Thousands of Almaty residents supported by local volunteer groups amidst pandemic crisis
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Almaty saw a significant surge in volunteer efforts, guided by the Year of the Volunteer plan and the organization of emergency volunteer headquarters. These initiatives played a crucial role in supporting vulnerable and socially disadvantaged residents.
The Year of the Volunteer plan mobilized citizens to provide various forms of assistance, such as delivering medical supplies, food, and essential goods to those in quarantine or at risk. The emergency volunteer headquarters, established at the Youth Loft Center, efficiently coordinated this work, ensuring a quick and organized response to emerging needs in the city.
Volunteers directly supported city residents by helping with healthcare outreach, distributing protective equipment, assisting elderly and disabled residents, and facilitating access to social services during lockdowns. In addition, they provided non-contact informational and explanatory work through a hotline, answering over 100 calls daily.
The efforts resulted in over 26,000 needy city residents receiving assistance in the form of food packages, distribution of medical masks, and delivery of medications. A website for volunteers in the city, almaty-volunteers.kz, was operational, making it easier for citizens to get involved.
To ensure the safety of volunteers, individual protective equipment was provided, and they were trained in safety and hygiene measures in response to the spread of the coronavirus. Volunteers also assisted city medical professionals in accommodating incoming citizens from other countries in hospitals.
Public monitoring was conducted in 100 pharmacies and 166 facilities to address unjustified price increases for essential medications and violations. The headquarters continuously monitored public places and took measures to limit the operation of enterprises upon detecting violations. The main activity of the headquarters was to provide assistance to vulnerable population categories.
Approximately 1,000 volunteers worked throughout the city, with approximately 100 permanent volunteers involved in the emergency volunteer headquarters. The headquarters' efforts reached over 700,000 people, as outlined in a plan of events consisting of 78 activities.
Though specific operational details for Almaty during the pandemic are not extensively detailed in currently available search results, these points reflect typical structures and activities organized in many cities worldwide under similar plans, emphasizing local volunteer mobilization to mitigate pandemic impacts. For more detailed, city-specific reports or official plans from Almaty during the pandemic, consulting local government releases, NGO reports, or news archives might be necessary.
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- The Year of the Volunteer plan in Almaty expanded beyond the traditional volunteer roles, mobilizing citizens to provide scientific knowledge about health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Volunteers, equipped with protective gear and health education, engaged in promoting health-and-wellness practices through digital platforms and hotlines, offering advice and addressing queries from city residents.
