Emergency response and global humanitarian reporting from Direct Relief, an apolitical, nonsectarian non-profit with a humanitarian mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty and emergencies.
On this episode of Direct Relief Connect, StephOfAnime, a Pokémon-focused content creator, and Erick Molina, a Program Manager for Latin America at Direct Relief, discuss the Pokémon community, the upcoming Pokéthon event, and the impact of Direct Relief’s work in Latin America. The upcoming Pokéthon event will take place September 3-5.
On this episode of the Direct Relief Connect podcast, Sab Irene, a video game saxophonist and music educator, and Paul Grankowski, Special Events Manager at Direct Relief, discuss personal growth through music and utilizing their skills for new philanthropic opportunities in the digital space. Paul also provides great insight into some lesser-known communities that Direct […]
Graham a.k.a. Tabetai Cooking, a Food & Drink content creator, and Rose Levy, Program Manager for Global Programs at Direct Relief, discuss the joys of creative home cooking and how it can be utilized to raise funds that help community health centers. Cooking livestreams, innovation awards for health centers, and “cooking easy things the hard […]
In the wake of the collapse, a team of clinicians and peer support members, led by Oxnard Fire Chief Alexander Hamilton, were deployed to provide mental health services to search and rescue teams.
Introducing Direct Relief Connect, a new podcast by Direct Relief. The show brings together highly skilled philanthropists and members of Direct Relief’s staff to provide an in-depth look at the organization’s work, as well as give a glimpse into guests’ personal journeys and how they came to support causes they are passionate about. For the […]
While those experiencing homelessness are some of the most vulnerable to Covid-19, the population faces substantial barriers to accessing vaccines. Many lack transportation to get to and from a vaccination site. Others live nomadically, making it difficult to commit to a second vaccine appointment. But according to homelessness activist Tasia Thompson, misinformation is the primary […]
Research suggests other factors at work, beyond diet and exercise. At Centre Volunteers in Medicine in State College, Pennsylvania, providers are integrating mental health services and chronic disease care to help patients better manage their medical conditions.
Chronic disease and poor mental health are both prevalent conditions that share a complicated relationship. While the two have been shown to be highly correlated, scientists are still exploring exactly how. The link is believed to be bi-directional, meaning both contribute to one another. Research by the CDC shows nearly one-third of patients diagnosed with diabetes also experience depression, while those with depression are at higher risk of developing a chronic condition, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The relationship is often attributed to behavioral factors, such as diet and exercise. But scientists say physiological changes due to depression and chronic disease could also play a role. "For a long time... it was thought that whatever happens in the body stays in the body," said Dr. Alan Kim Johnson, a professor of health psychology at the University of Iowa. But now, researchers have shown "profound communication between the brain and the body," said Johnson. As theories on what causes these comorbid conditions develop, so has treatment. "In our culture, we really split people apart," said Dr. Tim Derstine, a consulting psychiatrist at Centre Volunteers in Medicine. Dersteine is involved in the clinic's effort to integrate mental health services and chronic disease care. "We try to look at it from 360-degrees," said Derstine. On this episode of the podcast, we explore the relationship between mental health and chronic disease and speak with providers who are integrating therapies to more effectively treat their patients.
Getting treatment for an opioid use disorder can be complicated, often requiring daily visits to receive addiction medication under the supervision of a provider. While guidelines have been relaxed to reduce barriers for those seeking care, it’s not clear how effective the changes have been. “Their barriers are huge here,” said Kim Brown, the founder […]
Getting treatment for an opioid use disorder can be complicated, often requiring daily visits to receive addiction medication under the supervision of a provider. While guidelines have been relaxed to reduce barriers for those seeking care, it's not clear how effective the changes have been. "Their barriers are huge here," said Kim Brown, the founder of Quad Cities Harm Reduction (QCHR), "and they've been exacerbated by the pandemic." QCHR distributes supplies, including Naloxone--the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses--to drug users across Illinois and Iowa. On this episode of the podcast we speak with Brown about how the pandemic is affecting access to opioid treatment as providers navigate a new regulatory landscape.
Pediatricians are noting developmental delays as well as potential for long-term health consequences, particularly for children from low-income households.
While Covid-19 is typically benign in children, the pandemic could have long lasting impacts for society's youngest members. With childcare programs closed and social distancing measures in place, many children are missing out on critical developmental opportunities. "Children are not getting the cognitive and social stimulation that they would normally get outside their home," said Dr. Michelle Aguilar, the head of pediatrics at Venice Family Clinic in Los Angeles, California. Providers have noted delays in speech and language as well as issues with sharing. But for children, the pandemic's effects could go beyond delays in social skills. With many parents undergoing financial stress, children are facing higher rates of housing and food insecurity while others are subject to rising rates of neglect and household dysfunction--all of which can affect a child's trajectory into adulthood. On this episode of the podcast, we explore the full scope of consequences for children growing up in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, from short term effects to long term implications. We speak with experts in the field as well as Venice Family Clinic's Dr. Michelle Aguilar and early head start director, Stacey Scarborough.
