The City of Rio de Janeiro has partnered with the Sportingbet website, owned by GVC Holdings PLC, one of the largest sports betting and gaming groups in the world, to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The city of Rio received 16,000 basic food baskets that will be donated to families with confirmed cases of coronavirus and people in risk groups.
“At City Hall, we act to fight the virus and treat patients in the best possible way. But there is another front that is the humanitarian one, for the families of those who are unable to work and have their livelihood. We are buying basic food baskets and distributing them, but the solidary support of companies is very welcome and essential currently. The time is for union and partnership for the good of people,” says Rio’s Mayor Marcelo Crivella.
In the opinion of the general director of GVC Holdings PLC, Marcus Silva, the moment is delicate and demands a joint effort to fight the coronavirus. “We support the fight against the pandemic, especially in the epicenters of the disease, such as Rio de Janeiro. It is time to help families affected by this serious health crisis and social distancing,” says Silva.
There will be 16 points for the distribution of basic food baskets, considering referral and campaign hospitals, Emergency Care Units (UPA), Family Clinics, and Tarpaulins and Arenas of Culture. Families with confirmed cases of COVID-19 and people in risk groups (the elderly, smokers and people with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma) will have priority in receiving the basic food basket. Each distribution point will deliver up to 500 units per day, in two shifts, in order to avoid crowding people.
“In addition to families affected by COVID-19 and people in groups at risk, our goal is also to provide assistance to those who have been economically affected by the pandemic but are not registered in any social program. We are doing what we can to quickly resolve the issue of deliveries and include everyone in need,” says Tia Ju, municipal secretary for Social Assistance and Human Rights.
Partnership
In addition to the Social Assistance Secretariat, the Municipal Secretariat of Health, the Municipal Secretariat for People with Disabilities and Technology, the Secretariat for Healthy Aging and the Municipal Secretariat for Culture also participate in this joint effort to distribute basic food baskets.
“We are dealing with a complex problem that has changed the daily lives of people in Brazil and the world. And we believe that the partnership between public, private and civil society is the most effective way to reduce the effects of the crisis that we are experiencing and that directly affects all sectors of society: health, economics, politics and, of course, culture,” says the municipal secretary of Culture, Adolfo Konder.
“It is essential that the Secretariat for Healthy Aging participate in this action, since the elderly are part of the risk group and must stay at home. We are doing remote monitoring of these elderly people and we noticed that many of them were in a situation of food insecurity. Now, with the help of the private sector, we can complement the food of those who need it most. It is certainly the best bet that Sportingbet has ever made,” evaluates the Municipal Secretary for Healthy Aging, Thiago Almeida.
“I want to thank Sportingbet for the donations, which will help many families that currently need support. It is a union of efforts in favor of the population of Rio de Janeiro,” thanks the secretary of People with Disabilities and Technology, Marco San.
“The union of efforts to help the most vulnerable in this difficult time will be remembered forever. I appreciate the support of the partners on behalf of each person benefited,” adds the Municipal Health Secretary, Beatriz Busch.
The basic baskets contain: rice, beans, soy oil, cornmeal, refined sugar, salt, coffee, powdered chocolate, spaghetti pasta with eggs, wheat flour, tomato paste, stuffed biscuit, whole powdered milk, seasoning complete and soap.
The donation is part of the efforts of Sportingbet, owned by GVC Holdings PLC, one of the largest sports betting and gaming groups in the world, to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to Brazil, the group also made donations to the Department of Health and Social Assistance of the National Health Service in England; and public hospitals in Italy and Gibraltar. In addition, it promotes charitable poker events in different countries with funds raised for local hospitals.
Source: GMB
