COVID-19 Pandemic: How Project HOPE is Responding

This story was updated on February 22, 2022.

Project HOPE has launched a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic that is supporting frontline health care workers, expanding vaccine access, and providing medical surge support where needed.

Our COVID-19 response areas include:

• Providing lifesaving protective gear in high-risk areas
• Providing access to vaccines and global health care worker trainings
• Helping frontline health care workers protect their mental health
• Deploying medical volunteers to provide surge staffing
• Promoting health equity both worldwide and in the United States
• Helping health systems around the world ensure continuity of health services

Together with our partners, we are committed to meeting this challenge and placing power in the hands of doctors, nurses, and other health workers around the world.

• Click here for a Year Two Impact Report on our global COVID-19 response
• How You Can Help

How We are Responding to COVID-19

In the United States

• Through a program funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Project HOPE is improving access to COVID-19 vaccines via free and charitable clinics across five states. This work will help thousands of people in underserved communities access the vaccine, including refugees, migrants, and undocumented persons.
• Project HOPE worked with our partners throughout the pandemic to rapidly bring in protective gear for American doctors and nurses. We have delivered millions of pieces of PPE to health systems across the U.S., including Arizona, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Texas.
• Project HOPE activated its global roster of medical volunteers to provide staff surge capacity and mobile testing in hard-hit areas including Houston; Chicago; Navajo Nation; and Montgomery County, Maryland.
• Project HOPE volunteers in the U.S. provided care to thousands of patients in ICUs, surge units, and COVID-19 units in Houston and Navajo Nation. Project HOPE volunteers have also tested tens of thousands of people for COVID-19 across Houston, Montgomery County, Navajo Nation, and Chicago/Cook County.
• Project HOPE is providing online training for doctors and nurses to become Master Trainers in infection prevention and control. The trainings are now available for free on DisasterReady.org.
• Project HOPE supported the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Institute to implement its first Project ECHO series on COVID-19 and other topics on mental health and resiliency during disasters. The first series of ECHOs reached more than 1,200 first responders.

Around the World

• Project HOPE’s COVID-19 support reached 98 countries in 2021. With support from our partners, Project HOPE distributed more than 18 million pieces of PPE to health care workers worldwide in 2021.
• Project HOPE responded to major surges of COVID-19 inside India and Nepal in 2021, including procurement of PPE and critically needed medical equipment to support health care workers.
• Project HOPE has teamed up with experts from Brown University to launch a remote COVID-19 training program for health workers in at-risk countries. These trainings have reached tens of thousands of health care workers around the world and are available for free here.
•  As part of the Humanitarian Alliance for Yemen, Project HOPE provided relief inside Yemen to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Through our partners at MedGlobal, we provided PPE and equipment to eight hospitals, reaching more than 100,000 people.
• In Colombia, Project HOPE has supported contact tracing, lab confirmation, screening, and patient care. Working in coordination with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Departmental Institute of Health (IDS), Project HOPE has also established a triage and screening system for respiratory patients in Villa del Rosario.
• Project HOPE was one of the only international relief organizations responding on the ground in China at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, providing millions of facemasks, isolation gowns, protective coveralls, exam gloves, and other protective gear. Project HOPE also provided lifesaving medical equipment to support patient care and treatment, including disinfection machines, medical air compressors, and ventilators.

 

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Previous Updates

July 21, 2021: Project HOPE Delivers Urgent Shipment of PPE and ICU Equipment to Nepal

Project HOPE is on the ground in India and Nepal helping health care workers facing a devastating surge of COVID-19. In Nepal, Project HOPE is working with local NGO Pratiman-Neema Memorial Foundation (PNMF) to distribute medical supplies and equipment in the second hardest hit province of Lumbini. Nine provincial and district government hospitals in eight districts of Lumbini have received lifesaving medical equipment. Donated equipment includes oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, BIPAP machines, PPE sets, masks, ICU beds, and medical tents. A recent shipment of more than 100 pallets of PPE and ICU equipment arrived for distribution to health care centers across Nepal.

>> Click here for more information about how Project HOPE is responding in India and Nepal.

May 11, 2021: Project HOPE Expanding Response to Nepal as COVID-19 Continues to Surge Across South Asia

As India and Nepal continue to see record numbers of daily COVID-19 cases and deaths, Project HOPE is expanding its response to provide critically needed support for health care workers in both countries.

