It’s the “dress rehearsal” for the Covid vaccine effort, said Dr. Ron Yee, the Chief Medical Officer of the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Many health centers—pegged as key players in President Biden’s vaccination plan—are preparing to receive their first allotment of doses, if they haven’t already. Staff are securing refrigerators for cold-chain storage and conducting patient outreach—similar to how they might prepare for a typical flu season. And at health centers that have already received the vaccine, providers are carrying out familiar processes: reviewing medical records, screening for contraindications, and updating immunization registries.

In Los Angeles, California, the staff at QueensCare Health Centers are planning to emulate the socially distanced flu clinics they held last fall.

“We’ve learned a lot about how we can bring a lot of people to an event and then vaccinate a large amount in a short period of time,” said Marina Snitman, the director of pharmacy at QHC. In addition to a pop-up clinic, the health center set up a drive thru site where patients could come get vaccinated without leaving their cars.

While the basics are comparable, administering the Covid-19 vaccine does present unique challenges, from storage requirements to distribution. “Flu, fortunately or unfortunately, is a lot easier than the Covid vaccine,” said Snitman.

For health centers like QHC, who serve anyone regardless of their ability to pay, the eligibility requirement adds a layer of complexity. “We have to make sure patients belong to a particular tier,” explained Snitman, “whereas the flu is ‘Come and get it,’ no matter how old or where you work.”

Determining a patient’s age is relatively easy, according to Snitman. But verifying where they work could prove more difficult. Though plans have yet to be solidified, the health center is considering sending out a survey or administering a questionnaire upon check-in to gauge the type of work patients do.

Despite the red tape, Snitman says her objective remains the same: “To vaccinate everybody who wants a vaccine,” an admirable, but ambitious goal, especially if flu vaccination rates are any indication.

According to the CDC, just under 50% of the U.S. adult population receive their annual flu shot, and that’s not simply because they don’t want it.

There are “so many competing priorities and competing stresses in [people’s] lives,” said Elisabeth Gundersen, the President of Medspire Health Mobile Clinic in Butte County, California. “They want the vaccine and they understand the importance of it, but it takes a lower priority to the other things that they’re dealing with.”

Many of Gundersen’s patients—some of whom lost their homes in the 2018 Camp Fire—are experiencing food insecurity, joblessness and homelessness.

During Medspire’s annual flu vaccine drive, teams of medical volunteers go to local trailer parks and homeless encampments to offer the vaccine to those with limited access to medical care. “The traditional medical system is that patients come to us at our convenience as providers, but as we know that doesn’t work for a lot of people,” said Gundersen.

As the clinic prepares to administer the Covid-19 vaccine, they expect to follow a similar model: homeless outreach, pop-up clinics, and home visits for those unable to make clinic hours.

One difference will be the extent to which they address vaccine hesitancy. “There’s a lot of very common myths out there,” said Gundersen.

Given the rapid development of the Covid-19 vaccine, many of her patients have expressed concerns about its safety. Others are generally dubious of conventional medicine. “There’s this fear of government control,” she said. “’Is this something the government is doing because they want to control me?’ That’s something I’ve heard multiple times.”

Medspire plans to work up a series of informational materials addressing common questions and misconceptions about the vaccine. But, according to Gundersen, the most effective means of dispelling hesitancy is one-on-one communication. “Listening to [patients], hearing them, and in speaking to the concerns, alleviate them. That’s also really important.”

This kind of communication builds trust with patients, says Gundersen, making street medicine providers particularly well-positioned to administer a vaccine for Covid-19.

“You’re not going to get people struggling with homelessness and mental health to come to, for example, the Oakland Colosseum to get a vaccine,” explained Gundersen. According to Medspire’s model, a personalized approach is key.

“We know people by name. We know which trailer they live in. If we can’t find them, we know who their friend is,” she said. “It’s a tightly knit community.”

