The Loyola College staff room and Berchman Illam (near the Basketball Court) have been repurposed to establish the Loyola Telecare For COVID (LT4C). Managed by a 11-member volunteer force consisting of students and staff, the facility now has four lines — 044-2817 8295, 2817 8296, 28178297, 28178298 — and is operated between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. all days of the week.
The volunteers answer questions posed by COVID-19 positive persons or those showing symptoms and their caregivers; offer emotional support for those in distress; and counselling for those racked by fear and anxiety.
“In the first wave, we only helped the Greater Chennai Corporation set up a telecare centre. Now, we have a full-fledged facility functioning from the college and there is a plan to scale up the operation depending on the need,” says Fr. M S Jacob, assistant professor, Department of Social Work. He and his team are assisting Fr. Thomas Amirtham who is coordinating the initiative. Besides the volunteers who operate from the college premises, LT4C is also helped by remote counsellors who carry out the work from the comfort of their homes.
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Fr. Jacob points out that they have 10 counsellors who help them and also do follow-up calls. Chennai Volunteer Taskforce and the Outreach Department of the College are a few others helping LT4C reach food and other essential supplies to families who need them.
COVID-19 homecare kits, psycho-social support and relief to affected families are a few other initiatives being coordinated from the college.
With the support of Rotary International and Max Medical Foundation, the college is also turning the women’s hostel into a COVID-19 Care Centre. “The ground floor would be used as a testing area and the first and second floor for treating patients. LIBA Hostel would be opened to house doctors and nurses,” says Fr. Jacob.
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The campus premises would also start vaccination drives soon.