Continuing to Fight COVID-19 Around the World
In the 29 countries where we operate, we continue to provide essential medical assistance and training. Here are some highlights from our global response.
Responding in the United States
In the US, we are supporting 42 hospitals across the country — including in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Puerto Rico and Texas — with a range of services and equipment, including emergency medical field units, supplies and volunteer staff.
We are also supporting vaccination efforts at Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital and at Kedren Community Health Center, both of which serve vulnerable populations in Central and South Los Angeles.
Responding Around the World
In Jordan, we’re helping residents of Azraq and Zaatari refugee camps get their COVID-19 vaccinations by helping them register for the vaccine, and providing free pre-vaccine health checks, transport, information on the vaccine and follow-up care if needed.
In Lebanon, COVID-19 is pushing the healthcare sector beyond its limits. In collaboration with the European Union in Lebanon, we’re working with the Akkar municipalities and Bireh primary healthcare clinic to provide home care to patients who have mild to moderate COVID symptoms.
In the Philippines, our teams handed out hygiene kits to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community of Angono in the Rizal province.
Battling Ebola Outbreaks in the DRC and Guinea
Nearly four months following the end of the 11th outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in November 2020 in the western province of Équateur, a new outbreak of Ebola was confirmed in the northeastern province of North Kivu on February 7. Our team is caring for confirmed and suspected cases at a facility that previously had been used to manage COVID-19 cases.
On February 14, an outbreak of Ebola was declared in Guinea. This is the first time the disease has been reported in the region since the world’s largest outbreak of the disease — which we played a key role in ending — was officially declared over in 2016. Our team in Guinea is in touch with local health authorities and is ready to respond as appropriate.
🇬🇳 An #Ebola outbreak was declared in Guinea. We have emergency response team members on the ground and we're ready to respond as appropriate.
We're also monitoring the risk of Ebola spreading to neighboring Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Mali. Learn more ➡️ https://t.co/4JAtzdc72a pic.twitter.com/787dCJNuGV
— International Medical Corps (@IMC_Worldwide) February 19, 2021
Sharing Some Love with Our Health Heroes on the Frontlines of COVID-19
On Valentine’s Day, more than 1,100 people from around the world came together to share some love and thank our health heroes for fighting COVID-19 and saving lives!
💙 Thank you to everyone who signed our Valentine’s Day card thanking the health heroes on the frontlines of tackling #COVID19! See just a few of the lovely messages that people sent ➡️ https://t.co/nAgZNMLpMo pic.twitter.com/EuHrL8hBJu
— International Medical Corps (@IMC_Worldwide) February 26, 2021
Providing Medical Services and Training in Afghanistan
With support from USAID, we provided week-long mental health training sessions to our team in the Balkh province of Afghanistan, an area hit hard by COVID-19.
Our team is also tackling gender-based violence by working with community leaders to challenge and discuss longstanding beliefs that adversely affect women and girls.
Climbing Everest to Support our Lifesaving Work Worldwide
Dr. Michael Paterson deployed with us to help COVID-19 patients in New York City last spring. Now, he is taking on a new challenge — climbing Mount Everest. And he’s using his climb to raise awareness and funds to get lifesaving care to people in need. Meet Dr. Paterson and learn how he is preparing for the climb of a lifetime.
We love it when people find creative ways to support our work!
Dr. Michael Paterson is preparing for the climb of a lifetime 🏔️ while raising money to support our lifesaving work. Follow his journey to the top of the world and donate ➡️ https://t.co/2EDAxnWoxh pic.twitter.com/35n5LqSkOl
— International Medical Corps (@IMC_Worldwide) March 3, 2021