Chronic conditions require routine care and strict medication regimens, but for millions, transportation stands in the way of accessing timely health care. From rural communities to urban cities, patients struggle to make routine appointments. Some can’t afford a vehicle, others live hours, if not days, from the nearest point of care. The distance–and lack of […]
Chronic conditions require routine care and strict medication regimens, but for millions, transportation stands in the way of accessing timely health care. From rural communities to urban cities, patients struggle to make routine appointments. Some can't afford a vehicle, Others lives hours, if not days, from the nearest point of care. The distance--and lack of transportation--leads to delays in medical care, which for some, can be deadly. On this episode of the podcast, we explore how transportation poses a barrier to care for patients around the world, from rural Nepal to the United States, and what the consequences are for those in need of chronic care.
As the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic fills hospitals to capacity, mental health providers are seeing a surge of their own. “People are under so much stress,” said Ryoko Chernomaz, a licensed clinical social worker at the San Francisco Free Clinic. Issues at home – from increasing childcare responsibilities to domestic abuse – are […]
As the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic fills hospitals to capacity, mental health providers are seeing a surge of their own. "People are under so much stress," said Ryoko Chernomaz, a licensed clinical social worker at the San Francisco Free Clinic. Issues at home--from increasing childcare responsibilities to domestic abuse--are compounding financial anxieties triggered during the early stages of the pandemic, driving an uptick in mental health needs. Sine the pandemic began, Chernomaz has had a 30% increase in appointments. At CommunityHealth--a free clinic based in Chicago--licensed clinical social worker Ornella Razetto is experiencing a similar trend. "It began with anxiety, depressive symptoms and financial insecurity, said Razetto, but now "reality has sunk in" and patients are battling more severe mental health issues. Razetto has seen a 75% increase in referrals since March. On this episode of the podcast we speak with both Chernomaz and Razetto about how the pandemic is affecting patients' mental health and what they expect the long-term consequences to be.
New and expectant mothers face unique challenges when seeking treatment for an opioid use disorder. On top of preparing for motherhood, expectant mothers often face barriers to accessing treatment, which typically involves taking safer opioids to reduce dependency over time. The approach is called medication assisted therapy, or MAT, and is a key component in […]
For new and expectant mothers, treating an opioid use disorder comes with added challenges. On top of preparing for motherhood, expectant mothers often face barriers to accessing treatment, which typically involves taking safer opioids to reduce dependency over time. The approach is called medication assisted therapy, or MAT, and is a key component in most opioid treatment programs. But with pregnant women, providers can be hesitant to administer opiate-based drugs. According to a study out of Vanderbilt University, pregnant women are 20% more likely to be denied medication assisted therapy than non-pregnant women. "In the beginning, I was so scared as a new provider to write my first prescription for medication assisted therapy to pregnant women," said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak of the Wright Center for Community Health in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The health center serves low-income individuals who are underinsured or lack insurance altogether, many of whom struggle with opioid misuse. “Pennsylvania was hit particularly hard by the opiate epidemic that really has plagued, terrified and challenged America,” said Hemak who is a board certified addiction medication specialist. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Dr. Hemak about whether medication assisted therapy is safe for new and expectant mothers and how the Wright Center is helping women overcome opioid dependency during pregnancy.
In California, six of the state's ten largest wildfires are currently burning, along with blazes in Oregon, Washington, and Arizona.
Over 100 wildfires are burning across the western United States, setting the stage for an unprecedented fire season as the Covid-19 pandemic persists. In California, six of the state's ten largest wildfires are currently burning, as uncontrolled fires rage across Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, torching millions of acres and killing at least 11 people. Direct Relief has deployed several kits of emergency medical supplies, including N-95 masks, hygiene items, and essential medicine, to health facilities in fire zones. The current wildfires have only compounded the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, flaring up respiratory illnesses and straining already limited resources. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Direct Relief's head of emergency response, Andrew MacCalla, about how the organization is approaching the concurrent emergencies, ensuring an urgent and robust response to both.
