As I write, COVID-19 has already impacted many countries all over the world and will continue affecting more communities in the coming weeks and months. As this crisis unfolds, we must both bear witness to and support the response where we can and how we can, building on our long experience as an emergency organization and our expertise in responding to major epidemics.
A key priority is to keep our regular medical programs running for the hundreds and thousands of patients we care for and for the extremely vulnerable communities we help around the world.
In most countries where MSF works, we are coordinating with the World Health Organization and ministries of health to see how we can help, both with preventing the spread of the coronavirus caring for potentially large numbers of COVID-19 patients.
Additionally, we are providing training and increasing efforts on infection prevention and control measures for health facilities and the protection of health staff and patients. We are doing our best to maintain services and prepare teams in our programs for what may come. Of particular concern are people who live in precarious conditions where there may be overcrowding, little access to water and sanitation, and a lack of health care services.