A group of business owners and residents in Quinta do Lago have raised over €300,000 to buy much-needed equipment and improve working conditions for health professionals in the Algarve. Now, they are calling on everyone to make a donation.
The group, named ‘Flattening the Curve’, has launched a GoFundMe page where anyone can make a donation in order to reach the €100,000 target. In less than one day and with little to no exposure, the fundraiser has already amassed €2,500 in donations.
The money will go to the Algarve Biomedical Centre (ABC), the consortium which is leading many of the region’s initiatives to contain the pandemic (click here).
“The rapid spread of the coronavirus is an enemy we have to face and fight together,” says the group.
“Collectively we can help stop this from spreading by donating money to the health system locally for the frontline professionals. They do not currently have all the necessary equipment to ensure their safety and provide the best effective care to those that require treatment,” it adds.
With the government being “unable to provide all essential equipment quickly enough,” the group aims to “fill this void” and allow doctors, nurses and other staff members to “work in a safe environment”.
“This is your local hospital group which you will need if you become infected. We should all be doing our bit to support them,” the local residents say.
The group is in close contact with the ABC, which can supply the Algarve University Hospital Centre (which manages the region’s three public hospitals) with “adequate protective clothing for health professionals as well as ventilators and any other equipment needed” to fight the pandemic.
Says the group, “ABC bypasses the normal administrative red tape of the hospital system, so it can get the funds and equipment where they are needed a lot quicker than normal.
“Commissioned by the government for some time to provide Covid-19 equipment and testing, ABC as a public entity is bound by a legal duty of transparency on where all donations go and how they are invested,” it explains.
“If each of us donates meaningfully, we can make a huge difference, help save many lives and protect our community and loved ones. Lastly, do not sit back having made a donation, please ask others to donate to this cause. Spread the word, not the virus.”
(Click here) to make a donation on the group’s GoFundMe page.
People can also transfer their donations directly to the Algarve Biomedical Centre’s bank account.
Transfers made from Portugal:
Name: Algarve Biomedical Centre
IBAN: PT50 0035 0303 0010 5008 130 31
Reference: “FTC” and then your name
For international transfers:
Name: AD CENTRO ACADEMICO IFBA AD ABC
Reference: “FTC” and then your name
Account: 0303105008130 – EUR – Contra Extracto
IBAN: PT50 0035 0303 0010 5008 130 31
BIC/SWIFT: CGDIPTPL
BANK: Av. João XXl, no 63, 1000-300 LISBOA
