Tropical Disease Foundation, Inc. would like to thank each and everyone who has contributed to this effort in sending love to TB patients and healthcare frontliners who has been affected by tuberculosis and the pandemic. Your donations were converted to food support allocations to patients, infection control personal protective equipment and food supply during the enhance community quarantine of the healthcare frontliners who were not able to go home due to the risk of COVID-19.
With this, we would like to close the campaign and we hope to open another campaign soon!
We pray for everyone's safety during this difficult time.
Personal protective equipment is a vital part of TDF healthcare workers role in laboratory processing and COVID-19 response. During the height of the pandemic it was difficulty to procure respirators due to the scarcity of supply and high cost of items being offered the medical market. Through your generosity and other donor channels you were able to provided the laboratory team with the needed supply of respirators which are a scarcity in the Philippine market. We were able to purchase 10, 3M NIOSH 7093 respirators through the GlobalGiving initiative which are all being used by our laboratory personnel to process both tuberculosis and COVID-19 assays.
The respirators will provide exceptional 99.97% filter efficiency that is required in handling infectious material. The fight is not over, with full hearts and spirits, the Foundation is continuing its service through TB and COVID-19 testing despite the community quarantine imposed in out country.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you very much!
On March 16, 2020, the President of the Philippines put the entire country in Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which has globally affected the world. The Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF), its staff, and especially the patents were hard hit with the crisis. It was difficult especially with the new normal guidelines and The clinic staff struggled to send TB medication to patients undergoing the different treatment regimens due to the unavailability of public transportation. Though difficult, the true essence of camaraderie which we call "bayanihan" in the Philippines shined.
TDF Clinic staff applied different ways on how to cope without disrupting the patient management through home deliveries of medication and utilizing telemedicine tools for consults. TDF Laboratory continued to process specimens and was recently accredited at the end of May to be an official COVID-19 testing site.
With your generous help, we were able to provide rice subsidy to the staff who were not able to go home due to the lack of public transportation and safety. Part of the proceeds of the GlobalGiving of "Sending Love to 100 TB patients" was allocated to the frontline health workers for food subsidy.
TDF is adjusting to the "new normal" and we hope to continue our advocacy and gratitude despite the new challenges that come our way. This pandemic has taught us to be adaptable and resilient despite the healthcare challenges, we salute our front liners for their bravery and selflessness to aid those heavily affected of TB in time of COVID-19.
We hope that we continue to inspire interest to our donors and we thank you in advance.
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It can only be described as excitement as Tropical Disease Foundation received the funds raised from the GlobalGiving initiative last December 2019. The first activity was planned to be a surprise for the patients.
Last February 20, 2020 the Clinic Staff called for a General Assembly and created a short program to kickstart the year. The topic was to educate and answer any questions on tuberculosis, treatment and advise patients on simple infection control techniques such as washing hands and practicing proper cough etiquette can help limit the spread of infections.
The event was attended by over 20 patients, some of which are "graduating" from the program and some where new. It came to their suprise to see a banner with the title "Gift Giving Series" and started to ask questions what it was all about. We smiled behind our masks and told them we will reveal later during the program.
Finally, when it came to the reveal, the patients were surprised to know that they will be handed groceries and rice subsidies. They were all very happy and excited to receive the gifts from our Donors.
One patient exclaimed, "I did not expect this, our family is in need of rice and this came as a blessing".
Another commented, "I am close to tears, I did not expect this at all".
After the grocery packs and rice bags were handed out a small meal was shared to close the event.
The unexpected gift was well received, it was a resounding gratitude to the GlobalGiving Donors, "Thank you from the bottom of our patient's hearts", says our Patient Leader.
It is the goal of the Foundation to provide not just the program necessities of TB management but also that extra mile in giving care and understanding the needs and struggles of each and every patient.
This is just the beginning. TDF will have consecutive activities leading up to World TB Day, more updates to follow.
To GlobalGiving, thank you for this opportunity to share the love.
To our generous Secret Santa Donors, you are all a blessing, your donations have touched all of our hearts and we hope and pray that you all be well.
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