OneWorld Health remains 100% committed to its mission of providing quality, affordable healthcare to communities in need. Over the last few months, this has required pivoting our model to ensure that all patients have access to healthcare, either in person or via telehealth. Additionally, we have worked with communities and local governments to ensure that clear and accurate information is readily available regarding prevention measures, symptoms, and treatment of COVID-19.
At the core of our model is our local staff. They have been working tirelessly to ensure that patients are safe in our facilities and medical care can still be provided. All of our staff have access to appropriate PPE and we have increased the cleaning frequencies at our facilities. Additionally, OneWorld Health has provided food support to our staff families as many family members have lost their jobs due to the economic downturn. Finally, we are working to ensure that all healthcare providers have access to the latest information regarding COVID-19, including continuing medical education on diagnostic tests and treatment options.
Telehealth
Telehealth became widely available through our facilities in late April. Over 6,000 patients across Uganda, Nicaragua, and Honduras have engaged with our providers via telehealth. Our patients face a variety of barriers when attempting to get medical care, such as country-wide lockdowns, lack of public transportation, and fear of exposure to COVID-19. OneWorld Health has provided drug delivery services in cases where medication is needed while patients cannot travel.
COVID-19 Screener
Access to accurate information about COVID-19 is critical in Central America. In order to ensure access to accurate information, OneWorld Health developed an online screening tool that assesses the likelihood that a patient has COVID-19 and then recommends the safest next steps. So far this tool has been used by over 15,000 people. This easily accessible online assessment helps families make the most informed decision on whether to practice social distancing, self-isolate, or seek medical care.
Public Health Campaign
In addition to our COVID Screener, OneWorld Health has been spreading accurate information through our public health campaign. This has included videos that have been viewed by over 250,000 people. Additionally, Dr. Gomez, Medical Director of Nicaragua, has become a regular on Nicaragua radio. He has been answering listener questions and letting people know how to best manage their health during the pandemic.
Cooperation with Local GovernmentÂ
In Uganda, the government has had a strong and swift response to the COVID-19 outbreak. In order to mitigate spread, a lockdown was enacted that spanned for more than three months. During this time, public and private transportation were strictly forbidden. We worked closely with the local government to ensure that patients were able to reach our hospital during medical emergencies. Additionally, the local government has asked that all COVID-19 patients be referred to their facilities, allowing our facilities to be safe, virus-free places for treatment of malaria, critical surgeries, delivery of babies, and more.
Patient Support FundÂ
During this time, we recognize the tremendous economic impact of the pandemic. We are committed to every patient, regardless of their capacity to pay. Through our patient support fund, we are able to adjust prices for patients who need discounted or free medical services.