As concerns over the respiratory illness coronavirus continue to rise in the Philippines, Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, donated 5,000 pieces of N95 masks as well as 49,200 pieces of 2-ply surgical masks to the Department of Health (DOH).
The items which arrived yesterday at the DOH warehouse were shipped from Church Headquarters in Utah two weeks ago.
A second set of donations are underway which includes 20,000 pieces of surgical masks; 2,000 pieces of face shields; 2,000 pieces of rubber gloves; 500 set of protective suits; and 2,000 bottles of 500 ml isopropyl alcohol. These locally sourced materials are expected to arrive at the DOH warehouse next week.
Latter-day Saint Charities has made donations in the form of funds and supplies to hospitals and emergency room personnel and patients in 16 countries battling COVID-19. So far, aid has been delivered to Cambodia, China, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Italy, Iran, Japan, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
Efforts include providing medical and emergency supplies and commodities to healthcare professionals and patients. They also include training for healthcare professionals regarding physical, mental, and emotional support to those struggling. Funding and supplies are also being provided to help with the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
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“We join hands with the Department of Health in battling COVID-19. By working together, we would be able to provide relief where it is most needed. We are thankful that the needed supplies have arrived and that more are soon to be delivered. We support our frontliners and pray for their protection so that they could continue serving those afflicted. We are hopeful that these trying times would soon pass. However, while COVID-19 is in our midst, we will continue to support the government in its effort to curb this deadly disease,” said Jairus Perez, country director of Latter-day Saint Charities.
Caring for the poor and needy is a foundational belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Built on the principles of personal responsibility, community support, self-reliance and sustainability, humanitarian efforts are designed to give individuals and communities the tools they need to improve their own circumstances in permanent and meaningful ways.
Funding for the donations was made possible by the charitable contributions of thousands of Church members who seek to serve and support those in need around the world.