Writing about this pandemic and the role the Misericórdias (Mercy institutions) and the whole social sector have been playing recently is to write about something that the European and Portuguese tradition acknowledges but which was thought to have been left behind in a deep corner of memory, to be eventually used by historians and other researchers in the future.

The “plague”, the “pests”, affected the evolution of societies, religion, the arts, wars, European and Portuguese policies, from the Justinian’s Plague to Pneumonic Plague and up to the more recent Asian flu, polio and AIDS.

But the consumer society of this first quarter of the 21st century, after coming more or less to terms with the issue of AIDS, somehow considered this issue to be fixed (Ebola, Zika, Dengue and bird flu were just episodes for underdeveloped and poor countries in Africa, Latin America and in some regions of distant Asia) and soon, as usual, lowered its guard.

When this virus appeared, a very well known strain to the scientific community, the coronaviruses, no one was prepared worldwide, first and foremost given its very rapid spread (thanks to globalisation) and the seriousness that makes it particularly lethal in people with vulnerabilities. First of all, the elderly, but also younger people with various chronic and malnourished diseases, living in conditions marked by lack of hygiene, drinking water and other minimum conditions in countries like India and Brazil.

Portugal was not fully prepared to face the pandemic either.

And for that reason and despite all the fuss, the priority was (and will be) to avoid the rupture of the NHS, something which, headed by the Minister Marta Temido, with the active complicity of the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, has been achieved so far, despite everything, in a sea of difficulties and considering that this can worsen from one moment to the next.

This concern, which, in my view, is legitimate, inevitably turned the elderly and the Institutions (especially in the solidarity sector the Mercy Homes are part of) who care for and welcome them, into the “punching bag” of little or zero informed politicians or with an overly clear agenda and of certain media thirsty for blood, tragedy and horror (images of Italian homes where workers deserted and rescue workers found dead people and agonising people, but alive, next to each other, remain in our memory forever).

Misericórdias de Portugal after the initial shock and well aware of their identity, their values, their nature and their history, regrouped around their Union and started a remarkable process of protection of the most fragile they were in charge of; not on a “poor thing” basis, but out of respect, citizenship and dignity, especially for the elderly who gave us so much and continue to give.

The State soon realized this path and that is why the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and several members of the Government, including Minister Ana Godinho (who has been tireless with her dedication, support and positive energy) aligned with us and with the rest of the solidarity sector to reduce the damage, until the desired vaccine and/or drugs that reduce the effects of the disease arrive.

As I write these unpretentious lines, a 5-week cycle ends in which no deaths were reported in our more than 700 units, despite the increase in the number of infections during this period.

Everyone will agree that this is a remarkable result that honours all Portuguese (even the hardcore critics!) in the European and worldwide context. But we should avoid all sorts of triumphant attitude in this regard, considering that unfortunately, deaths will sooner or later occur again. This results should only be there to show that this is possible if we do not lower our guard if we keep acting with responsibility, care and rigour.

Hence, it is also legitimate to require resources from public, national and community authorities to equip teams and users, requalify material and support operating costs.

The European Social Fund has been paying current expenses of the Ministry of Education for many years. Hence why not paying also the current expenses of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and of the Ministry of Health, which are there to save lives and strengthen social cohesion, sustainable employment and development, especially in low–density territories, consumption and economic recovery?

We are told that nothing will be the same again after this virus. I believe so, if we really want to. And to materialize this will we will need to make things happen. In this context, I believe the EC frameworks (including the bazooka) should consider an exclusive financial ‘voucher’ for the Social Economy and the solidarity sector, setting clear objectives, precise rules and serious control, but managed by a prestigious commission appointed by the sector (e.g. Silva Peneda, Vieira da Silva, Mota Soares or Correia de Campos would be excellent presidents of such a Commission) able to negotiate regulations in Brussels, adding other community funds, and above all implementing those funds.

I finish quoting Alain Romain: “When we act, we sometimes get things wrong, but we will get things wrong always if we fail to act”.