In India, Project HOPE’s team is working with local partners and government officials to facilitate the rapid in-country procurement and distribution of PPE, oxygen supplies, ICU equipment, ventilators, and other critical items to support the overwhelmed healthcare system. Relief plans target seven states in India, coordinating with government officials to get supplies to hospitals and clinics where they are needed most. An initial shipment of 500,000 masks has been received for immediate distribution in Odisha State in India. Procurements for additional supplies and equipment are well underway.

In Nepal, Project HOPE is working with an existing COVID-19 partner to coordinate similar delivery of aid. Local procurement and international shipments of aid are planned for immediate distribution across the country. This week, initial trainings will be provided to over 60 doctors and nurses on the latest information in critical care of COVID-19 patients. Additional trainings on vaccine science and rollout mechanisms are scheduled for next week.

Click here for more information on the situation in India and Nepal.

April 27, 2021: Project HOPE Responding to Surge of COVID-19 in India

Project HOPE is working with local partners and government officials in India to facilitate the rapid procurement and distribution of PPE, oxygen supplies, ICU equipment, ventilators, and other critical items as the country faces a devastating wave of COVID-19.

Initial plans target five states in India, where Project HOPE is coordinating with government officials to get supplies to hospitals and clinics where they are needed most.

Project HOPE and its network of Indian civil society organizations have delivered health-related programs in India over the past decade, with its most recent project being focused on community-based health and hygiene promotion in Odisha state. In collaboration with our local NGO partner in Odisha, India, HOPE has identified potential areas of response to be in Odisha, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Delhi, India. Identified needs include oxygen tanks, tents and tubes, ICU beds, PPE, and decontamination units.

India has reported more than 18 million cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, but experts warn that the real number could be as much as 30 times higher. The second wave of COVID-19 has brought a dramatic increase in new cases of the disease since March: In the past month, daily case rates have increased tenfold and are setting new single-day records every day.

Learn more about our response to the COVID-19 surge in India.

March 5, 2021: One-Year Report on Project HOPE’s Response Now Available

March 3, 2021: Project HOPE Rolls Out First COVID-19 Vaccine Trainings in Africa

Project HOPE has launched an online training targeting over 20 African countries to ensure local vaccinators are prepared and ready to meet the demands of their roles as COVID-19 vaccines become available. More than 140 participants from South Africa and Ethiopia already attended the first training on Friday, February 26.

“With the COVID-19 virus continuing to spread across African countries, the clock is ticking,” says Rabih Torbay, President and CEO of Project HOPE. “As vaccines become available, local vaccinators are racing against time to immunize as many people as possible. With these trainings, health care workers are equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to respond rapidly and safely.”

Read our full press release here.

February 4, 2021: Project HOPE Providing Surge Support in Navajo Nation

Project HOPE is on the ground in Navajo Nation helping support the Indian Health Service as it faces a lethal spike in COVID-19 cases.

As hospitals in Gallup and Shiprock, New Mexico face a new wave of COVID-19 cases, Project HOPE volunteers are supporting ICU and COVID floor nurses by providing triage and patient care. We are also helping provide mobile COVID-19 testing to detect the spread of the disease.

Project HOPE is recruiting for clinical and non-clinical staff to help support frontline workers. If you are an experienced medical worker interested in volunteering with Project HOPE, click here.

Thursday, November 12, 2020: Project HOPE Deploying Volunteers to Navajo Nation and Illinois

As the United States continues to see spiking rates of COVID-19, Project HOPE is deploying a new wave of expert medical volunteers to provide surge staffing in Navajo Nation and Chicago.

In Navajo Nation, one nursing volunteer has been sent to Gallup Indian Medical Center in New Mexico and a second will arrive on November 15. In Illinois, Project HOPE is increasing its team to support long-term care facilities as they experience a huge wave in positive COVID-19 cases.

In eight months, Project HOPE has deployed 13 volunteers to Illinois, where they have consulted with 66 long-term care facilities and covered more than 8,200 residents and 11,400 beds. More than 3,600 COVID-19 cases have been reported to the state.

Additional recruiting is needed with a focus on ICU and ER nurses, EMT, and those who can work triage systems. Click here to learn more.

