87% of administered vaccines have so far gone to high-income or upper-middle income countries while low-income countries have received only 0.2% of available vaccines.
The Jesuits' Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat in Rome has added its voice to the growing calls advocating for equity and justice in the production and distribution of vaccines.
Fr. Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, said: “COVID-19 is showing us that we are one humanity and how overcoming a crisis is possible when we become aware of the importance of looking after the common good and taking seriously our own individual responsibility. We can only live as one body.”
Read the full statement here.
During the pandemic, Jesuit Missions here in the UK has been providing emergency aid to marginalised communities around the world. Fr Rufaro Admire Nhika SJ described the impact of the coronavirus in Zimbabwe, “The impact of COVID-19 has led to many people getting to destitution levels…The lockdowns have rendered many jobless. As many survive from hand to mouth, the situation is dire.”
Many of the world’s poorest are day labourers and when work is put on pause during lockdowns, they simply cannot afford to feed their families. Emergency food aid is been a great relief to many families.
UNICEF has warned of lost generation as COVID-19 threatens to cause irreversible harm to children’s education, nutrition and well-being. Jesuit Missions is supporting Chikuni Radio Station in Zambia which is broadcasting school lessons across the country for children when the country is in lockdown.
So far, over 60,000 people have been supported through Jesuit Missions’ COVID-19 appeal. This includes marginalised communities in India that are currently suffering from a surge in COVID-19 cases.
