Help Avoid a COVID-19 Explosion Among Refugees

As we are now approaching more than a year since the COVID-19 virus began spreading across the globe, the impact has been felt in all areas of the world and at all levels of society.

Even those in the most advanced societies with a high degree of resources find themselves challenged by the immediate physical threat, as well as the major mental health stress and toll on day to day life that has become more limited, isolated, and insecure. The increasing availability of vaccines now allows for light at the end of the tunnel and the expectation hopeful anticipation that this unprecedented period threat and loss will eventually be coming to an end.

At the same time, the pandemic has increasingly revealed the dire plight of those both at most risk and continually at the end of the line for adequate health care even in better times for the world. As countries focus limited resources on their own citizens as a first priority, refugees find themselves left to fend for themselves with a dangerous lack of preventative care, treatment of symptoms if they do contract the virus, or even basic public health information about the pandemic they can utilize to reduce their risk.

In addition there is little or no availability of basic preventative supplies, such as masks and sanitizer, and as they are forced to congregate in large numbers in close quarters with no ability to practice the safety of physical distancing.

To address this need the efforts of our team of medical and mental health professionals and our large number of medical student trainees in Jordan have focused on providing telehealth services to these settings until it is feasible to again provide services in person.

Enabled by vitally needed donated funds, we are providing these sites with telecommunications technology required to make telehealth services possible, with medical self-monitoring and treatment equipment such as oximeters, no-contact thermometers, and blood pressure machines, as well as personal protection supplies.

These provisions allow our health care providers to guide high-risk refugees in practicing preventative measures and resilience building, regularly monitoring their health status, and self-care treatment to help mitigate symptoms if the virus is contracted. This humanitarian assistance program also allows us to provide vital expert health care information about the virus and health risks in general to help these refugees stay informed to keep themselves, their families, and communities safer.

All of our team members volunteer their time, energy, and expertise to this critical cause. Throughout this time of great peril and insecurity for the most vulnerable, and particularly children, generous donations make it possible for these essential medical and psychosocial services to provide hope and aid to those in dire and immediate need.

Our commitment is to continuing and expanding on this assistance. Your life-changing contributions make this possible.

HOW YOU CAN HELP MAINTAIN OUR LIFE-SAVING SERVICES:

• Continue supporting our work with your generous contributions. Every donation amount results in our reaching more children and families to assist in preventing or recovering from COVID-19.
• Share our story with family, friends, and colleagues to encourage their support by raising awareness of both the need and the concrete good being done.
• Link our appeal site to your social media sites and ask others to do the same.
• Learn if your employment offers matching donations for humanitarian causes to multiply our contributions.

Feel free to contact Steve Olweean or Myron Eshowsky with any questions or to share your feedback: SOlweean@aol.com 
Links: * International Humanistic Psychology Association
          * More details at our NGO partner website - Common Bond Institute