Enfants du Monde has been working in El Salvador since 2006 on a health program to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

In the face of the intensifying COVID-19 epidemic, Enfants du Monde, with the support of the Medicor Foundation, financed the supply of protective materials – such as masks, gloves and protective glasses – for healthcare providers in El Salvador to help the Ministry of Health stop the spread of the virus.

Distribution of protective materials

In this context, a delivery has been made to the Salvadorian Ministry of Health supply centre, including:

• 30 boxes of N95 masks
• 266 boxes of surgical masks
• 1'050 protective glasses
• 14'961 protective caps
• 301 protective garments
• 5'000 gowns

The protective materials are distributed according to the needs of medical facilities. Approximately 1000 health providers will benefit from this equipment and future mothers and their children will be able to be received safely.

Testimony of a nurse

A first distribution of materials has already been made to a health centre located in Nahuizalco, in the east of El Salvador. Elsa Cortez, a nurse in the family health unit of this establishment, tells us about the impact of COVID-19 on her daily work:

I have been working at the family health unit in the community of Nahuizalco for 16 years, and I have experience in many services, such as maternity, adolescent service, acute respiratory infections and now my role is as a nurse in the children's ward.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on patient management, particularly with regard to physical distancing and disinfection, as well as on the length of consultation. In the child care area, we let 3 children in at a time. They are vaccinated and then checked. We strictly respect the protocols that are currently in place. 30 minutes elapse between the care of one child and another, between the consultation and the disinfection of the care zone. Only one person enters with the child, usually the mother, the father waits outside, this can be difficult for the family.

At the health unit in Nahuizalco, several health personnel were infected with COVID-19, including nurses, doctors and health promoters. Personal protective equipment (which has been financed by Enfants du Monde) will be used by the nursing staff for care (hats, masks, goggles, overblouses). We appreciate this donation and hope to receive more.

Support our actions

More than ever, we count on your solidarity to help mothers-to-be and their babies in our intervention countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Make a donation