The Portimão City Council, represented by President Isilda Golmes, delivered, this Friday, February 11, at the Portimão unit of CHUA - Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve, 51 hearts in cloth, entitled "Amor cura", to mark the World Day of the Sick.
This symbolic action, which gives continuity to the existing partnership project between the municipality of Portimão and CHUA, is the result of «an activity carried out by users of the Senior Social Centers in Aldeia das Sobreiras and Portimão», with Isilda Gomes stating at the time that «this symbolic gesture arises from the respect, admiration and esteem that the community has for the work that is carried out here, from a professional pride to the fullest».
The mayor also addressed words of gratitude to the participants in the initiative: “The love felt in the Social Centers once again overflowed and the affection dedicated to this project, made by your hands under the happy motto “O Amor Cura” , it only reinforces the idea that love is fundamental in all our actions… Without it, life becomes vain, lonely, and we will leave nothing here».
According to Isilda Gomes, «the biggest concern and mobilization for the life of each one should be that people remember us, not for what we have, but for what we are and for what we do for others».
“These treats go in that direction, as they freely express the love that heals, even more important these days, because the pandemic has even taken away the possibility of expressing feelings and hugging and kissing those closest to us”, stressed the councilor, before defending that «a smile, a hand on the shoulder, a friendly and comforting word, sometimes have a better effect than any medicine».
For Ana Ventura, responsible for Social Services at CHUA – Unidade Hospitalar de Portimão, the partnership established with the municipality in the context of social action «is fantastic and results in spectacular work for our patients, as happened last Christmas, when users of the senior social centers in the municipality made cribs for the children of Pediatrics, who colored them in enchantment».
«These wonderful ladies were once again extraordinary in the confection of the hearts, which will be offered to the surgery patients», said Ana Ventura, considering it to be «a simple and at the same time grandiose gesture».
«Actions of this kind are extremely important, not only for patients, but also for those who are in the social centers and feel the recognition of their gifts and attributes, at a very sensitive stage of life», underlined the coordinator of the CHUA Social Service.
In the view of Maria do Carmo Cruz, director of the CHUA – Portimão Psychiatry and Mental Health Service, «when these ladies design such exquisite works, they are exercising their brain and their well-being, which represents an added value for mental health. It is precisely for this reason that a multidisciplinary community team will be created, with the participation of the city council, in the sense of working in the community, namely with the senior social centers, motivating this type of actions».
Before the pandemic, the Senior Social Center in Portimão and the community centers in the municipality made layettes, which were offered to the Pediatrics service, and the partnership between the Chamber and CHUA was resumed with the extension to the adults, which at Christmas In the past, they created half a hundred cloth nativity scenes for the hospitalized children, always together with the respective social animators.
Covid-19 also made this project gain more meaning, since people in hospital were deprived of physical contact with family and friends, of their affection and attention, so this is a way of filling the lack of affection in a delicate moment in life, when patients are most vulnerable, in a hospital bed.
Throughout 2022, more actions of this kind will be promoted, within the scope of reference dates, such as Children's Day, Grandparents' Day or Elderly Day, among others.
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