Thursday, October 29, 2020: Project HOPE Piloting Mental Health Training in the Dominican Republic

With support from the Abbott Fund, Project HOPE is piloting a mental health and resiliency training for health care workers responding to COVID-19 in the Dominican Republic and Indonesia. The training modules are adapted from New York City Health + Hospitals program, “HERO-NY,” which aims to provide stress management and coping tools for health care workers responding to the pandemic.

The trainings are just one part of Project HOPE’s COVID-19 response in Latin America: in addition to mental health support, Project HOPE has also distributed 678,000 pieces of PPE and trained 3,800 frontline personnel in COVID-19 preparedness and response.

Read a full summary of our work in our latest COVID-19 situation report.

Friday, October 23, 2020: Project HOPE Delivers 22,000 Pieces of PPE to Beirut

As part of Project HOPE’s response to the Port of Beirut Explosion and an increase in the spread of COVID-19, Project HOPE’s team in Beirut donated over 22,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to American University of Beirut Medical Centre. The delivery included 14,000 pairs of gloves and 7,000 face masks to be used by health care workers as they continue to fight the spread of COVID-19 and support patients in the wake of the blast.

 

Thursday, October 1, 2020: COVID-19 eLearning Now Available in Spanish

Project HOPE has launched our Spanish COVID-19 for Health Workers eLearning on DisasterReady. The eLearning is based on our COVID-19 training developed in coordination Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies at the Watson Institute of Brown University. The eLearning version of the training is designed for health workers and public health professionals seeking a self-paced comprehensive training on COVID-19 they can apply immediately in the workplace.

To access Project HOPE’s Spanish language COVID-19 resource page, please go to: https://www.projecthope.org/covid19esp.

To access the English language COVID-19 resource page, please go to: https://www.projecthope.org/covid19training.

On these pages you will find a link to the eLearning on DisasterReady in both English and Spanish, a description of the training, as well as the application to download the materials, should you be capable of training others. The pages also link to one another, should you be unsure of the recipients’ preferred language.

Friday, September 18, 2020: Project HOPE Reaching Displaced Communities in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, Project HOPE is implementing a six-month project to strengthen COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, and case management for health systems in Somali Regional State and Dire Dawa city administration, with support from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. The project aims to support 327 outpatient health facilities and 68 inpatient facilities across the Fafan, Sitti, Jarar and Erar Zones as well as Dire Dawa City.

The COVID-19 situation in these areas is complex as they host high numbers of internally displaced people in communities where the risk of transmission is high and that are currently experiencing floods and heavy seasonal rains.

Since July, Project HOPE has distributed handwashing supplies and health education in two IDP communities of Dire Dawa City, reaching 4,327 beneficiaries from 748 households. Additionally, Project HOPE has trained 162 health workers to date, including doctors, health officers, nurses and midwives, from health facilities in the project locations.

Read the latest situation report on our humanitarian response in Ethiopia.

Thursday, July 23, 2020: Project HOPE’s Worldwide PPE Deliveries Now Top 8.6 Million

As COVID-19 cases continue to spike around the world, Project HOPE’s global response has now delivered over 8.6 million pieces of personal protective equipment in 13 countries, including recent deliveries in Uzbekistan, Namibia, and Colombia in partnership with Latter-day Saint Charities.

Worldwide, Project HOPE’s PPE deliveries have included 1.19 million respirator masks, 5.2 million surgical masks, 1.1 million gowns and lab coats, and 1 million pairs of exam gloves. Project HOPE’s most recent delivery in Uzbekistan also included 18,000 COVID tests handed over to the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health.

Project HOPE will continue to procure PPE and medical supplies as long as the supply chain remains intact and funding is available. Additional procurements are expected for partners in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Uzbekistan over the following month, with more in the pipeline.

Read more in our latest update: Project HOPE COVID-19 SitRep #23

Monday, July 20, 2020: Project HOPE Deploys Medical Surge Team to Houston

As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the greater Houston area, Project HOPE has deployed a medical surge team to Houston support Harris Health System, the public healthcare system for the residents of Harris County, Texas.

The team is comprised of nurses able to work in an ICU or other locations with staffing gaps at both Ben Taub and Lyndon B. Johnson hospitals as well as other Harris Health System facilities.

