Bandra School Closes Because of Coronavirus But Orphanage Remains Open
Originally published by Nirmala Carvalho, AsiaNews on 20/03/2020
Summary
The St. Catherine of Siena School and Orphanage, a key place for poor and abandoned children in Bandra (Mumbai), temporarily closed the school because of the coronavirus outbreak. The orphanage remained open, with reduced staff. These measure were taken “to prevent the spread of the pandemic.”The St. Catherine of Siena School for Destitute Children in Mumbai is part of the Welfare Society for Destitute Children, founded by the Dominican Fr. Anthony Elenjimittam in 1957.The school has more than 250 pupils this year, while the orphanage has 75 children aged 5 to 18.The school was closed and the administrative work was halted. A skeleton staff of three is taking care of the children, poor and orphans, keeping them safe. An official at the school noted that the people at the school wash their hands, talk about the virus, and pray for the world and the mothers who live in the streets.Everyone who comes to the orphanage “is seen by doctors year-round, every week. A mobile clinic comes every Thursday for check-ups. There is also a non-Christian doctor, Dr. Prakash Jain, who provides emergency treatment free of charge.”Given the current emergency, the school will continue to provide updated information with photos and videos via social media, so that the usual visitors and benefactors need not come to the school.