During the 2020 flu season, Direct Relief distributed over 32,000 flu vaccines to safety net providers across the United States, including to QueensCare Health Centers, which hosted flu clinics with the support of Direct Relief and Clorox, and to Medspire, which also received donated flu vaccines. Direct Relief also provided more than 9,000 vouchers for free flu shots at CVS pharmacy.

The post Annual Flu Clinics Provide Template for Covid Vaccinations appeared first on Direct Relief.

In the year since, Direct Relief has emerged as one of the largest charitable providers of personal protective gear (PPE) and critical care medications globally, having delivered more than 82 million units of PPE, 173 million defined daily doses of vital medicines, and 36 thousand pieces of diagnostic and intensive care equipment to thousands of local organizations across 100 countries, including the U.S.

The organization has also supported health care providers with more than $50 million in direct financial assistance to sustain care and expand services that include mobile and pop-up testing sites, telehealth expansion, and greater cold chain capacity.

For an overview of Direct Relief’s activities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, please continue reading.

Financial Summary

Covid-19 Pandemic Donations

Jan. 27, 2020 – Jan. 27, 2021

Direct Relief does not accept government funding. Its work is made possible entirely through the support of companies, organizations, foundations, and individuals.

The organization recognizes that supporters who made generous contributions of funding, services, and in-kind goods amid the pandemic did so with the specific intent that their contributions fight Covid-19 and its devastating consequences. In accepting funds as part of its Covid-19 response, Direct Relief understands that these supporters deserve to know precisely how those funds have been and will be disbursed.

Direct Relief received more than 151,000 financial contributions designated for Covid-19, totaling $125.8 million.

Some of these Covid-19-designated donations also had additional restrictions from donors requiring the funds be used for a particular region or country. All designated funds have been respected, administered, and disbursed accordingly.

How Were Funds Used

Direct Relief initiated its Covid-19 response activities using general operating funds. As Direct Relief began receiving funds donated for Covid-19, it expanded its activities and spending accordingly. The situation remains dynamic, with designated funds continuing to be accepted. Direct Relief takes great care to deploy incoming funds responsibly, efficiently, and as rapidly as possible, consistent with donors’ intent.

The following offers a snapshot of the total Covid-19 donations received over the past year:

To date, Direct Relief has spent or committed a total of $83.5 million in cash (66% of the $125.8 million received) in its pandemic response — which continues at high-pace.

Of that amount, $40.8 million has been spent or committed as direct grants to organizations on the frontlines of the pandemic, $35.6 million has been spent on purchasing essential medical items not available through donation, and $7.1 million was spent to distribute all material and financial assistance provided in response to Covid-19, as described below.

Covid-19 Response

By the numbers

Jan. 27, 2020 – Jan. 27, 2021

Grant Making

Medical Aid

Protective Gear

Medical Material Support

Direct Relief has been responding to the pandemic since its earliest days, beginning with requests for help from overstretched hospitals in Wuhan, China. From there, Direct Relief’s response quickly expanded to the United States and the rest of the world.

Since Jan. 2020, the organization has provided support to more than 3,000 partner organizations fighting Covid-19 worldwide.

As of Jan. 27, 2021, that support has included more than 29,000 medical aid shipments totaling 4.9 million pounds and valued at $1.3 billion. Medical aid has reached organizations in 55 U.S. states and territories and 100 countries.

Material support has taken several distinct forms:

• Supplies to protect frontline health workers: Direct Relief provided masks, gloves, gowns, powered air-purifying respirators, face shields, and other PPE to health care organizations globally.
• Medical resources for intensive care: As the pandemic strained hospital resources, the organization provided ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and ICU medications to help overstretched hospitals treat patients with critical cases of Covid-19.
• Ongoing support for chronic health: To minimize interruptions to essential health services, including primary and specialty care, maternal and child health services, mental health treatment, and substance use disorder interventions, Direct Relief provided a wide range of support — chronic health medications, the overdose-reversing medication naloxone, midwife kits, and more.