“Project HOPE worked with Harris Health to provide medical surge staff in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, and we are humbled and privileged to be able to provide additional personnel to support their staff who have been working around the clock to care for COVID-19 patients,” said Project HOPE President and CEO Rabih Torbay. “Our initial wave of nurses have already started working, and more will arrive in the days to come. We’re also ready to provide additional support, if needed.”

The full press release is available here.

Thursday, July 9, 2020: Number of Health Workers Trained Now Exceeds 30,000

Project HOPE’s virtual COVID-19 trainings have now reached over 30,000 health care workers around the world. More than 1,300 Master Trainers have completed the trainings, which are available for free on the Project HOPE website, and in turn passed them on to 29,100 health care workers and frontline personnel in their countries.

Read more in our latest update: Project HOPE COVID-19 SitRep #22 7.9.2020

Monday, July 6, 2020: Free Virtual COVID-19 Training Now Available Via DisasterReady

Project HOPE’s virtual COVID-19 trainings are now available for free public use via Disaster Ready.

Developed in partnership with The Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies at the Watson Institute of Brown University, the training is designed to help health workers learn to safely and effectively screen, triage, and treat patients with COVID-19 while also protecting their own health.

The eight online training modules cover topics including Infection Prevention and Control; Surveillance and Contact Tracing; Diagnosis and Management; and Risk Communication and Public Health Messaging. Each module includes interactive elements and knowledge checks to reinforce key information. These trainings can be accessed in environments with low bandwidth internet service and are designed to be mobile phone-friendly. Each training module takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

For more information visit our online training page or download the training via DisasterReady.

Thursday, June 25, 2020: Project HOPE Volunteers Supporting COVID-19 Response Across the U.S.

As COVID-19 cases continue to spike in locations across the U.S., Project HOPE volunteers are on the front lines of the virus, supporting treatment and mobile testing in high-risk areas.

In partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital’s Global Disaster Response team, HOPE recently deployed four nurses to Chinle, Arizona, in response to clinical staffing needs in Navajo Nation. These nurses are augmenting staff in the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department to help the hospital meet increased patient loads due to COVID-19.

Additionally, HOPE volunteers are also supporting mobile testing efforts for vulnerable communities in Montgomery County, Maryland. Project HOPE has also donated nearly 20,000 respirator masks and 18,000 surgical masks to Montgomery County, provided by Eli Lilly and Company.

Read our full situation report here: Project HOPE COVID-19 SitRep #21 6.25.2020.docx.

Monday, June 22, 2020: Project HOPE and DisasterReady.org Launch Free Online COVID-19 Training

Project HOPE and DisasterReady.org have launched one of the first online COVID-19 trainings for health workers and others on the frontlines of the pandemic worldwide. Four of the eight courses in this free training entitled COVID-19 Training for Health Workers: Preparedness and Response are now live on DisasterReady.org, and additional courses will soon follow.

The COVID-19 Training for Health Workers: Preparedness and Response curriculum was developed earlier this year by Project HOPE and the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies at the Watson Institute of Brown University. The courses were originally delivered in person in a “train the trainer” format for health facilities in high-risk countries. Thanks to the generous support of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Project HOPE was able to work with the experts at DisasterReady.org, a signature program of the Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation, and SweetRush, a custom learning solutions provider known for its support of foundations and nonprofits, to convert the live training modules into free, on-demand online courses for frontline workers.

Read our full press release here.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020: HOPE Actively Shipping 2.3 Million Pieces of PPE to the U.S.

As COVID-19 cases continue to spike in areas of the U.S., Project HOPE has joined forces with Business Roundtable and Healthcare Ready to deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline health workers across the country.

HOPE is actively working to ship 880,000 surgical gowns and 1.5 million exam gloves (750,000 pairs) from its warehouse in Virginia to states prioritized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The first shipment will be delivered to New York City today and a second delivery is scheduled for New York State tomorrow. Shipments for Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts will follow later this week.

Read our full update here: >> Project HOPE COVID-19 SitRep #20 6.10.2020

Wednesday, May 27, 2020: HOPE Expands International Access to COVID-19 e-Consultations

In partnership with the Weitzman Institute, Project HOPE is supporting the expansion of its electronic consultations (e-Consults) platform to clinicians treating patients with COVID-19.

The pilot phase of the platform expansion will allow health care providers from Colombia, Ethiopia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo to conduct e-Consults with experts in the United States, providing them the opportunity to discuss case management and treatment of complex COVID-19 cases.

