Health Minister thanks Fivemiletown community group

A VOLUNTEER group that has gone above and beyond for the Fivemiletown area during the Covid outbreak has been personally thanked by Health Minister Robin Swann.
Throughout the pandemic, a group of volunteers from Fivemiletown formed the ‘Fivemiletown Coronavirus Response Group’, and provided valued support to hundreds of people.
A milestone was marked recently as the group delivered its 3,000th meal, while also carrying out food deliveries and operating a food bank.
On Monday, Health Minister Robin Swann visited the village and thanked the hard working group for all they had done within the community.
He stated that the efforts from the community in Fivemiletown had been made known throughout Stormont and he wished the group well as they continue to support the fight against Covid 19.
Member of the group Iain Lendrum was delighted to welcome Mr Swann to the area.
Mr Lendrum said, “He was here for over an hour and he met some of our group.
“We talked about all we had done, and he thanked us for all our hard work.
“Our volunteers have worked extremely hard so it meant a lot to them that the health minister was aware of the work.
“We are still working away.
“We are wary of a second wave but we are ready to respond if it happens,” said Mr Lendrum.
Most recently, the volunteers have been helping community groups to meet the required regulations to get reopened as the community emerges from lockdown.
Mr Lendrum continued, “We are supplying the local churches with hand sanitiser and things they need to get opened.
“We have supplied the local sports groups with sanitiser, gloves, and even got water bottles for individual children.
“We are supporting people as they come into the community so they can safely come back into some sort of normality,” said Mr Lendrum.
Following the visit Health Minister Robin Swann said, “There is no doubt that the front line health service staff across Northern Ireland were the heroes of this pandemic and I am really pleased that they were rightly recognised as such by the whole community.
“I was delighted to meet with a number of local organisations and staff and once again relay to them my personal thanks for all that they have done and continue to do.
“Whilst the levels of the virus have thankfully receded, I would urge everyone to remain hugely cautious.

“We are not yet through the pandemic and Covid-19 continues to present a serious threat to ourselves, to our loved ones and to the staff that are so bravely putting themselves at risk to look after all those who need care and support,” said Mr Swann.