While COVID-19 is novel, Jhpiego’s ability to effectively confront emerging threats—like Ebola, Zika and plague—is not.

— Leslie Mancuso, President and CEO

From Afghanistan to Zambia, Jhpiego’s dedicated teams of technical experts, clinicians and community health workers stand on the front lines of the COVID-19 epidemic. Our expertise in infection prevention and control and clinical management of infectious diseases gives us a critical role to play in this newest health challenge, which we face with confidence and care. We have the tools, experience and deep country knowledge to respond quickly, adapting our efforts to meet the growing crisis. Here’s a snapshot of what we’re doing to protect families and the health workers who serve them.

In Afghanistan, our clinicians and midwives are mentoring maternal health providers to ensure ongoing high-quality health care for women and their families, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, in the face of the pandemic.

In India, Jhpiego’s NISHTHA project developed COVID-specific training materials for primary health care providers, preparing them to protect themselves as they protect their communities. We’re engaging vegetable vendors, rickshaw pullers and other community members to share COVID-19 related posters, flyers and job aids to make sure the information gets to all who need it.

In Mozambique, Telessaúde MZ, a Jhpiego-supported online education and consultation tool, once again proved its agility to respond to crises. In just 2 weeks, 570 clinicians working in remote areas of the country were trained to detect, prevent and respond to the disease in their communities—just as the country confirmed its first COVID-19 case. “Telessaúde MZ is avoiding and reducing lots of logistic and financial costs. Clinicians don’t need to travel long distances to attend a training,” explained Manuel Duvane, Telessaúde MZ team member.

In Pakistan, Jhpiego is rolling out infection prevention and control training for health care workers and working with the Government of Sindh to develop guidelines for continuing to meet women’s family planning needs—making sure these critical services don’t stop.

And in Zambia, Jhpiego is supporting use of the ECHO model—a multipoint videoconferencing platform—to allow facilities to easily share information on COVID-19 so health care workers can learn from each other. Here, again, we’re pivoting and repurposing available digital technologies to bring lifesaving information to health workers during this dangerous time.

As we have for more than 45 years, Jhpiego will continue to work collectively with countries and partners, combining our expertise, local knowledge and resources to save lives, improve health and transform futures.

Signed

Leslie Mancuso,

PhD, RN, FAAN
President and Chief Executive Officer

Johns Hopkins University Affiliate

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