Up to 60 providers from four countries are being registered with the Weitzman Institute to have access to the application. Registered clinicians will be able to share case findings and complications (including data such as scans and lab results) via the platform and receive guidance and feedback from clinicians in the U.S. within 24 hours. This is the first time the Weitzman Institute’s e-Consults tools have been accessible to an international audience. Together, Project HOPE and the Weitzman Institute will evaluate success of the pilot phase and develop a plan for further expansion.

>> Project HOPE COVID-19 SitRep #19 5.27.2020

Thursday, May 14, 2020: HOPE Delivers PPE to Navajo Nation as Global Distributions Now Top 6.5 Million

This week, Project HOPE began distributing more than 100,000 respirator masks and 100,000 three-layer masks for health care workers in the U.S., generously donated by Eli Lilly & Company. The distributions bring the total amount of personal protective equipment delivered around the world to over 6.5 million.

The deliveries went to health partners in five states, including Navajo Nation, Arizona; the City of Chicago, Illinois; Cook County, Illinois; Montgomery County, Maryland; Harris Health Systems in Texas; and Gallup Indian Medical Center in New Mexico.

Project HOPE has also begun the distribution of more than 40,000 KN95 masks in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic, with generous support from partners including the Ricky Martin Foundation, CharityStars, Jet Blue, and the Juan Luis Guerra Foundation.

In addition to delivering lifesaving protective gear, HOPE continues to train frontline doctors and nurses, with 16,000 health workers now trained across 20 countries. Project HOPE is partnering with DisasterReady to convert the COVID-19 Healthcare Preparedness & Response training into a free e-learning platform available soon on the DisasterReady website.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020: HOPE Has Now Helped Train 15,000 Health Workers Worldwide

Project HOPE continues to expand the reach of its COVID-19 Healthcare Preparedness and Response training for health workers, developed in partnership with the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies at the Watson Institute of Brown University.

Master Trainers from 16 countries, trained directly by experts from Brown University, are now cascading the modules to additional health care workers within their networks and in coordination with local partners. This past week, cascade trainings were implemented to more than 11,700 health care workers and frontline personnel in the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

To date, more than 14,800 people have been trained by Master Trainers and additional cascade training plans are in development. Including the Master Trainers, more than 15,600 health care workers and frontline personnel have been trained through this initiative.

Brown University experts are continuing to deliver live, remote training to Master Trainers, with cadres in Nepal and Colombia scheduled to participate in the next two weeks.

Thursday, April 30, 2020: HOPE’s Response Now Exceeds 40 Countries, With 4,000 Health Workers Trained

Project HOPE continues to ramp up its global response to COVID-19, with response activities now supporting 42 countries and multiple cities inside the United States. More than 4,000 health workers have been trained to fight COVID-19, including 773 Master Trainers who have in turn trained 3,000 other frontline personnel across 15 countries.

Additionally, 5 million pieces of personal protective equipment have been distributed to hospitals across five continents, while the first wave of HOPE volunteers has been deployed to support surge staffing in long-term care facilities in under-resourced areas in Cook County and the City of Chicago.

HOPE continues to support a host of other COVID-19 activities worldwide, including contact tracing, handwashing promotion, peer education, psychosocial support, risk communication, and screening and triage. As this work expands, we are working with local health systems to help ensure continuity of care in their hospitals and clinics.

Friday, April 17, 2020: HOPE Deploys Advance Team to Chicago as Health Worker Trainings Expand

Working with the State of Illinois, Cook County, and the City of Chicago, Project HOPE deployed an advance team to the region in preparation for a full response team of volunteer medical professionals to come. HOPE’s volunteers come from a wide variety of specialties, including critical care, pediatrics and emergency medicine. There have been more than 18,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cook County, including over 10,000 in Chicago.

Additional teams of Project HOPE volunteer medical responders are on standby for deployment to support alternate care sites across the U.S.

Project HOPE continues to train frontline health workers around the world to treat COVID-19 in their communities. This week, HOPE held trainings in the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. Future trainings will be held in Bangladesh, Haiti, and Colombia.

Additionally, participants from earlier trainings are now hosting secondary trainings in North Macedonia, Kosovo and the United States. As of April 16, Project HOPE has trained 449 Master Trainers, who have since trained an additional 1,424 of their colleagues around the world.

