The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation (MCCF) “………. is vital for us as oncologists in Malta. Without its assistance, many treatments would be off limits and the help we would be able to offer in some instances would therefore be seriously restricted.” This is a comment found on the last available MCCF annual report for the year 2020. It is attributed to Prof Nick Refalo, a consultant oncologist.

Generous help in cancer treatment has for a long time been at the forefront of the sterling work done by the MCCF. This help, generally, supplements the Health Ministry’s work. Over the years charity and voluntary work has been plugging in the gaps left wide open by the welfare state as a direct result of its one-size-fits-all approach.

The welfare state, as most other state initiatives, is generally a one-size-fits-all exercise, supplemented in specific circumstances. It is designed for the average person, for whom it may be just enough. But it is not sufficient, as practically no one fits the average person!  

On television, on the morrow of Christmas, we are shown one case after the other which had to rely on the funds collected in previous years in order to supplement the help from the health authorities or worse to fill in the gaps in the national health service. “Kif tista’ ma ċċempilx?”

The objective is laudable. The way to go about it, however, leaves much to be desired. At times, unethically parading on prime-time television the pain of those who, having suffered the failures of the welfare state had to revert to MCCF, is not on. Their pain is being unethically used to cash the generated pity through the collection of more funds. The methods used to generate funds should not undermine the basic objective of restoring human dignity through personalized care and attention. Even when consent is forthcoming, the methods used by l-Istrina are downright debasing.

Later, during the year, various other worthy initiatives will be spot-lighted. Millions of euro will be collected to support these other initiatives. They are no less deserving.

Perusal of the audited accounts of the MCCF for the year 2021, at the time of writing the latest data available on the MCCF website, reveals, that for the 2021 financial year, Government contributed an additional €13 million directly towards financing the commitments made. A substantial input without which the operations of the foundation would not be possible.

The politics of social solidarity is clearly an area where the state cannot do it alone. Beyond the indispensable financial contributions collected throughout the year, however, at the end of the day it is the personalization of welfare which makes the substantial difference.

The MCCF, throughout the year also distributes food vouchers to the tune of €20,000 monthly. Food banks and the Franciscan soup kitchen in Valletta tackle the same social issue most probably reaching out to areas which the formal social service network fails to link with.

The politics of social solidarity aims to restore human dignity by reaching out individually to each and every one of the downtrodden. This is done through supplementing the one-size-fits-all social services provided by the state though the personalized attention which the various NGO initiatives in hand make possible.

The need for social solidarity is not a seasonal one. It can be much helped through a judicious use of public resources. Adequately addressing the squandering of public resources throughout the rest of the year as pointed out by the Auditor General, could help considerably.

It is right to supplement the welfare state in the short term. However, in the longer term, the welfare state should be tweaked in order that its reach is extended to the neglected corners which are identified from time to time. The personalization of welfare, where this is possible, can also be taken up directly by the state in the services it provides. It will make a difference and is more effective than distributing cheques on the eve of elections or the so-called tax refunds.

The Christmas spirit of solidarity should not be limited to the day after Christmas. It should reign 365 days a year. 366 days in a leap year!

An architect and civil engineer, the author is a former Chairperson of ADPD-The Green Party in Malta.  [email protected] ,   http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com