The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Mexico began distributing thousands of antibacterial gel bottles or hand sanitizers this week to persons over 65 with chronic diseases and special needs, as cases of the coronavirus increase in the country.

As of Mar. 25, Mexico’s Federal Health Secretary reported that there were six deaths as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, 475 confirmed cases, and some 1,656 suspected cases.

More than 180 ADRA volunteers, most of whom are church members, took to the designated homes and busy streets in Mexico City, on Mar. 21, 2020, to bring about more awareness of the preventive measures put in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Dozens of church member volunteers also distributed informative flyers and 5,000 specially marked hand sanitizers in Monterrey, in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, to elders, health professionals and patients in hospitals, as well as government personnel who are working around the clock to provide safety measures in cities and communities.

“We know that prevention is important at this time, so we thought of this first response to benefit the most vulnerable sectors,” said Jorge Garcia, ADRA Mexico country director. Garcia explained that most of the positive cases were found in Mexico City and Monterrey, so ADRA Mexico focused on mobilizing volunteers to deliver to the elderly and those with disabilities including the hearing and vision impaired.

Garcia, who distributed with dozens of volunteers the 500 ml (or 16.9 oz.) hand sanitizer bottles and flyers this week, said the project is a joint effort funded in part by ADRA International and ADRA Inter-America, and ADRA Mexico.

Volunteers are expected to complete the distribution of 12,000 especially marked hand sanitizers to the targeted homes by the end of next week.

To learn more about ADRA Mexico and its projects, visit HERE