Friday, April 10, 2020: HOPE Launches Online COVID-19 Training for Health Workers

Project HOPE has launched a downloadable COVID-19 curriculum for use by health care workers, public health professionals, health care leadership, and key frontline personnel.

The training materials are identical to those used in Project HOPE-run trainings and come with additional video demonstrations and online quizzes. The materials are available to the public at no cost and are designed using the Training of Trainers model so that master trainers can train others in their community.

Organizations or individuals interested in gaining access to the self-guided training materials can apply at projecthope.org/covid19training.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020: Project HOPE Continues to Rapidly Mobilize Protective Gear for Frontline U.S. Health Workers

As U.S. health workers continue to fight the spread of COVID-19, Project HOPE is expanding its response to protect doctors and nurses in cities across the country.

Business Roundtable, Project HOPE, and Healthcare Ready are joining forces to rapidly mobilize protective gear and other vital equipment for America’s nurses, doctors, and other health workers fighting COVID-19. These critically needed supplies will be allocated to health facilities in coordination with Healthcare Ready, which is working in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Learn more about this partnership here.

Additionally, Project HOPE and Eli Lilly have partnered to deliver N95 masks, protective lab coats, and gloves to hospitals in New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. Last week, Project HOPE and Americares joined forces to deliver more than 3 tons of lifesaving personal protective equipment to the city of Chicago.

Friday, April 3, 2020: HOPE Mobilizing Medical Volunteers to U.S. Cities Preparing for Peak Cases

Project HOPE has mobilized its roster of medical volunteers to provide staff surge support in hard-hit cities, particularly those preparing for peak caseloads in the coming weeks.

In coordination with the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, the first rotation of Project HOPE volunteers will be seeing patients at the McCormick Place Convention Center, which is being converted into an emergency medical facility for non-acute COVID-19 patients. The McCormick Center is expected to hold more than 3,000 beds, with the first 500 available by end of next week.

Project HOPE is also in conversations with partners in the cities of New York and New Orleans for volunteer placement. More than 200 Project HOPE volunteers are on standby, including doctors, registered nurses, and pharmacists.

Additionally, Project HOPE and Americares joined forces to deliver more than 3 tons of lifesaving personal protective equipment to the city of Chicago on April 3. This shipment contains 25,000 surgical masks, 19,000 isolation gowns, 15,450 pairs of examination gloves, and other supplies critically needed by Chicago’s frontline health workers.

Thursday, April 2, 2020: First COVID-19 Trainings Conducted in North Macedonia and Puerto Rico

Project HOPE’s global response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to expand, with the first round of COVID-19 trainings conducted this week in North Macedonia and Puerto Rico. More than 40 health workers participated in the first training in North Macedonia, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Today, those trainers begin educating health workers around the country. We expect over 1,000 health workers from over 150 institutions to receive the training in this next phase.

These remote-by-design trainings were created in partnership with experts from Brown University and will be underway soon in Kosovo and other countries where Project HOPE works. The curriculum will be widely available in English in the coming days, with Spanish and French translations underway.

In the U.S., HOPE is procuring a shipment of personal protective equipment, which will include N95 masks and Tyvek lab coats from their Indianapolis facility. Additionally, HOPE is preparing to provide surge support in Chicago starting next week, with medical volunteers helping staff a COVID-19 overflow space at the McCormick Center.

Monday, March 30, 2020: HOPE Providing Medical Surge Support, PPE in Hard-Hit U.S. Cities

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread inside the United States, Project HOPE has activated its global roster of medical volunteers to provide staff surge capacity in hard-hit cities and will continue to procure and distribute critically needed personal protective equipment to protect frontline health workers.

Project HOPE has activated its Illinois-based roster of volunteer medical professionals to provide surge staffing at the McCormick Center in Chicago, which will serve as overflow space for the treatment of moderately affected COVID-19 patients to alleviate the burden on hospitals with limited beds and equipment. HOPE is also partnering with the Weitzman Institute to expand access to COVID-19 eConsultations for primary care providers to consult with infectious disease specialists online.

