COVID Relief in Namibia
Our country is in crisis. A third wave of COVID-19 has hit harder than we have previously seen and our healthcare systems are overwhelmed. With hospitals full, a shortage of beds in the ICU's and crucial equipment (and oxygen) becoming scarce, we have been seeking ways that 3 Measures can get involved.
A number of you have asked how you can help, so we are setting up this gofundme as a way for you to get directly involved. We will use the donations for the following three programs:
Donate a Meal Program (Serving our Health Care Workers and Local Businesses)
3 Measures is partnering with NedBank and Lithon Foundation here in Windhoek to provide restaurant meals for health care workers in the COVID units at Katutura State Hospital and in the state COVID clinic.
Working long hours in highly stressful conditions and dealing with death on a daily basis is leaving our frontline workers feeling exhausted and highly discouraged. Many find it very difficult to find time for a meal.
A good meal can provide the nutrition needed to make it through the day, while also providing a pick-me-up along the way. In addition to serving the health care workers, we are also partnering with local restaurants to provide these meals at a low cost. In doing so, we can help those restaurants survive through our latest lockdown. Restaurants are only allowed to serve takeaway at the moment.
Nedbank has generously offered to buy meals to start us off and is helping us raise more funds locally to keep it going through this wave. The more meals donated by individuals here and from people like you, the more frequently we will be able to provide these meals and the more restaurants we can help.
Home Medical Care (Serving the Sick)
With our hospitals full, it has become critical for COVID patients to get good care at home. A local doctor and her husband have been a part of the 3 Measures team for the last several years, with the doctor primarily assisting in our Young & Pregnant programs and First Aid initiatives. She has spent the last several months committed to treating COVID patients, mainly taking the approach of home care, monitoring and making sure that those who need it get to the hospital in time. She is working around the clock, providing invaluable care for her patients. Unfortunately, limitations in equipment is an ever-present concern.
In order to help her better serve her patients and keep more Namibians out of the hospitals, we are seeking donations for the purchase and rental of critical medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, oxygen cylinders, oxygen masks/hoses and PPE. Additionally, donations can be used to provide medicine for patients who cannot afford it.
Practical Home Care (Serving COVID Patients in Isolation)
Families and individuals throughout our city are isolating at home as they recover from COVID-19. Many are on their own or are isolating along with those who would normally care for them. As a practical response to this we have been delivering groceries and pulse oximeters to patients at home. This week Sandy is also making soup from our kitchen and we will be delivering it to people who are sick and isolating.
