Yesterday, Wednesday, the mayor of Santa Marta, Carlos Pinedo Cuello, visited the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Wellness Center for the Elderly, where he was received by Father Mario González.
During the tour, the mayor learned about the facilities and the potential of the nursing home to house more vulnerable elderly people. Currently, the center houses 97 elderly people, 85 of whom do not receive any type of help or subsidy, including some Venezuelan migrants without access to health services.
At the meeting, the possibility of expanding the center’s capacity to serve more people in the district who are in similar conditions was discussed. The mayor highlighted the importance of the mayor’s continued support, stressing that agreements have been established for this purpose. However, he noted that under the previous administration, only two months of the agreement were granted instead of the full 12 months. This year, the current administration of Carlos Pinedo had to legalize those two months previously granted.
Mayor Pinedo Cuello promised to continue and strengthen the agreement between the asylum and the mayor’s office. In addition, he promised to begin the process of legalization and titling of the center’s property, which would allow the asylum to manage resources with international entities. As an example, Father Mario mentioned that last year, the asylum lost the opportunity to receive a $500,000 donation for solar energy from the Order of Malta due to a lack of property titles.
Father Mario González expressed his satisfaction with the mayor’s visit: “It is a source of great joy for us to know that we have the help and kindness of the city’s mayor. We hope that this visit is an occasion that generates a commitment with the elderly people of Santa Marta. We have 97 residents here at the center, 85 of them in a condition of total vulnerability or extreme poverty. This occasion has also become an opportunity for the mayor to meet the elderly residents and the selfless work carried out by the Catholic Church of the Diocese of Santa Marta. We are very excited that projects can be carried out to benefit older adults.“