Direct Relief arranged for and managed the logistics, transport, and delivery of all products to health facilities – free-of-charge.

Direct Financial Assistance

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, designated contributions have allowed Direct Relief to bolster the health care system with financial assistance and support the efforts of locally run organizations with strong ties to their communities.

Thanks to corporate and individual donors’ generosity, Direct Relief has granted more than $53 million in cash worldwide since Jan. 27, 2020.

Grant recipients include health centers, clinics, and locally run organizations providing vital care, testing, and other health care services during the pandemic. These grants helped sustain strained health facilities, keep patients out of hospitals, maintain continuity of care, and fund Covid-19 testing and vaccinations.

For a list of health care facilities and organizations worldwide that have received direct funding from Direct Relief in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, click here.

Covid-19 Response

By Region

United States

• Grants Disbursed: $48.6 million
• Material Aid Provided: $284.3 million
  • Shipments: 28.8 thousand
  • PPE: 21.3 million units
  • Medications: 48.6 million Defined Daily Doses
  • ICU Kits: 178
  • Ventilators & oxygen concentrators: 1,046

Americas

• Grants Disbursed: $405 thousand
• Material Aid Provided: $341 million
  • Shipments: 260
  • PPE: 8.2 million units
  • Medications: 61.1 million Defined Daily Doses
  • ICU Kits: 84
  • Ventilators & oxygen concentrators: 1,497 units

Asia

• Grants Disbursed: $1.3 million
• Material Aid Provided: $169.6 million
  • Shipments: 234
  • PPE: 4.1 million units
  • Medications: 15.6 million defined daily doses
  • ICU Kits: 58
  • Ventilators & oxygen concentrators: 420 units

Africa

• Grants Disbursed: $1.26 million
• Material Aid Provided: $489 million
  • Shipments: 234
  • PPE: 42.4 million units
  • Medications: 27.9 million defined daily doses
  • ICU kits: 73
  • Ventilators & oxygen concentrators: 326

Europe

• Grants Disbursed: $503 thousand
• Material Aid Provided: $33.1 million
  • Shipments: 50
  • PPE: 1.4 million units
  • Medications: 1.5 million defined daily doses
  • ICU kits: 4
  • Ventilators & oxygen concentrators: 524

Applied Research and Analytics

Even before the pandemic, Direct Relief had facilitated emergency managers’ use of population movement and other data for decision-making purposes, including in Texas, California, and Michigan.

When Covid-19 hit, it was immediately apparent that this kind of data would be an essential tool for analyzing social distancing effectiveness.

In March of 2020, Direct Relief, with researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, established the Covid-19 Mobility Data Network. The network, comprised of a group of about 70 infectious disease epidemiologists and other researchers, began creating simple, usable data projects to help public health officials and policymakers understand the impacts of social distancing measures in a given area.

Officials have used the group’s research and information tools in the UK, Spain, Italy, India, Australia, Botswana, Chile, and other countries. The data used for these analyses is hosted on the UN’s Humanitarian Data Exchange, allowing governments worldwide to receive support or analyze the data themselves.

While the Covid-19 Mobility Data Network was convened because of an emergency, Direct Relief and the researchers wanted to ensure that similar data would be readily available in a clear and actionable form and on an ongoing basis for future crises, including wildfires and hurricanes.

CrisisReady, working with the World Bank, is in the initial stages of creating a global emergency response network, which will launch in March-April of 2021.

In addition, Direct Relief is funding two researchers whose essential work combines population movement data and health crisis analysis: Pamela Martinez at the University of Illinois and Amy Wesolowski at Johns Hopkins University.

Among the resources developed by Direct Relief to inform and track its pandemic response are the following:

• The Covid-19 International Vulnerability Index examines population movement data and information about case counts, hospital beds, and other vulnerability indicators to generate actionable information and analysis.
• The United States forecast map draws on anonymized data to predict the spread of Covid-19.
• The United States pandemic response tracker shows Direct Relief’s distribution of medical aid across the country.
• The international pandemic response tracker shows the organization’s global distribution.

