February 13, 2020
ALL HANDS ON DECK! Attention all health agencies and medical providers in a position to help hospitals in Wuhan, China deal with the coronavirus. The world’s leading infectious disease experts have stated the Coronavirus is spreading more like influenza than SARS or MERS and the chance of a global pandemic is high.
RIGHT NOW, CONDITIONS IN WUHAN ARE DIRE, despite efforts to help. There is a critical shortage of testing supplies, masks, isolation garments, and gloves. In at least one case, medical workers were wearing garbage bags to protect themselves from contracting the virus as they treat infected patients. PROJECT HOPE is mobilizing critical supplies and other support for front line health workers in China who have been battling the new coronavirus outbreak since December 2019. The first large-scale shipment arrived in Shanghai over the weekend and was transported to Wuhan on February 3. The shipment contained PPE that included over 2 million N95 masks, 11,000 protective suits, and 280,000 pairs of nitrile gloves, which were donated by MAP International and Med Share. The in-kind UPS flight was donated by the UPS Foundation. The Project HOPE team in China has successfully distributed these supplies to six public hospitals in Wuhan: Wuhan University Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University People’s Hospital, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan Union Hospital, Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, and Xinhua Hospital. Two additional shipments of PPE and medical equipments are currently in transit, but they aren’t enough. Wuhan has a population of more than 11 million.
THE CACCC CONNECTION: These health professionals in Wuhan are very close to our hearts. Each year, for the last three years, CACCC provided five day ELNEC trainings for 30+ RNs from hospitals in Wuhan, and other cities inHubei and Hunan Provinces. As a result of an invitation from Project HOPE, we also worked with Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Cancer Hospital,Tongji Hospital, Wuhan Union Hospital, and Chinese National Oncology Nurses Association Committee Conference, China. The training topics included Palliative Care, cultural issues, Pain Assessment and Pain Management, Symptom Management, Communication, Loss,Grief and Bereavement, Palliative Care,Hospice Care and bioethics, and Spirituality in Palliative Care. Also, to improve communication about end of life issues we trained Chinese health professionals to use CACCC’s Heart to Heart® cards and how to conduct our Heart to Heart® Cafés. Founder Sandy Chen Stokes conducted the training in the first two years. CACCC Board Member Dr. Gary Lee and one of the volunteers, Cheryl Chi joined Sandy in year three.
TO DONATE ITEMS AND/OR MONEY TO PROVIDE THEM: Contact CACCC partner organizations : Project HOPE, and Tzu Chi USA
URGENTLY NEEDED: Medical surgical masks ASTMF2100-ii, level 2 or level 3, Disposable medical masks and gloves, Medical isolation suits certified for prevention of viral transmission, Medical splash-proof goggles.