Bakhita Canossa Beat COVID19: Help Us Provide Ration & Fight Hunger

Introduction:

The Bakhita Foundation is situated along a side street of E. Rodriguez Avenue in Barangay Kalusugan, a brief five-minute walk to two major prestigious medical institutions, St. Luke’s Medical Center and De Los Santos Medical Center. Both are respected and recognized healthcare institutions, and are considered amongst the top hospitals in the country.

When the COVID-19 virus struck The Philippines, Barangay Kalusugan was amongst the first villages in Quezon City where the infected cases spread uncontrollably. The Philippine Government called for a national lockdown on 17 March 2020 and placed Luzon under Extreme Enhanced Quarantine due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. This led to the closure of the road of E. Rodriguez (Broadway-Trinity) together with all the food stalls (canteens, fast food chains, SMEs, etc.) along that road, with strong military presence surrounding the whole perimeter to contain the virus.

Both hospitals were among the first responders to the situation, but sadly were not adequately prepared. The number of patients going into their facilities suddenly filled to capacity forcing them to give an official announcement that they could not accept any more people.

The Government intervened by deploying military and national police to keep order in place since the neighborhood was chaotic. With security personnel operating checkpoints within the vicinity 24/7 to enforce the Extreme Enhanced Quarantine, 639 vulnerable households including the homeless families roaming around the area, have no access to food and medicine.

About 110 medical volunteers assisted the hospitals as frontliners, including medical, administrative, logistical and janitorial staff, have also been deployed on the ground to assist these households and families. These frontliners, who have been working tirelessly, need food to sustain their physical health, even if they barely slept.

Beneficiaries:

• 639 vulnerable households and homeless families in Barangay Kalusugan
• 110 medical frontliners and volunteers

Project Implementation:

Relief Food Packs will be sent to the 639 affected needy families and households. Each Relief Food Pack has enough food supply to last each household for 30 days. Each family will also receive Vitamin C supplements to keep them healthy.

We will also be providing one meal a day (for 30 days) for each medical volunteer on the ground assisting with these households.

Budget:

Detailed Breakdown of each Relief Food Pack

Total Budget Required