Bunting pitches Good Neighbour to MPs - Manchester Central vulnerable get COVID-19 assistance

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

Manchester Central Member of Parliament Peter Bunting has launched a Good Neighbour initiative to recruit an army of helpers for the elderly and other groups vulnerable to displacement from COVID-19, the viral disease that has crippled commerce and triggered restrictions on mass assemblies.

The Jamaican Government has ordered people aged 75 years and older to stay home because global trends indicate that the elderly, especially those with underlying medical conditions, are at heightened risk of infection and death from the novel coronavirus. Public-sector workers aged 65 and older have also been told to work from home, with exemptions applying to some employees.

COVID-19 has infected more than 700,000 globally, killing 33,000 – and counting. In Jamaica, there have been 36 confirmed cases and one death.

Bunting’s Good Neighbour programme aims to limit exposure to SARS-CoV-2 by coordinating and deploying volunteers to lend assistance, including to the disabled and those placed in isolation.

The initiative, which was launched on Friday, March 27, has volunteers grouped in three categories: to run errands to supermarkets, pharmacies, and restaurants; to transport high-risk individuals to and from specific locations, including for medical attention; and to offer companionship via phone.

Sections of Manchester Central, like Marshall’s Pen, Mandeville, and Ingleside, have relatively high-demand retirement communities. Bunting said that Electoral Office of Jamaica data showed that the constituency has 13.4 per cent more persons aged 65 and over on its voters’ list than the national average. Approximately 6,500 of the voters’ list complement of 38,000-plus are in that age cohort.

“So this confirms that we have more retirees than average,” he said.

“As elected individuals, we are required to touch base with our constituents, but we realised that we would need a bigger group to not just be able to run errands for particularly older persons who may not have their families around, but just to call and check on them,” Bunting told The Gleaner.

“The thought of isolation, they may get lonely and fall to depression. ... Having realised this, and having seen the volunteers of the National Youth Service in the UK, we developed this,” he added.

The MP said that he was willing to share a concept template with colleague MPs, political directors, and non-governmental organisations to plug the gap islandwide.

“I would love to see this across Jamaica. What is interesting is that since we have set up the contact numbers, two-thirds of the people who have contacted us are not actually from the constituency or even the parish, so there is clearly a need.

“... I couldn’t take on a national effort, but I could work with the Ministry of Health to scale it up to a national level.”

At the close of day on Friday, Bunting said that his team had recorded a few dozen volunteers and was anticipating even more calls from those who needed assistance.

“In terms of the persons who we want to assist, we may have to not just only rely on them to reach out, so I have sent out word to the Social Development Commission, colleagues, and church groups so they can help us identify those who are in need.”

While there are no fees associated with the services, beneficiaries are expected to pay for their groceries, medications, and other items to be purchased. All volunteers will be screened, logged into a database, and then matched with those who require the services.

Though motivated by the pandemic, Bunting told The Gleaner that he hopes the initiative can be sustained over time, particularly for persons with disabilities and the elderly who may need ongoing support.

To volunteer or request assistance, call (876) 962-3416, WhatsApp (876) 824-7198, or email goodneighbour@bunting.org.jm.