Photos: The Global Fight Against COVID-19

In Colombia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and beyond, the fight to slow COVID-19 starts at the local community level.
Posted: September 3, 2020

What does a global response to COVID-19 look like?

A doctor in the Dominican Republic getting the protective equipment her hospital desperately needs. A vulnerable community in Nigeria learning the information that will keep them safe. A busy market in Indonesia offering testing where it’s needed most.

Project HOPE’s global response to COVID-19 has distributed more than 9 million pieces of personal protective equipment, trained 68,000 frontline health workers, and reached 130 countries around the world. But the real impact is felt on the ground — in communities where the first and last line of defense against the virus are the people who live there.

Here are a few scenes of what that work looks like, and the people on the front lines who make it possible.

Colombia

A shipment of masks arrives at the Rudesindo Soto hospital in Cúcuta, Colombia, near the Venezuela border. Project HOPE is supporting contract tracing, lab confirmation, screening, and patient care in Colombia, and has also established a triage and screening system for respiratory patients in nearby Villa del Rosario. Photo by Valeria Polo for Project HOPE, 2020.

 

Project HOPE, in partnership with the Stabler Foundation, has helped maintain consistent maternal and newborn care in Colombia during the pandemic. Colombia is host to more than 1.6 million Venezuelans, stretching hospitals in cities like Cúcuta to near capacity. Photo by Valeria Polo for Project HOPE, 2020.

Dominican Republic

Dr. Evelyn Cueto smiles after delivering a Project HOPE donation of KN95 masks to the San Lorenzo de los Mina Maternity Hospital in Santo Domingo, where pregnant women and children with COVID-19 come for care. Photo by Evelyn Cueto, 2020.

Indonesia

A drawing by 9-year-old Alena, daughter of a Project HOPE team member in Indonesia, illustrating the fight against COVID-19.

Project HOPE is on the front lines of the fight in Indonesia, supporting health systems with PPE, health worker training, and COVID-19 testing, pictured below. Working with the regional health office in Bantul on the island of Java, Project HOPE set up COVID-19 testing in a traditional market where the virus had previously been detected.

In total, Project HOPE’s team in Indonesia has trained 600 Master Trainers, who have in turn trained over 40,000 frontline health workers across the country — including one virtual training event that was attended by 6,600 people.

Nigeria

Project HOPE team members and partners in Nigeria visit residents in the Whitesand area of Lagos, where Project HOPE works with partners to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on orphans and vulnerable children. The team met with community members to share important information about how to stay safe from COVID-19, which has seen sustained community spread throughout Lagos. Photo courtesy ICHSSA 2 Project, 2020.

Sierra Leone

Project HOPE team members speak to a Mother Care Group about how to protect their families from COVID-19. Mother Care Groups are an important part of community awareness in Sierra Leone — after receiving the training, these mothers spread awareness of COVID-19 signs and symptoms and share preventive measures throughout their communities. Photo courtesy Project HOPE Sierra Leone, 2020.

 

 

Project HOPE is supporting the Ministry of Health and Sanitation through large-scale communication campaigns including radio, public announcements, and distribution of posters and banners in public areas. To date, these efforts have reached over 16,000 community members with messaging about how to stay safe from COVID-19. Photo courtesy Project HOPE Sierra Leone, 2020.

Namibia

Dorin, 18, stitches a mask as her sewing teacher looks on. As part of Project HOPE’s DREAMS program, a group of girls in Windhoek started their own business sewing masks they sell to the local community. “Before, I really had nothing much to do,” Dorin says. “That’s why it was good for me to get involved and explore something new. DREAMS empowered me with a new skill. I learn things I never knew about myself.” Photo by Project HOPE Namibia, 2020.

Philippines

A shipment of masks arrives at a health facility in the Philippines, courtesy of Project HOPE and Americares. Project HOPE, with support from partners, is distributing critically needed PPE, training health care workers in COVID-19 preparedness and response, and supporting multiple hospitals across the country in infection prevention and control. Photo courtesy Americares, 2020.

United States

Whether in Houston, Chicago, Maryland, or Navajo Nation, Project HOPE’s medical volunteers are supporting hard-hit communities across the U.S. — providing patient care, conducting testing, and surge staffing ICUs.

How you can help

Make a lifesaving gift to support our work now and for the future at projecthope.org/donate.

Are you a health-care or other professional who would like to learn more about volunteering abroad with Project HOPE? Learn more about our volunteer program and join our volunteer roster.

Stay up-to-date on this story and our lifesaving work around the world by following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, and help spread the word by sharing stories that move and inspire you.

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