Hurricane Laura is barreling towards the Texas-Louisiana border after intensifying into a Category 4 storm Wednesday. Unsurvivable storm surge and devastating winds are expected to cause catastrophic damage in some areas. In Beaumont, Texas, where the storm is projected to make landfall early Thursday morning, residents remain under mandatory evacuation orders. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Lauren Rahe, the Executive Director of the Ubi Caritas Health Ministries in Beaumont, TX about how her community is preparing and what health needs she anticipates arising in the storm's aftermath.
Whether in the storm's path or further afield, safety net providers are preparing to keep the lights on and services available.
Rising food insecurity coupled with strained health care systems has created new challenges for those managing diabetes during the Covid-19 pandemic. When food is scarce and meals are inconsistent, people with diabetes may experience extreme blood sugar spikes–or dips–that can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, and even death. In Sudan, where the number of […]
Rising food insecurity coupled with strained health care systems has created new challenges for those managing diabetes during the Covid-19 pandemic. When food is scarce and meals are inconsistent, diabetics may experience extreme blood sugar spikes--or dips--that can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, and even death. In Sudan, where the number of people facing acute food insecurity has increased 65% since last year, pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Omer Babiker says malnutrition has become a serious problem among his diabetic patients. "We see, on a weekly basis, patients that have malnutrition" said Babiker, the deputy director of the Sudanese Childhood Diabetes Association. As a result, many patients' blood sugar has become uncontrolled and some are facing acute complications due to a lack of food. Others have been unable to access health care services because of Sudan's nationwide lockdown. For Babiker's patients, the consequences have been severe. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Dr. Babiker about how the Covid-19 pandemic is impacting his patients and escalating the risks of their condition.
California faces a convergence of public health crises as dozens of wildfires unleash hazardous levels of air pollution across the state. Smoke-laden air has exacerbated conditions, like asthma, while the menace of Covid-19 still looms, mounting a respiratory threat on two fronts. For the more than 650,000 Californians sick with the virus, poor air quality […]
California faces a convergence of public health crises as dozens of wildfires unleash hazardous levels of air pollution across the state. Smoke-laden air has exacerbated conditions, like asthma, while the menace of Covid-19 looms, mounting a respiratory threat on two fronts. For the more than 650,000 Californians sick with the virus, poor air quality is particularly dangerous. A small increase in air pollution has been shown to significantly increase patients' risk of severe illness and death. Meanwhile, sweeping evacuations have forced emergency officials to abandon pre-Covid protocols, filling up hotels to avoid crowded shelters. Nearly 50,000 people have been evacuated across the state. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Direct Relief's head of research and analytics, Andrew Schroeder, about the heightened health risks of California's wildfires and more on what those affected should know.
A battery rebate program is designed to help low-income people living in high fire risk areas, and the critical organizations that serve them, navigate future public safety power shutoffs.
As California's fire season heats up, preventative power shut offs are likely to follow, potentially leaving millions without electricity. Once unprecedented, these public safety power shut offs (PSPS) have become common practice as utility companies seek to prevent wildfires sparked by downed power lines. But the consequences of these shut offs are vast, and have significant implications for health care. Without power, safety net health facilities must often close down entirely, forcing patients to delay care or rely on their hospital's emergency department. Without insurance, the cost of urgent care can be prohibitive. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with a Northern California health center impacted by the 2019 power shut offs about the role of power in delivering health care, particularity during Covid, and what they are doing to prepare for this year's PSPS season.
While researchers say the coronavirus pandemic is more likely to lead to a baby bust than a baby boom, it’s limiting access to family planning services and contraception. One-third of American women have reportedly delayed or canceled visiting their provider for reproductive health care services or have had trouble getting their birth control, citing concerns […]
In the United States, researchers says the coronavirus pandemic is more likely to lead to a baby bust than a baby boom. According to the Brookings Institution, women are likely to delay pregnancy because of economic uncertainty and concerns about the state of public health. The result could be up to half a million fewer births in the next year. Despite these predictions, some women are experiencing more limited access to family planning services and contraception during the pandemic. One-third of American women have reportedly delayed or canceled visiting their provider for reproductive healthcare services or have had trouble getting their birth control, citing concerns over contracting the virus, and an inability to pay. The percentage of those delaying care increases amongst low-income women and minority populations. "I'm not getting a lot of demand for family planning services, so that's where I'm worried," says Dr. Karen Lamp, a physician at Venice Family Clinic in Santa Monica, California. "I'm seeing a lot of women presenting late in pregnancy." On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Dr. Lamp about how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted her patients' access to reproductive healthcare and what that could mean for women as the pandemic continues.
