Cheshire Homes receives food donation from company

By LULU MARK
THE Cheshire Homes in Port Moresby received a donation of food stuff worth K5,000 yesterday from City Pharmacy Ltd (CPL) Foundation after facing issues providing balanced nutritious meals for its residents.
Chesire Disability Services PNG general manager Benard Ayieko said the facility provided an essential service because it operated like a hospital and was always open.
Ayieko said currently, there were 17 persons with disabilities who were full time residents at the home.
“They eat, take showers, receive medication and they need around the clock supervision and checks,” he said.
“These people have a lot of needs.
“Food is one of the critical area in which we have been having issues.
“This is the time we need these people to have good food to boost their immune system necessary to fight the Covid-19.”
Ayieko said the home’s dry food supplies were adequate but there was a need for protein, vegetables and fruits to supplement their meals.
He said besides food, they were also concerned about the water, electricity, medical supplies and other necessities.
Ayieko said due to the Covid-19 state of emergency and lockdown, some of the activities conducted to raise funds such as the sausage sizzles at Boroko Food World every Saturday had to stop.
“It’s such a good gesture from CPL at such a critical time,” he said.
Ayieko said they had tried to exercise a lot of social distancing by not allowing groups or many people coming in to interact with the residents.
He said they had also written to the Government for support but they had not received a response yet.
CPL Foundation manager Oti Lasagavibau said a K20,000 in kind donation was made to the Cheshire Homes this year which would go towards food rations for the four quarters of this year and this was the first.