Since the outbreak began, Project HOPE and its teams in Wuhan, Shanghai, and Beijing have been providing vital personal protective equipment and medical equipment to frontline health workers. As the number of new cases inside China continues to decline and manufacturing operations increase, HOPE is working with local manufacturers to secure PPE that meets internationally recognized standards and establish a supply chain from China to countries that are high-risk or are experiencing stock-outs of supplies. In addition to PPE, HOPE will source critically needed medical supplies and equipment as resources allow.

Thursday, March 19, 2020: HOPE Expands to Support America’s Health Workers and Underserved Communities

As confirmed cases of COVID-19 rapidly increase in the United States, Project HOPE is ramping up to support America’s response efforts.

“As a global humanitarian organization, Project HOPE’s mandate is always to respond where the need is greatest, and now the need is massive right here at home,” said Rabih Torbay, President and CEO of Project HOPE. “We will be supporting America’s health workers as they work to save lives and fight the virus’s spread. And because one case can ignite a cluster, we’re also looking at ways we can support underserved and marginalized communities that are unlikely to seek testing.”

This is not the first time Project HOPE has used its global expertise to tackle health-related issues in the United States. In 2017, Project HOPE responded to three major hurricanes – Harvey, Irma, and Maria – by sending medical volunteers to Texas, Florida, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Friday, March 13, 2020: HOPE Pivoting Response to Focus on High-Risk Countries

As the number of new cases of COVID-19 continues to slow inside China, Project HOPE is pivoting its efforts to focus on global preparedness measures, initially targeting at-risk countries in southeastern Europe, East Africa, South East Asia, and the Latin America/Caribbean region.

HOPE teams in North Macedonia, Kosovo, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia are working to develop and prepare for response activities in coordination with local partners. Activities will include delivering preparedness and response training to health care workers, strengthening surveillance and contact tracing, and mitigating the risks of the virus on the Colombia-Venezuela border. Inside China, HOPE delivered 10 disinfection machines, 12 air compressors, and 15 ventilators to hospitals in Hubei Province this week. Despite the recent decline in new cases, Hubei Province reported there were a cumulative total of more than 4,100 severe cases as of March 11.

Wednesday, March 11, 2020: COVID-19 is Now a Global Pandemic

Health officials in China are rushing to contain the spread of COVID-19, a respiratory illness that has infected more than 100,000 people and killed over 3,000 around the world. What started as a mysterious illness has turned into a global pandemic with massive ramifications.

Project HOPE is on the ground in Wuhan, helping support doctors and nurses on the front lines of the virus.

Friday, March 6, 2020: HOPE Deploys Defibrillators and Patient Monitors in Wuhan

As the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide tops 100,000, Project HOPE teams in China continue to assist frontline health workers working around the clock to halt the spread of the virus in the country. This week, HOPE procured 20 defibrillators and 20 patient monitors for eight hospitals in Hubei Province, where the outbreak originated. HOPE also distributed more than 400,000 face masks to four hospitals in Wuhan.

In total, Project HOPE has distributed more than 5 million pieces of personal protective equipment to over 27 hospitals across Hubei, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Anhui and Sichuan provinces and Shanghai since the outbreak began in January. Upcoming distributions include 15 ventilators, 12 medical air compressors, 10 disinfection machines, and 2,100 surgical gowns.

Additionally, HOPE is expanding its COVID-19 strategy in response to the number of cases rapidly increasing around the world and requests from local governments and partners. In addition to procuring and distributing medical equipment and supplies in China, HOPE will focus on strengthening the preparedness of global health care workers, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

Project HOPE is partnering with the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies at the Watson Institute of Brown University to develop a health worker training package designed to rapidly and sustainably scale-up local capacity for COVID-19 preparedness and response, which will be piloted following requests from the Ministries of Health in Macedonia and Kosovo. Additionally, we are working with our country leadership in other geographies including North Macedonia, Kosovo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Colombia to determine their exact preparedness needs and how we can support their ministries of health, front line health workers, and communities to better detect, contain, and respond to this viral threat.

Friday, February 28, 2020: HOPE Teams Worldwide Preparing for Pandemic Threat

HOPE teams around the world are working to prepare countries and communities that are particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19, including in the Balkans, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Colombia and other high-risk environments.

As COVID-19 continues to spread, HOPE is identifying critical areas for support and is ready to assist. Programmatic areas could include: trainings on infection, prevention and control to protect nurses and other frontline health workers; advising governments on policy development and coordination; and supporting health outreach workers to conduct community-based surveillance, reporting, and contact tracing.

