Feel Good Friday - Project HOPE

In times like this when there is so much going on in the world it’s easy to get overwhelmed. My goal with the Feel Good Friday blog is to stay focused on the positive so today, we’re going to learn about Project HOPE and their response to the recent earthquake in Haiti.
 
On August 14, Haiti was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Over 2,000 people have died and 500,000 need humanitarian assistance. “Project HOPE’s Emergency Response Team is on the ground in the Sud department, delivering critical medicines and medical supplies, including bandages, sutures, and antibiotics, to health facilities in Les Cayes and the surrounding area.”

Founded in 1958, Project HOPE is “a global health and humanitarian relief organization that places power in the hands of health care workers to save lives across the globe.” They have both global and local staff comprised of technical experts and medical volunteers who work in over 100 countries to build the capacity of the health workforce in communities that need it most.
 
Their work encompasses several different areas including: Global Health Security, Health Equity, Infectious Diseases, Training Health Care Workers, Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health, Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Health Affairs. Two programs I’m going to highlight are their responses to disasters and COVID-19.
 
When there is a natural disaster or health crisis, Project HOPE deploys staff and volunteers to provide medical support and works with local health facilities to distribute medicine and relief supplies. This is what their teams in Haiti are doing now. They also stay in the location to train health care workers, provide emergency preparedness training and help health systems rebuild. In 2020, Project HOPE helped 170,000 people affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
 
In response to COVID-19, “Project HOPE has delivered over 17.5 million pieces of PPE and over 5,000 pieces of medical equipment, hygiene, and sanitation supplies, trained more than 116,000 health workers and frontline personnel, and reached more than 150 countries worldwide, including the U.S.”

In 2020, Project HOPE helped 1.4 million people through their global health programs and donated $56.2 million in essential equipment, medicines, and medical supplies. To support them in this work there are several ways to get involved. If you have a health care background you can volunteer. You can also help fund their programs with a donation and raise awareness of their work by liking their Facebook page and following them on Instagram and Twitter @projecthopeorg.