Looking forward

The remaining funds designated for the pandemic will enable Direct Relief to continue its worldwide response, focusing on:

1. Supporting vaccination efforts

• Expanding cold-chain storage and transport at hospitals and health centers and providing coolers for mobile vaccination campaigns.
• Providing needles and syringes to administer vaccines.
• Supplying PPE to health workers giving vaccinations.
• Funding education, awareness, and outreach campaigns at health centers and hospitals, particularly in poor communities and communities of color.
• Employing digital tools and artificial intelligence to determine low vaccine uptake areas and provide that information to policymakers and public health officials.
• Funding health centers that experience reimbursement gaps after administering vaccines.
• Increasing Direct Relief’s internal capabilities to receive, store, and distribute the vaccine.
• Supporting the opening of large-scale vaccination sites with funding and supplies.
• Providing back-up power sources to health care sites at risk of power loss, which can destroy vaccines.

2. Addressing Covid-19 gaps in hardest-hit areas

• Funding health initiatives in primarily minority communities hit disproportionately hard by the pandemic.
• Providing grants to health care providers in the United States and around the world struggling to care for patients affected by Covid-19.
• Continuing to provide critical care medications, oxygen concentrators, and ventilators to hospitals worldwide caring for Covid-19 patients.
• Supplying PPE to providers unable to access these lifesaving supplies reliably.
• Establishing and funding Covid-19 treatment and isolation wards ensures that low-resource areas have the resources to care for Covid-19 patients safely.
• Providing health care support for Covid-19 patients to recover at home, freeing hospital beds for more critical cases.

3. Continuing support for people with other health care needs:

• While global health resources are diverted towards preventing and treating Covid-19, fundamental health care needs continue.
• Babies continue to be born. The number of people with chronic conditions like diabetes and cancer is only growing. And children with diabetes, hemophilia, and rare diseases still need lifesaving therapies.
• As the pandemic continues, Direct Relief will continue to provide the essential medical aid required for their care.

Thank You

Direct Relief’s extensive ability to provide a wide range of medical aid, from PPE to medications intended for critical cases of Covid-19, would not have been possible without in-kind and financial donations from dozens of pharmaceutical and medical supply companies, with air transport and logistical services provided by FedEx.

Many of these organizations work closely with Direct Relief on an ongoing basis to fund and supply humanitarian projects and programs. However, the outpouring of support from corporate partners, both new and ongoing, has been unprecedented during the Covid-19 pandemic. Direct Relief is deeply grateful for their generosity and commitment.

Included among them are:

The post Covid-19 Relief: One-Year Report on Use of Funds and Response Activity appeared first on Direct Relief.

• Covid-19 cases are surging across the US, particularly in the Midwest. Direct Relief has responded by delivering more than 500 emergency shipments of PPE, critical care medication, and medical equipment to nearly 400 health facilities across 43 states and territories in the past week.

• Beirut hospitals receive $500,000 in funding, along with more than 875,000 defined daily doses of insulin valued at $5.2 million wholesale.

• Two US health centers fight the “twindemic” with Direct Relief-donated flu vaccines.

• Eritrean refugees threatened by Covid-19 receive care with PPE, thermometers, and other supplies donated by Direct Relief.

Top Stories

As Covid-19 Cases Surge Across the Midwest, Direct Relief Expands Support

The situation: The US is confronting a “third wave” of Covid-19, with heavy case concentrations in the Midwest. With the surge in patients, PPE and other essential supplies are once again in high demand.

The response: Direct Relief sent large shipments of medical aid to Montana, South Dakota, and Idaho, and allocated Covid-19 support kits, containing PPE and other medical supplies, to more than 50 healthcare providers across Midwestern states. Nationwide, Direct Relief sent more than 520 emergency shipments of critical care medicines, PPE, and medical equipment to nearly 400 facilities over the past week.

