WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Like many other health systems around the world, our partner in Ecuador; FIBUSPAM, is getting hit hard by the COVID-19 Pandemic, and operations are not the same.
While health systems in the US are recovering, Ecuador is still overwhelmed and now is time to focus our efforts in helping the partners who we've work with for the last 5 years.
Sadly, Trek has decided to postpone the summer medical mission to Ecuador for the safety of all involved. With Ecuadorian borders closed, our team can not bring the essential resources that FIBUSPAM relies on to provide care to the most vulnerable. However, this will not stop our efforts to help the communities in need, and so we invite you to join the campaign.
FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS UNTIL 05/28/2020 ALL DONATIONS WILL BE DIRECTED TO FIBUSPAM RELIEF FUND
Few Latin American countries have been hit harder than Ecuador, a country with a population of 17 million people.
Ecuador has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 cases in all of Latin America – with 30,419 cases and 2,327 deaths. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the country has drastically surged in recent weeks. As a result, Ecuador’s health care system is struggling to keep up and many families are suffering, and our local on-the-ground partner; FIBUSPAM clinic is one of them.
The clinic’s overall viability is at risk. As the COVID-19 situation rapidly develops and causes disruptions to daily life in Ecuador and around the globe, we anticipate far-reaching and long-term ripple effects for FIBUSPAM.
FIBUSPAM has a smart, innovative operating model that allows them to provide affordable, high-quality care for limited-resource community members. However, as Ecuadorians are unable to leave their homes to access these services and also face major financial shocks, the staff's capacity to practice medicine and earn an income is severely halted.
Together, we can help FIBUSPAM to weather this crisis. We are asking our Trek family to support the FIBUSPAM Relief Fund. The funds will ensure the continuity of FIBUSPAM staff for the next several months, provide for the purchase of protective gear, and allow staff to focus on critical public health education and disease prevention virtually.
By keeping FIBUSPAM team whole and thriving, their invaluable work can pick up where they left off, and collective efforts to build sustainable pathways to access healthcare in the region can continue.