In China, HOPE continues to procure personal protective equipment and medical equipment for distribution. The following procurements are expected to be delivered to hospitals in Wuhan and other areas of need in the coming weeks:

• 15 ventilators and 12 medical air compressors
• 495,000 face masks
• 20 defibrillators and 20 patient monitors
• 1,500 masks and 500 face shields
• More than 2,100 surgical gowns

To date, supplies have been delivered to more than 22 hospitals across Hubei Province, Shanghai, Yunan Province, Jiangsu Province, Anhui Province, and Sichuan Province.

Sunday, February 23, 2020: Project HOPE Partners with United Airlines

United Airlines is donating funds to deliver desperately needed ventilators to 11 hospitals in Hubei Province, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, which remains under lockdown and continues to host the highest number of cases.

The ventilators, which can help save the life of a critically ill patient with a respiratory illness like COVID-19, will be delivered to the hospitals by Project HOPE’s team in China in coming days.

Read the press release here.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020: HOPE Has Now Distributed 4.5 Million Pieces of Protective Equipment

As health workers inside China continue to battle the spread of COVID-19, Project HOPE has now distributed more than 4.5 million pieces of personal protective equipment, including a recent shipment of 1.8 million respirator masks and 80,000 isolation gowns for use inside Shanghai and Hubei Province.

Last week, the Project HOPE team in China received a shipment of PPE donated by MedShare, SOS, Goods 360, and Mission Outreach, which arrived via donated flights from the UPS Foundation with additional support from the Coca-Cola Foundation. In addition to the respirator masks and isolation gowns, the shipment included other PPE such as surgical gowns, scrubs, caps and shoe covers.

Since February 3, HOPE has distributed more than 2 million face masks, 11,000 protective suits, and 280,000 pairs of exam gloves to public hospitals in Wuhan.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020: HOPE Receives 17 Tons of Protective Gear in Wuhan

Project HOPE has received a 17-ton shipment of protective equipment and medical supplies brought to Wuhan via four aircraft charted by the U.S. Department of State. The supplies include protective gear, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid donated by U.S. businesses and relief organizations. Project HOPE received the supplies and is working with the Hubei Charity Federation to facilitate deliveries to hospitals on the front lines of the outbreak.

Additionally, HOPE recently distributed protective equipment and supplies donated by MedShare and MAP International to the Neurology Department at Xinhua Hospital in Wuhan. Prior to this shipment, each doctor in the Neurology Department had one coverall suit that had been used for at least a week and was disinfected only with UV rays at the end of each day.

Project HOPE is working to facilitate two more airlifts of personal protective equipment this week and continues to support frontline health workers in Wuhan and Shanghai.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020: Two More Shipments of Protective Equipment En Route to China

Two shipments containing over 100 pallets of personal protective equipment are currently in transit to Wuhan and Shanghai, China, as Project HOPE continues to mobilize support for frontline health workers fighting the coronavirus outbreak. The shipments are bound for the Hubei Provincial Charity Federation and Shanghai Children’s Medical Center.

Our first large-scale shipment was transported to Wuhan on February 3, containing over 2 million N95 masks, 11,000 protective suits, and 280,000 pairs of nitrile gloves, which were distributed to six public hospitals in Wuhan. A second shipment containing 220,000 face masks, 870 pairs of protective goggles, and more than 6,500 pairs of protective coveralls was distributed to Shanghai Children’s Medical Center on February 4.

Monday, February 3, 2020: First Delivery of Protective Equipment Arrives in China

Project HOPE staff in China have received the first shipment of critically needed protective equipment, including 2 million face masks, 11,000 protective suits, and 280,000 pairs of exam gloves provided by MAP International and MedShare, utilizing in-kind transport from UPS.

Additionally, part of a second shipment has also arrived, including 12 pallets of protective equipment donated by Latter-day Saint Charities. This shipment has been delivered to the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. An additional four deliveries of 68 more pallets will arrive Tuesday.

As China continues to urgently call for medical equipment and surgical masks, additional airlifts of protective equipment are planned in the coming days and weeks.

 

Friday, January 31, 2020: First Delivery of Protective Equipment En Route to China

 

Thursday, January 30, 2020: Project HOPE is Airlifting Supplies to the Front Lines of the Virus