The impact: Medical staff reported that medical donations from Direct Relief were helping them provide primary, dental, and behavioral health care while keeping their staff members safe. “Our organization has been able to maintain a lower positivity rate than our state,” one health center reported.

Emergency Grants, Insulin Reach Beirut Hospitals Recovering from the Blast

The situation: Lebanon’s hospitals were already experiencing medication shortages before the Beirut blast. Since the explosion, doctors have worked to provide care in damaged facilities and treat chronic diseases amid acute shortages.

The response: A $500,000 Direct Relief grant is helping repair damaged hospitals and purchase medications. A separate donation of 35,000 vials (875,000 defined daily doses) of insulin worth $5.2 million arrived recently in Beirut.

The impact: The grants will repair laboratories, operating rooms, and other damaged medical facilities, while the insulin donation will reach thousands of people with diabetes throughout the country.

Direct Relief and Clorox Support Health Centers with Flu Vaccines

The situation: Health experts have repeatedly warned of a “twindemic,” a scenario in which already overburdened health systems deal simultaneously with large caseloads of Covid-19 and seasonal flu. But providers are experiencing shortages of flu vaccines.

The response: Health centers in Los Angeles and Chicago received thousands of flu vaccine doses from Direct Relief. The donation was made possible through a grant from Clorox.

The impact: Both health centers set up flu clinics designed to reach and inoculate hundreds of underserved patients.

PPE and Other Covid-19 Supplies Designated for Eritrean Refugees

The situation: Hundreds of thousands of Eritreans are displaced and residing in Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen, often in crowded refugee camps. Many lack access to clean water and basic health services, while care for chronic disease, stress, and Covid-19 is scarce at best.

The response: Direct Relief is providing 300,000 masks, along with face shields, infrared thermometers, gloves, and soap, to the American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa.

The impact: The supplies will help protect both refugees and health workers from Covid-19 in locations where social distancing isn’t possible.

In Brief

The United States

• As Tropical Storm Eta deluged the southeastern US, Direct Relief sent PPE, chronic disease medications, tetanus vaccines, and other medicines and supplies.

• The organization is working to bolster US hospitals, health centers, public health departments, and clinics with PPE, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and other medical aid as Covid-19 cases spike.

Around the World

• As Hurricane Iota barrels toward Central America, Direct Relief has sent 6 shipments of medical aid to Nicaragua and Honduras.

• The Covid-19 Action Fund is allowing community health workers across Africa to carry out their work, including a vaccination effort aimed at protecting 3 million children in the Democratic Republic of Congo from polio.

• As the Philippines experiences a series of devastating typhoons – with four more expected before the year’s end – Direct Relief has in-country staff working with local groups to meet needs on the ground. Direct Relief supplies are also being deployed from the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management warehouse in Manila.

The post Global Update: Responding to Surge in U.S. Covid Cases, Supporting Beirut Hospitals, and Preventing a ‘Twindemic’ appeared first on Direct Relief.

Amid this most recent surge of the pandemic in the U.S., community health center doctors, pharmacists, and executives are continuing to stress the increased importance of getting a flu vaccination this year. Two health centers – one in Los Angeles and another in Chicago – are increasing access to flu vaccines for their patients as part of a new outreach effort, supported by Direct Relief and Clorox, at a time when health experts are warning about the possibility of a “twindemic,” a scenario where seasonal flu cases rise even as Covid-19 cases also continue on the upswing.

“The flu clinic is even more important this year because of the pandemic, We want to decrease the likelihood of other influenza-like illnesses like Covid-19, and so we want to get everyone protected, so they can protect themselves, their family, and the community,” said Dr. Edward Liao, chief medical officer at QueensCare Health Centers (QHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center with locations across Los Angeles County.

