A Note from Paul Moore II, CitiHope's President and CEO
Today the World Health Organization (WHO) officially designated the novel coronavirus COVID-19 a pandemic. Globally, governments and health care providers are taking extraordinary measures to slow and prevent the spread of this frightening illness. We applaud the calls for calm and celebrate the strong response we have seen from regular people who are doing all they can to wisely respond. I don’t know about you, but I am greatly encouraged to know so many people are striving for clean hands and best personal health practices.
While moments like this can be alarming, my 30+ years of visiting hospitals around the world fill me with hope. CitiHope has worked among the most difficult global disasters of our age, responding to earthquakes and tsunamis, the aftermath of Chernobyl and the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, plus sending significant help to those fighting communicable diseases such as Cholera, Hepatitis, Malaria and HIV/AIDS. In every situation I have witnessed the unmatchable impact those who care have in resolving even the most devastating circumstances.
Now, more than ever, it is clear to me how important it is for us to serve those in need. When our neighbor is weak and sick it is more than just heartless to fail to respond, it is foolish. By strengthening beleaguered healthcare systems around the world, we not only love those less fortunate, but we protect the health of our whole planet. Together, we can overcome anything and COVID-19 will be no different.
In the Dominican Republic, Sanar Una Nación (the health alliance CitiHope is a proud member of) is taking bold steps to inform the public on preventative care through social and local media. We are ensuring needed medicines are accessible to the hospitals we serve and are providing excellent nutrition to some of the most vulnerable (which is one of the best lines of defense against the spread of any illness).
While there is no cure for COVID-19 yet, there is much we can do to help prevent its spread. One of the risk factors is preexisting health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer; all of which CitiHope helps treat through the delivery of tens of millions of dollars’ worth of medicine each year to the Caribbean, Africa, South America, Eastern Europe, and here at home in the United States.
I encourage you to watch, pray, and act with all of us at CitiHope as the world responds to this crisis and each one of us takes smart and preventative steps to protect the health of ourselves and others. Do not give in to fear but be wise. Together we will surely make a world of difference for good!