SINT MAARTEN (ST. JOHN’S ESTATE) – Thursday, April 29th, the White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) celebrated Carnival with their vaccinated staff and clients on the WYCCF premises.
The troupe, which danced outdoors around the different buildings, consisted of vaccinated staff and clients, which gave this year’s troupe their name: The White & Yellow Cross Pfizer Troupe! With various colourful feathery costumes (loaned by Brenda Wathey and Erica Fortuno), a music truck, and a large group of clients who couldn’t stop dancing along, the afternoon was an absolute success.
Based on the latest guidelines of the Center of Disease Control (CDC) and RIVM, doing an outdoor activity with persons who are vaccinated, was deemed very safe by WYCCF management. In addition to giving the clients a wonderful afternoon, it is important to showcase to those who may still be hesitant to be vaccinated, that life will return to normal if we achieve heard immunity on our island. For that to happen we need many more persons to take the vaccine.
”It was incredible to see such a big smile on the faces of our clients”, says Bregje Boetekees, WYCCF Manager of Operations. ‘’The Covid-19 restrictions really took a toll on all our clients in the last year. Many haven’t been able to hug a loved one for more than a year. So now that they are vaccinated, it is fantastic that we can responsibly increase their quality of life, step by step. This afternoon was an excellent example of that.’’
Many staff and clients came out to enjoy the festivities. Elderly Care residents started to dance along with the troupe, and the Sister Basilia Clients enthusiastically jammed on the side of the road. There was also no stopping the troupe, which continued to dance and make laps to ensure everyone got the best view!
