The capital city of Beirut, Lebanon, has faced an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the weeks following the Port of Beirut explosion on August 4, which damaged several hospital facilities and left nearly 300,000 individuals without a home.

In the aftermath of the explosion, the city faced damage to six of its major hospitals and 20 clinics, producing innumerable challenges for healthcare workers as they treated victims of the blast and of COVID-19.

Hospitals throughout the city have quickly stepped up to support communities during this high-risk period, while many continue to face a high and unmet need for personal protective equipment for their staff.  Abou Jaoude Hospital, located less than 10 km from the Port of Beirut, is one of many facilities with significant need for additional protective equipment.

In response to the hospital’s need, social enterprise, Protec, donated 10,000 masks and gloves to support its frontline workers. Mr. Jaoudat Hoyek, director of Abou Jaoude Hospital, expressed, “The donation of masks from Protec has come at a precious time. The frontline workers and staff at our hospital and many others throughout Beirut have been mobilized in response to the pressing public health needs of our community. We are extremely grateful that our team will have access to more of the protective equipment they need to stay safe while taking care of their patients.”

The donation was made possible with support from the Honorary Consul of Lebanon and CEVA Logistics, in support of Protec’s mission of saving lives by providing access to quality equipment.