“There’s a much greater sense of urgency this year because of the pandemic and understanding our health care system is strained as it is,” QHC’s CEO Barbara Hines said. Her clinic has about 100,000 patient visits per year.

With the encouragement to get patients vaccinated, community health centers across the U.S. have created new initiatives to help expand awareness and access to flu shots during this pandemic.

“Things are very different this year and we had to think outside the box about how we could deliver flu vaccines to staff patients,” said Gabriela Alvarez, registered nurse manager at Esperanza Health Centers in Chicago, which serves over 20,000 patients. “Because of Covid, we figured it would be safer to do it outside the building,” she said, due to fears of overcrowding inside their facility.

The health center set up a drive-thru operation in their parking lot, which they are advertising across social media. It was set up in last month in hopes of getting as many people vaccines as they could prior to the onset of winter. Alvarez estimated that at least 30% of the patients being vaccinated are new patients for the clinic. Esperanza Health also conducts Covid-19 testing on the other side of the lot.

At the QHC location in East Los Angeles, a week-long flu clinic is set up this week on the second floor of the building. The clinic is the first flu-dedicated program QHC has done this season due to a shortage of flu vaccines for uninsured patients—a situation was rectified due to donations from Direct Relief and Clorox.

The clinic has two batches of the vaccine: one that they buy for their insured patients and one that they receive for free from the state for uninsured patients. This year, the state’s supply has been allocated differently, leading to delays and shortages for QHC, Snitman said. Other shortages have vexed them as well.

“It’s hard to get syringes and there are shortages everywhere, which makes it more difficult to run flu clinics such as these,” she said.

QHC decided to wait until they received both batches before administering flu shots, which they began weeks later than the usual start date, in mid-October, after receiving the donated vaccines. The reason they waited, Snitman said, was equity—they did not want to only vaccinate insured patients. Alvarez said Esperanza Health has not had shortages of the vaccines, but do have concerns about syringe availability.

Having product is key, but informing the public about availability and the importance of the vaccine is another, separate challenge—one Hines said was amongst the most difficult to address this year, due to many peoples’ reluctance to leave home, especially to go to a medical clinic. QHC produced videos and, like Esperanza Health, has engaged on social media as well. Providers at both clinics are also recommending the vaccine to patients during routine visits, as well as offering factual responses to patient questions.

“The usual concern is that people think they got the flu from the vaccines, which they didn’t, because it has an inactivated virus. But some people can get flu-like symptoms as a side effect. It’s even more important to get the vaccine this year because flu symptoms are so similar to Covid-19 symptoms, and that could lead to confusion and further complications in the health system,” Snitman said.

Another concern she often hears is related to the cost of the vaccine and, more broadly, cost of care at community health centers like QHC.

“We’re open to the community for whatever they need. People might not come in due to expense, but we don’t turn anyone away. We serve anyone regardless of their ability to pay. We’re here for you,” Snitman said.

On the QHC flu clinic’s opening day, Nilda Cruz, 41, of Maywood came in the morning for her first flu shot. She hoped to help “prevent what we’re going through,” she said, referring to the surge of cases and strain on medical resources. Her husband had reached out to the clinic directly to see if they had shots available.

Angelina and Alberto Tellez of East L.A. came on the first day of the flu clinic as well.

“It’s important for me to get the flu shot every year because I have asthma,” said Angelina Tellez.

“The winter is going to be harsher this year, so I think it’s important to get the shot,” said Alberto Tellez, who has received the shot for several years as well.

As the morning progressed, a steady stream of patients came in, each masked and screened for a fever before entering. Staff meticulously cleaned surfaces and reminded patients to keep physical distance from each other. Still, there was some congestion for limited periods of time. For health care providers, it’s yet another risk to balance.

“It’s inevitable to have another wave of Covid and we really want to make sure patients are as healthy as they can be and getting the flu shot is one thing they can do to stay safe this winter,” Alvarez said.

