Taiwanese community in Ireland donates PPE to senior care service in Mullingar
(Above) Vivian Cafferty of the ‘Taiwan Can Help’ campaign and Lorraine McLaughlin, operations manager, Home Instead Senior Care.
The strengths of communities and nationalities working together were demonstrated this week when the Taiwan Ireland Association donated a batch of personal protective equipment (PPE) to Home Instead Senior Care in Mullingar.
The equipment included certified infrared forehead thermometers (10), goggles (160), medical gloves (1,000), and medical face masks (1,000).
Dr Angel Cheng, chairperson of the Taiwan Ireland Association; Vivian Cafferty, who started the ‘Taiwan Can Help’ campaign; and her husband Anthony Cafferty, donated the PPE to the operations manager of Home Instead, Lorraine McLaughlin.
Lorraine said the donation of PPE further ensures the safety of their clients and caregivers, and, on behalf of Home Instead, she expressed her appreciation to the Taiwanese community in Ireland.
The GoFundMe campaign ‘Taiwan Can Help!’ is supported by Taiwanese people in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, their friends and family in Ireland and friends in Taiwan.
Vivian Cafferty (from Taiwan) is married to the Westmeath man Anthony, and they live in Mullingar.
Vivian started the campaign for her family in the region to ensure the carers that came to the house of her mother-in-law had reliable PPE.
Her husband’s family have been based in Castlepollard for more than 50 years.
Vivian quoted an Irish blessing – ‘Wishing you a rainbow, for sunlight after shower. Miles and miles of Irish smiles. For golden happy hours, Shamrocks at your doorway. For luck and laughter, too. And a host of friends that never ends. Each day your whole life through.’
Together, we are stronger to get through the pandemic, she said.
The PPE was purchased by Scieneering Consulting Ltd with business partners in Taiwan (Siang Zan Technology Ltd, Fora Care Inc) and in Ireland (SkanTrans Ireland).
Cllr Bill Collentine, the mayor of Mullingar, was present for the handover of the PPE, and, on behalf of the people of Mullingar, he welcomed the Taiwan Ireland Association to the town and acknowledged the generosity of the Taiwanese community in Ireland.
Cllr Collentine was also delighted to see the two nations and communities working together to combat Covid-19.
He also thanked the caregivers and management of Home Instead Senior Care for providing critical services during such a difficult time.
Dr Angel said that Taiwan produces high-quality personal protective equipment.
Most noticeably among the materials donated were the 1,000 medical masks that were shipped to Ireland immediately after the country lifted the mask export ban at the start of the month.
It is now recommended that people wear face covering when using public transport and in environments where social distancing is not possible.
Handing over the PPE on Monday.
Cllr Bill Collentine, mayor of Mulllingar, and Dr Angel Cheng, chairperson of the Taiwan Ireland Association.