Humanity Auxilium launches Outreach Teams to help refugees during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone around the world and has presented its own unique challenges, especially for those in developing countries. This pandemic has exposed cracks in the healthcare of the developed first world, which so far has not succeeded in containing COVID-19. And if this is the state of the developed world, one can only speculate on the extent of the damage that this pandemic will inflict on developing countries, which in most cases are already crippled by a weak healthcare system.

In the face of this global pandemic, now more than ever before, we need empathy and compassion. This is why at Humanity Auxilium, we’ve launched Outreach Teams in partnership with Bangladesh Health Sector and the Turkish Red Crescent in the Rohingya Refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

As per United Nations, Rohingya are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. Most Rohingya fear stigmatization and fear of persecution of being positive with COVID-19 due to the racial discrimination and violence that they had suffered in Myanmar for generations. Hence, the Rohingya community is reluctant to come forth when ill and seek medical attention.

The current count is around 1.2 million Rohingya living in the world’s largest refugee camp in Kutupalong (Bangladesh).

Our teams consist of community health workers, nurses and physicians who assess the Rohingya population in their own shelter and provide sanitation kits to those who are suspected of having COVID-19. The patient will self isolate with their entire family in the shelter and will be monitored for worsening symptoms daily. Food and clean water will be delivered to decrease the spread of COVID-19.

This project is novel and unique. Our Outreach Teams, who have been trained, per WHO guidelines, are playing a pivotal role. They are not only saving lives by identifying possible positive patients, but also are educating the Rohingya community in their own language about this deadly virus to mitigate its spread.

Please join us in the fight against COVID-19.

For more information, please visit us here.