In the Navajo Nation — a sovereign territory spanning 27,000 square miles — responding to Covid-19 comes with unique challenges. A third of residents don’t have access to running water. Grocery stores are few and far between. And many must travel hours to reach the nearest hospital. While the nation has the highest case rate […]
In the Navajo Nation--a sovereign territory spanning 27,000 square miles--responding to Covid-19 comes with unique challenges. A third of residents don't have access to running water. Grocery stores are few and far between. And many must travel hours to reach the nearest hospital. While the nation has the highest case rate of any state in the country, it's been successful in containing the spread of the virus through stay at home orders and strict weekend curfews. When the pandemic began, the territory quickly ramped up testing and contact tracing investigations. The Navajo Nation now boasts the highest testing rate in the country with roughly 40% of all residents having been tested for the virus. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Dr. Jonathan Iralu, an infectious disease doctor at Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, New Mexico. He discusses how he and his staff adapted to treat an influx of patients during the peak of the outbreak and what they're doing now to ensure continued access to care.
With many Americans out of work and struggling financially, managing chronic diseases, like diabetes, may be an afterthought. These health providers are working to change that.
With more than 44 million Americans filing for unemployment since mid-March, the financial fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic has made managing chronic disease an afterthought tor some, and an impossibility for others. Lacking adequate resources, many are struggling to maintain their medical regimens, which often involve produce-rich diets and regular purchases of prescription medication. "We definitely are seeing a number of patients who are really just barely getting by,” says Dr. Mary Herbert, the clinical director of the Birmingham Free Clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Herbert treats patients with chronic disease, such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. She says many of her patients are forgoing care to attend to more immediate needs, such as paying the rent or feeding their families. Others have been unable to pick up their prescriptions because they can't afford the cost of transportation. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Dr. Herbert and other healthcare providers about how the financial consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic are affecting patients' ability to manage their chronic condition.
On the California-Mexico border, the coronavirus continues to disproportionately impact communities where large numbers of essential workers and high rates of poverty render preventative measures, such as social distancing, nearly impossible. In San Diego County, the discrepancy between case totals tracks the region’s socio-economic divisions. In the county’s southernmost zip code, case rates are roughly […]
On the California-Mexico border, the coronavirus continues to disproportionately impact communities where large numbers of essential workers and high rates of poverty render preventative measures, such as social distancing, nearly impossible. In San Diego County, the discrepancy between case totals tracks the region's socio-economic divisions. In the county's southernmost zip code, case rates are roughly 3 times higher than San Diego City itself and 5 times higher than several of the county's wealthiest neighborhoods, including La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, and Del Mar. "The virus and the impact of the virus follows exactly what we already knew about the impact of zip code and health disparities on life expectancy and outcome," explains Dr. Jeanette Aldous, the clinical director of infectious disease at San Ysidro Health Center in San Diego, Ca. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Aldous and others on the front lines of the outbreak on the southern border about how their patients have been impacted and what they are doing to respond.
As the United States reports record-high case totals, patterns in viral spread are emerging.
As coronavirus cases surge across the United States, officials scramble to roll back reopening measures in a renewed effort to contain the spread of Covid-19. The reverse course comes as record-breaking case totals threaten to overwhelm hospital systems in several states, including Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California. While the United States managed to "flatten the curve" in May through nearly universal stay at home orders, case totals plateaued at a relatively high level. Now, as preventative measures, such as mask wearing, have been met with controversy, leveling the curve may be more difficult. "I think we're in a much more challenging environment now in terms of compliance with these orders," says Direct Relief's head of Research and Analytics, Andrew Schroeder. "So, that's going to make it so that the tools that are in our toolkit are potentially more limited than they were the first time around." On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Schroeder about the trends behind the recent outbreak and what we can expect as the pandemic progresses, from reopening economies to rolling out mass vaccination campaigns.
Black Americans suffer significantly worse health outcomes than their white counterparts–from higher rates of chronic disease to lower life expectancy. During the coronavirus pandemic, these disparities have only been amplified, with Black patients dying at more than three times the rate of white Americans. Despite decades of research and community efforts, the United States’ racial […]
Black Americans suffer significantly worse health outcomes than their white counterparts--from higher rates of chronic disease to lower life expectancy. During the coronavirus pandemic, these disparities have only been amplified, with black patients dying at more than three times the rate of white Americans. Despite decades of research and community efforts, the United States' racial health gap--rooted in centuries of discriminatory laws and practices--persists today. To address these inequities, healthcare providers across the country are taking new approaches to care. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with two providers in Minnesota, Minneapolis about what they are doing to ensure their patients receive equitable access to care.
