Alexandria, Va. – Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit humanitarian advocacy organization, has partnered with the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) to provide 50,000 Kn-95 face masks to hospitals throughout the country, ensuring that the workers on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic have adequate protection. In addition to IRUSA, fellow faith-based humanitarian organizations Penny Appeal USA and Dar el Salaam are part of the coalition.
Covid-19 has impacted millions of people around the world. In the United States alone, there have been more than 1.2 million cases, and more than 70,000 people have succumbed to the disease, according to the latest government statistics. As testing increases nationwide, those numbers are likely to go up substantially, medical experts say.
“During this pandemic, it’s vital that our frontline workers– nurses, physicians, emergency medical technicians, among others –are given the essential equipment in order for them to carry out their life-saving work in the safest conditions possible,” said Sharif Aly, chief executive officer at Islamic Relief USA. “We are grateful to be partnering with IMANA, Penny Appeal and Dar el Salaam for this undertaking. Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as the Kn-95 facemasks, have long been recommended by public health experts as a first line of defense against Covid-19. We are proud to work together to support our country’s medical professionals as they put their lives on the line to save the most vulnerable among us.”
The masks will be sent to hospitals in some of the major metro areas where significant numbers of residents have been infected with Covid-19. The hospitals are located in and around New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, and Detroit. Several hospitals in New Jersey, which has the second highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the country, will also receive the protective masks.
“Our primary responsibility as American Muslim health care providers is to protect the health of the communities where we live. The Islamic Medical Association of North America has a diverse membership, guided by faith, that entrusts us to provide access to safe environments, equitable health care, and wellness,” said Dr. Ismail Mehr, chairman for IMANA Medical Relief and board of regents member. “By partnering with the other organizations to provide the protection necessary for our frontline healthcare workers to do their jobs, we continue our mission of serving humanity.”
“It’s been an honor to partner with both IMANA, IRUSA and Dar el Salaam on this initiative to provide these essential masks to heroes working on the front lines,” said Oussama Mezoui, president & CEO of Penny Appeal USA. “This initiative is part of our one million USD response to the pandemic as an organization and we hope to continue to collaborate with partners to support as many fellow Americans as we can.”
Below are the hospitals which will receive the masks:
| New York City hospitals: |
| *NYU Winthrop |
| *Lincoln Medical Center |
| *Good Samaritan Hospital |
| *Orange Regional Medical Center, Middletown |
| *Jamaica Hospital Medical Center |
| *Flushing Hospital Medical Center
*St. Barnabas Health System |
| New Jersey hospitals |
| *St. Joseph Health |
| *Hackensack Medical Center |
| Holyname |
| *Saint Michael’s Medical Center |
| *Deborah Heart & Lung Center |
| Detroit hospitals |
| *Henry Ford |
| *Beaumont – Dearborn |
| *Beaumont – Taylor |
| *Beaumont – Wayne |
| *Ascension Providence Hospital |
| *St Joseph Mercy Oakland, Pontiac
*Sinai Grace Hospital Detroit |
| Chicago |
| *Sinai Health System |
| *Roseland Community |
| *Jackson Park |
| *South Shore |
| Louisiana |
| *New Orleans East Hospital |
| *West Jefferson Medical Center
*Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge |
MEDIA CONTACT
Syed M. Hassan
(703) 370-7246; (571) 421-7032 (CELL)
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy and disease regardless of color, race, gender or creed, and to provide aid in a compassionate and dignified manner. Islamic Relief USA aims to provide rapid relief in the event of human and natural disasters and to establish sustainable local development projects, allowing communities to better help themselves. Its programs benefit millions of people each year around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
ABOUT PENNY APPEAL USA
Penny Appeal USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit relief and development organization with a really BIG vision for the world. We want to create the best societies we can and to break the cycles of need and poverty for good. That’s why we work to turn small change into a BIG DIFFERENCE. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA. Penny Appeal USA works to eradicate poverty here in the US and in over 30 countries across the world. Since launching in July 2016, we have raised over eleven million US dollars for our range of programs.
About Islamic Medical Association of North America
IMANA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Being a leading resource and network for American-Muslim physicians, dentists and other healthcare professionals in North America. We have active medical relief programs and emergency relief efforts to respond to disasters. We help build healthcare capacity, facilitate medical knowledge transfer around the world. IMANA’s work has provided healthcare to over 2.5 million individuals worldwide in 34 different countries. Our work has been recognized by the U.S. State. Dept, United Nations, W.H.O, FEMA and several foreign governments.