The Need
Healthcare workers have been at the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since its onset — yet they faced the greatest risk of infection when on duty without proper infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in place. With the Philippines logging over one million COVID-19 cases nationwide, more than 18,000 of those infected were healthcare workers themselves. The shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the lack of standardized IPC training in hospital settings left frontliners dangerously exposed, threatening not only their lives but the continuity of essential health services for all Filipinos.
The Intervention
Since August 2020, ASSIST — together with Project HOPE and its partners — has worked to directly protect medical frontliners through a dual-track approach. On one track, PPE donations were channeled to hospitals most in need. On the other, a COVID-19 IPC training program, originally developed by Brown University, was rolled out to certify Master Trainers capable of cascading infection prevention knowledge across institutions. IPC assessments were also conducted in hospital settings to identify and reduce systemic risks. Beneficiaries span healthcare workers and their associations, medical students, and local government units — building a broad, community-embedded layer of protection.
Country:
Phillippines
SDGs:
Key Priority Area/s:
Health and Sanitation
Skills, Education and Entrepreneurship
Partners:
Project HOPE, Brown University (IPC curriculum), League of the Municipalities of the Philippines
50+
Hospitals Supported through PPE donations and IPC assessments to reduce infection risk in hospital settings
Goals Achieved:
300+
Certified Master Trainers certified to cascade COVID-19 IPC knowledge across healthcare institutions
Goals Achieved:
5,000+
Trained healthcare workers and medical students trained on COVID-19 infection prevention and control
Goals Achieved:
Featured Projects
Champions of Community Care: COVID-19 Management Training for Filipino Midwives
Project SHIELD
LIKAYAN
TB Mind Asia - Tuberculosis - Mental Health Integration Initiative Development Asia
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