Philippines: Diocese opens health centres in all parishes during pandemic

image Fides

Source: Fides

A diocese in the Philippines has decided to establish a health facility in every parish, to help meet the needs of the population in the midst of the pandemic, as hospitals struggle to cope with the increase in patient numbers.

Mgr Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan, in the Metro Manila area, said: "the Diocese wants to take care of people's spiritual and physical well-being."

Explaining that the initiative is a concrete response of the local Church to Covid-19 , the Bishop said he had asked all parishes to equip and organize a medical health centre or clinic, inviting priests and laity to mobilize volunteers, doctors and nurses to help people infected with Covid but also suffering from other diseases.

The diocese provides medicines and equipment for all patients. "We want them to feel that we care for them, not only spiritually but also physically, psychologically and emotionally," said the Bishop.

The Diocese of Kalookan has 31 parishes and 15 mission stations in the cities of Navotas, Malabon and Caloocan. In recent weeks, the country has faced a wave of Covid cases in and around Metro Manila and four adjacent provinces.

The country has imposed strict lockdown measures which have affected religious gatherings and services. All public religious services in churches in the Manila capital region and in the provinces of Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan have been stopped.

A lockdown regime has been in place in Metro Manila and neighbouring provinces since last month. Most hospitals across the country have reached the limit of their capacity.