” movement.
The help raised will reach hospitals through the Academic Center for Research and Biomedical Training of the Algarve (Algarve Biomedical Center — ABC), with which the movement is "in direct contact".
«This institution is providing first-rate assistance in the fight against Covid-19, being able to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare professionals at the University Hospital Center of the Algarve who are providing direct assistance to Covid-19 patients , as well as ventilators and other equipment needed in the fight against the pandemic in the various hospital units in the region - with special emphasis on the Hospital de Faro, the largest in size and the nerve center of the University Hospital Center of the Algarve», said the spokesperson for the movement.
«The Academic Center for Research and Biomedical Training of the Algarve, by its very nature, has the capacity to act without the limitations of the bureaucratic procedures of the hospital system and, in this way, will be able to apply the funds and equipment acquired in a much faster way than than usual, being in charge by the Central Administration of this provisioning and of carrying out tests on Covid-19. As a public institution, it is legally bound by a duty of transparency in the way all donations are processed and how they are invested”, added Duncan Irvine.
As for the portable X-ray that will be delivered tomorrow, it was ordered by ABC «less than 48 hours after the delivery of the first donation from this initiative, a fact that, if confirmed as we all wish, will be the first demonstration of its effectiveness».
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