On the Caribbean island of Dominica, hurricane season threatens to undo months of preventative measures taken to stop the spread of Covid-19. With only one public hospital and a handful of ICU beds, health officials acted quickly to contain the virus once the first case was reported in March. Since closing its borders, the island […]
On the Caribbean island of Dominica, hurricane season threatens to undo months of preventative measures taken to stop the spread of Covid-19. With only one public hospital and a handful of ICU beds, health officials acted quickly to contain the virus once the first case was reported in March. Since closing its borders, the island has reported a total of 18 cases, none of which have been fatal. But with hurricane season, and a tentative reopening scheduled for July, preventing an outbreak will be much more difficult. Crowded shelters and incoming aid workers would make it nearly impossible to trace the spread of the virus and isolate infected individuals. In these conditions, strategies used to contain the island's initial outbreak would be much less effective. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Dominica's Deputy Chief Medical Officer about what the island is doing to prevent a large-scale outbreak, should a hurricane hit.
Many countries – previously considered Covid-19 hotspots – have moved into new phases of their response, lifting multi-month lockdowns and reopening public spaces. While the changes signal progress for some, other countries, spared in the early stages of the pandemic, are now reporting dramatic surges in case totals. The progression of the virus is of particular […]
Many countries--previously considered Covid-19 hotspots--have moved into new phases of their response, lifting multi-month lock downs and reopening public spaces. While the changes signal progress for some, other countries are now reporting surges in case totals. The progression of the virus is of particular concern in countries with fragile healthcare systems where the virus could be especially lethal without the resources needed to stymie its spread and care for critical patients. In anticipation, Direct Relief has sent 66 ICU kits containing PPE, intensive care medications, oxygen concentrators and ventilators to health facilities in 22 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South-eastern Europe. While the need is widespread, deciding who needs what most is a difficult choice, especially when resources are limited. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Direct Relief’s head of Emergency Response Gordon Wilcock about how he and his team decide how and where to allocate supplies.
With Atlantic hurricane season beginning June 1 and Covid-19 still unfolding, health officials prepare on two fronts.
The prospect of responding to both a natural disaster and a pandemic at once has those in the public health sector concerned. A large-scale disaster would undoubtedly compound what has already been an all-consuming emergency, potentially flaring up new cases and stressing health systems beyond their peak Covid-19 capacities. In the United States, this hypothetical could become all too real in the near future, with Atlantic states entering hurricane season June 1st. In the Florida panhandle, which was devastated by Hurricane Michael in 2018, healthcare providers are gearing up for what has been predicted to be a "more active than usual" hurricane season, forcing them to make difficult decisions about which emergency takes precedence. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with two healthcare providers -- both of whom treated patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael -- about their concerns as they head into this year's hurricane season.
Jamal Trulove grew up in a poor community and spent more than six years in prison before being exonerated, and is now on a mission to help those who are where he was.
Actor Jamal Trulove is not your typical activist. Framed by the police for a murder he didn't commit, Trulove spent six years in prison serving out a 50 years to life sentence. In 2015, he was exonerated after a retrial and reached a $13.1 million civil settlement with the City of San Francisco. Since then, Trulove has starred in the critically acclaimed A24 film, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," and most recently launched an initiative to distribute Covid-related care supplies to undeserved communities in the Bay Area and within California's prison system. On this episode of the podcast Direct Relief journalist Noah Smith interviews Trulove about his experience behind bars and what motivates his activism.
With about half of states lifting their shelter-in-place orders and reopening to varying degrees, many Americans are stepping out of quarantine for the first time in weeks. Restaurants are serving in-house diners, storefronts are opening their doors to shoppers, and people are going back to their workplaces, creating scenes of pre-pandemic life and stirring hopes […]
With about half of states lifting their shelter-in-place orders and reopening to varying degrees, many Americans are stepping out of quarantine for the first time in weeks. Restaurants are serving in-house diners, storefronts are opening their doors to shoppers, and people are going back to their workplaces, creating scenes of pre-pandemic life and stirring hopes for a return to 'normal.' But without a vaccine, the threat of transmitting Covid-19 still remains, despite policy cues otherwise. "This is a very, very dangerous time to be changing these policies" says Direct Relief's Andrew Schroeder, who has been using anonymized data to track how people are moving during the pandemic. While the curve has flattened nationally, it has "plateaued at a very high level," he says, and rates of infection continue to climb in previously low-risk areas. Meanwhile, people have started moving about at significantly higher rates, even in states where restrictions have yet to be lifted, like California. According to Schroeder, this uptick in mobility could have dire consequences."We're seeing this high rate of correlation rate between the mobility rate and the death rate," he says. In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Schroeder about how people are moving during this new phase of reopening and what it means for the projected course of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As telemedicine takes hold, those without technological access may be left behind.
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