A multi-pronged approach is ongoing to help ensure regional health care professionals stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Northern Ontario PPE for Health Care Professionals” is collecting donations of personal protective equipment as well as monetary donations.
Director of Communications Lily Bouchard says they have already received over 15,000 gloves and over 2,000 N95 masks.
She notes they have also been receiving disinfectent, boot covers and safety glasses.
At last report $4,565 in financial donations have been made on their GoFund Me page.
Bouchard says not only do they collect donations, but they make the equipment too.
“We also have our second initiative which is our ‘PPE Production’. So we have our 3D printing, our lazer cutting, making face shields. We also have our sewing team making things like isolation gowns and facemasks.”
Bouchard says the PPE is being distributed to small, rural and remote health clinics as well as hospitals and long-term care facilities.
She stresses they felt the region needed this kind of initiative.
“Our whole goal is always to consider northern Ontario. So we realize there’s a lot of big PPE drives in southern communities but there are a lot of gaps.”
To make a donation visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/northern-ontario-healthcare-providers-ppe
You can also visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northernontarioppeforhcp/
Additional information is available at https://northernontarioppe.ca/
You can also email northernontarioppeforhcp@gmail.com