The post As Covid Cases Hit New Highs in U.S., Flu Shot Clinics Aim to Avoid “Twindemic” appeared first on Direct Relief.

“Direct Relief is doing everything it can to bolster the front lines of the country’s health safety net and workforce because they do the best job communicating public health information to millions of people, and the best job keeping people healthy and out of hospitals,” said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief’s President and CEO. “Both roles are even more critical now to reduce Covid-19 transmission and minimize the number of patients who become severely ill from the virus and require hospitalization.”

The vast network of Federally Qualified Health Centers is the largest primary care system in the United States, serving more than 29 million (1 in 11) U.S. residents, including 1 in 3 individuals living in poverty, 1 in 5 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1 in 5 rural Americans and 1 in 9 children.

Direct Relief is shipping protective gear this week both to FQHCs and free and charitable clinics, a separate category of community-based primary health care providers that operate 1,400 service locations and serve 2 million patients who are among the most vulnerable members of U.S. society.

All 1,000 deliveries are being made by FedEx as part of the company’s FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative. FedEx uses its global network and logistics expertise to help organizations with mission-critical needs in times of disaster and for special shipments.

The 250,000 N95 masks will diminish Direct Relief’s emergency PPE stockpile, which in recent weeks has been tapped to fill emergency requests from hundreds of U.S. health centers, clinics and hospitals in areas where Covid-19 cases have been confirmed.

Direct Relief has been working with global business partners for the past several weeks to secure replenishment stocks and has received indications that protective gear exports may soon resume from China, the world’s hub of PPE manufacturing.

Substantial recent donations will help Direct Relief cover the cost of purchasing new supplies of protective gear. While most of the medicine distributed by Direct Relief is donated by pharmaceutical makers, Direct Relief uses financial contributions it receives to purchase much of the PPE it then donates to health provider partners.

This week, the Clorox Company Foundation donated $3 million and Verizon donated $2.5 million in support of Direct Relief’s work to help frontline health care workers keep themselves safe while treating Covid-19 patients.

A recent Direct Relief survey of 612 community health providers found that 71% were very concerned or moderately concerned about their ability to manage a surge of Covid-19 patients, while only 28% were confident that they could secure a sufficient supply of PPE in the next one to two months.

“Direct Relief has never rested for a moment to ensure the nation’s Community Health Centers are ready to respond to any disaster or any public health emergency,” said Ronald Yee, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). “Working with NACHC to deliver these absolutely necessary and life-saving personal protection equipment supplies is a testament to the strength of our partnership. We still have much to do in responding to Covid-19, but together we—NACHC, Direct Relief, and Community Health Centers—will continue to be on the front lines every day responding for our communities.”

“Free and Charitable Clinics are on the front lines providing access to health care and battling Covid-19 for over 2 million patients in communities throughout the U.S.,” said Nicole Lamoureux, President and CEO of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. “In the face of this pandemic, our member organizations are challenged with dwindling resources and limited access to personal protective equipment for their staff and volunteers. This donation will allow clinics to continue the important work of providing health care to the uninsured and combating Covid-19, while ensuring their staff, volunteers and patients are safe in this uncertain time.”

As global supply chains have contracted as a result of the pandemic, Direct Relief has expanded its operations in the U.S. and globally.

Since January, Direct Relief has donated more than 966,000 N95 and surgical masks, more than 1.5 million gloves, and other items such as protective suits, to help safeguard health workers throughout the U.S. and internationally.

In the past week alone, Direct Relief has sent 900 deliveries to U.S. safety-net facilities, as well as hospitals and public health agencies.

Direct Relief also has proactively secured equipment and supplies for U.S. health facilities, including oxygen concentrators, projected to be necessary to treat Covid-19 patients recovering from the virus.

The post Protective Gear Bound for Approximately 1,000 U.S. Health Centers and Clinics Fighting Covid-19 appeared first on Direct Relief.