The responders on the frontline of the pandemic
Across the American continent, more than half a million Red Cross volunteers have have stood side by side with their communities, in solidarity, to support them and to bring hope for a safer future. We wanted to mark the 12 months of this pandemic, by giving a name, face and voice to just some of these responders.
Santiago Arditi — Argentina Red Cross
“This has been a great challenge, but it has made me not only a better professional but also a better person. Being a responsible part of making decisions on issues as important as the biosecurity of all the personnel who worked at the centre, was an incomparable experience. Our knowledge was being tested all the time, and we learnt a lot. Having accomplished this task fills me with pride.
“Of course, it was not without struggles, but in those months, it was as though tiredness did not exist, we all wanted to be present and to play our part. The group effort saw each of us give our best, we helped each other, always with the same objective in mind: to help those that most needed it.”
Adna Sena — Brazilian Red Cross
“I began volunteering with the Brazilian Red Cross on the 4 May 2020. I already had the desire to be a volunteer for some time, but with the pandemic it became even more evident to me how important it was, because of the number of people needing help, a lot of the time, because of a lack of information.”
“I registered to become a volunteer on 28 April, at a time when a few people in my family had already been taken ill with COVID-19. Sadly, I lost my dear uncle just before I started as a volunteer. It was hard to keep going with my volunteering process but, for me, it became an even greater motivator. Sadly, after that I said goodbye to other people very close to me.”
“In those moments, I felt overwhelmed and I wanted to give up, but what made me keep going was the certainty of the important work that we do to help families so that they don’t have to go through what my family has suffered. When we help guide people during this time, give out food parcels, or bring a bit of happiness to children, that keeps me going.”
Doctor Victoria Toasa — Ecuadorian Red Cross
“The Red Cross exists to be at the service of all people, without discrimination. We have counted on specially trained personnel to provide care during this pandemic, they are the ones who have been able to respond quickly in the face of this humanitarian response, to help the world’s communities to stop the spread of COVID-19 and recover from its effects.
“I have seen how this virus has impacted all ages, from children to older people, as well as the most vulnerable and people with disabilities. Seeing how they and their families have been affected, not only in health but also financially and psychologically, has caused various emotions in me. I have also seen the reactions of others; I have observed feelings of gratitude as well as disappointment. All of these feelings I have been exposed to have helped me to grow as a professional.
“The pandemic affects everyone equally, although not in the same way. It is a great challenge at both the health and community level, so we should all contribute to prevent COVID-19 and take care of ourselves both socially and psychologically. This applies to those of us on the front line and also to those affected. We are stronger than we think, help us to continue to help you.”
Andrea Phillips — Guyana Red Cross
“When you look at the size and context of Guyana, you see there are many locations far from the capital city, we have a lot of small communities that do not have internet and that are only reached by radio or by people travelling into the community to share information. The Red Cross has been able to reach these remote areas. We have found that communities are very receptive to people who take the time to come to them, provide hygiene and cleaning supplies, share information, and give time for them to ask questions to ensure they clearly understand how to stay safe and healthy during COVID-19.”
“We have a dynamic team in Guyana. We’re a small, but hard-working group. Each person has a role and we have been able to complement each other to ensure we deliver what is needed. We have a passion for humanitarian work and there is a need for it, so that drives us too. It makes me extremely happy.
“We have volunteers that support a COVID-19, 24-hour hotline. They work the graveyard shift, the ones that go into the wee hours of the morning, and they have been consistent. Three of our volunteers contracted COVID-19, but this did not deter them. They contracted COVID-19, went home, isolated for 14 days, recovered, tested negative, and then went right back to volunteering. That shows commitment and that shows a passion for supporting the community.”
Luis Hernández — Mexican Red Cross
“For many, those affected by COVID-19 are just numbers or names, but we see and feel the frustration of people when they ask for help for their father, mother, brother and children.
“We have faced a medical service saturated by the number of patients, sometimes we have to wait long hours and travel long distances to find them a place in a hospital. When this happens, I say to myself a thousand and one times “I do the best I can”.
“The nights for almost a year have not been the same, I sleep because my body ends up exhausted, but still I do not rest. Nobody needs to tell me what a COVID hospital is like, how a COVID patient is affected, how their life can be taken in such a short time. But within all this darkness, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
“I remember the grateful faces of the relatives of COVID patients who I have helped, to who my words have transmitted a bit of calm throughout this storm. I am still afraid, because I am a human being, but these small actions and empathy with what we do keep me going.”
Jill De Bourg — Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross
“Our role continues to be important in this response. As an auxiliary to government, the Red Cross is uniquely positioned to support the state in responding to humanitarian challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It does not matter the crisis, we adapt to the unknown, evolve where necessary but more importantly we respond. We stand at the frontline in solidarity with our partners, with an ultimate desire to bring assistance without discrimination, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found.
“Our ability to mobilize human and financial resources through our international network and our local partners ensures that we were able to provide the much-needed support to vulnerable persons in real time. The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross continues to be a beacon of hope to all our communities.
“The pandemic has affected everyone personally and professionally. It has changed the way we view the world and each other. It has changed the way we socialise and how we communicate. In the Caribbean we are very warm people, hugs are everything and COVID-19 changed that. It has been difficult to accept the disappointment, hurt and challenges, this pandemic has brought with it but COVID-19 has also allowed me to witness the depth of my own resilience and showed me how much I have to be grateful for.
“At the community level we have seen hurt, disappointment, confusion and fear. People have lost jobs, their sense of security and with it their hope. In the same vein, people continue to look for something to believe in, with the expectation that something will blossom, something will change — things will evolve!
“In spite of the challenges this pandemic continues to convey, remember to love yourself, aim for balance, treasure those who mean a lot to you and wear your mask, wash your hands and watch your physical distance. Knowledge is power and you are more resilient than you think!”
By Teresa Goncalves, COVID-19 Communications Coordinator, IFRC Americas
