COVID-19 HHA Update

Dear supporters,

First and foremost, we hope you are safe and well during this challenging time.  We are very aware of the real impact COVID-19 is having on our supporters and keen to be sensitive to everyone’s specific situations in the coming months.

Yet, at the same time we are also acutely aware of the immediate impact COVID-19 is having on small NGOs like ours both financially with critical fundraising events being postponed, but also and more importantly acknowledging the very real impact on our projects overseas.  In the last week HHA and our partner hospital in Haiti have been actively implementing our COVID-19 preparations through meetings with the Ministry of Health, the development of a COVID-19 triage area and isolation ward, the stock-piling of essential medical materials, and staff training on the national strategy (pictured right).  

Whilst there are currently no confirmed cases in Haiti it is most likely and regrettably only a matter of time.  As with the devastating cholera epidemic in 2010/11 where HHA was at the forefront of efforts in northern Haiti, it is likely HHA and our partner hospital HCBH will once again be on the front line of the response in northern Haiti.  The potential impact in countries like Haiti and South Sudan is still unknown but it presents a significantly greater challenge than we are facing even in the UK.  For example, according to one report, Haiti only has 15 intensive care unit beds for over 10 million people (none of a western standard in our region), compared to just over 4,000 in the UK (one of the lowest numbers compared to the rest of Europe).  

Helping to support the Ministry of Health in Haiti will take significant resources and time for us, but we are committed to once again responding.  However, this comes against another critical challenge.  Just in the last few weeks our two major fundraising events of 2020 have been postponed which will have a significant immediate impact on our financial position both responding to COVID-19 but also keeping our other critical services going. 

We are very conscious that financial and health concerns remain a real fear for some our supporters at this time, so please feel free to use this email as nothing more than a news update or call to prayer.  But, for those who may be able to respond in the coming weeks and months, please do consider getting behind HHA with a donation at this time.  

On a practical level, our UK staff are now working from home, though still passionately doing all we can to overcome these challenges.  Please follow us on social media or check out our website for more regular updates in the coming months.

Stay safe and thanks for your continued prayers and support.

Much love,

Carwyn

CEO & Co-founder HHA