#Snapshots January
From the Philippines to Puerto Rico, see the impact you’ve had as a supporter of our work this month.
You Made a Difference in 2019
In 2019, you helped us change lives all across the world. Watch the incredible progress that your support made possible.
Helping People Affected by the Puerto Rico Earthquakes
On January 7, Puerto Rico was hit by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake along its southern coast — the strongest in a string of escalating seismic activity that started on December 28.
Our team on the ground is providing mental health and psychological support to those in need, as well as providing relief supplies, including portable showers and toilets, blankets, cots and more.
Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak
A new Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from Wuhan, China, was identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in December 2019, and has now spread around the globe, prompting WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
We’re tracking the situation closely, leveraging the expertise of staff who have deep expertise in battling infectious disease, including the SARS epidemic in China and Asia, and outbreaks of Ebola in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We are responding in five high-risk countries — the Philippines, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Nigeria, and the DRC — helping with infection prevention and control (IPC); case management; training-the-trainer sessions on communicable disease prevention; establishing emergency coordination and partnerships; and proper use and access to personal protective equipment (PPE).
We stand ready to respond to the medical needs of affected populations when requested by the WHO or to operate independently if the need arises. Click here for more information.
Responding to Multiple Emergencies in the Philippines
Our team was already on the ground in the Philippines, helping victims affected by December’s Typhoon Phanfone, when the Taal Volcano — located in the Philippines — began erupting on January 12.
We have scaled up our operations to support the increased needs attributed to the eruption of the volcano, and continue to meet with key stakeholders and identify strategies to support needs as the disaster moves from emergency to the recovery phase.
Saving Lives in Burundi
More than 8 million cases of malaria have been reported in Burundi. This means that as many as 80% of Burundi’s people experienced an episode of malaria during the past year.
In response, we’re helping the Ministry of Health implement a new malaria treatment protocol in the four northern provinces of Muyinga, Kirundo, Ngozi and Kayanza, reaching more than 500,000 people with health services, building the capacity of service providers and community health workers to fight the disease, and mobilizing the community to adopt behaviors to prevent malaria.
Battling Stress and Depression Through Sports
There’s little space for youth recreational activities at the Khazir displacement camp in northern Iraq, nor is there a place where adolescents can relax and enjoy other informal social interactions.
To create opportunities for more physical activity, one of our community health workers, Anmar Anmar Ali Muhammed, recently organized a number of events — including a soccer match and an educational session — for some 20 young people, as part of a broader effort to offer young people more-structured, yet informal activities. Get the full story here.
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