The Portuguese Red Cross (CVP) is carrying out an “internal assessment” of its delegation in Beja, where it will close two houses to study ways to improve the remaining premises, the president of the institution confirmed this Wednesday to the Lusa agency.
The work, which began on Monday, is being carried out by a “multi-purpose team” created by the CVP to assess “the most problematic delegations, either in terms of their financial situation or in terms of the skills they have,” according to António Saraiva. develop”.
“This is an internal working group that approaches delegations to study the situation and see opportunities for improvement,” he explained, adding that this group has already visited the Faro delegation and will also evaluate other delegations in the center and north of the country. .
The CVP President also stated that ongoing work is aimed at “assessing areas that can be expanded, those that can be changed, and the treasury support needed.”
“[A avaliação em] Beja joins the other detainees. We take an “X-ray” so that we can see from it how best to treat the “patient,” he emphasized.
This internal assessment by the Beja delegation came after the CVP announced in April this year that it would close until July 31 its two homes in the city, the Henri Dunant and José António Márquez nursing homes, which initially employed around 60 people by 2024. users.
“The decision to close the houses was made because they did not have minimum conditions. […] so that 60 people live in these houses. We were in danger of a catastrophe there,” António Saraiva reiterated this Wednesday.
When asked by Lusa whether it was also possible to close the delegation of CVP Beja, which, in addition to two houses, has home support, emergency care and medical assistance, the president of the institution answered “no”.
“We are not going to give up other functions,” he assured, noting that “from the very beginning” there have been negotiations with the city council and with the Santa Casa da Miseriórdia de Beja in order to “in partnership expand the capabilities and make the most of the people.”
The closure of two CVP houses in Beja prompted a protest in the city on 4 June, organized by the Movement for the Protection of Users, Families and Workers of Red Cross Houses in Beja, in which approximately 30 people, including staff, took part. , family members of users and members of the public.
About 15 employees present at the protest near the Henri Dunant holiday home explained to reporters that this is the only CVP house still open in Beja, as the José Antonio Márquez holiday home closed “last week”.
On this occasion, the institution said in a statement that it is holding “weekly meetings with the competent authorities in order to find the best solution for the 33 people who still remain” in the two social reactions.
As for the staff at the two homes, the CVP confirmed it was “not possible” to move them to its other social services agencies, suggesting it was “establishing contacts with major employers in the region with a view to finding vocational solutions for the largest number of workers”.
The closure of CVP houses in Beja also led MURPI – the Unitarian Movement of Pensioners and Older People – to “show solidarity with the elderly people and their families who have been victims of this unjustifiable decision”, in a statement sent to Lusa.
“Since the Red Cross is a private social solidarity institution that receives public support, it is questionable how much social welfare intervention will be involved in this problem,” the note also states.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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