COMANDOS URGENTLY NEEDS BIOSECURITY SUITS

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The COVID-19 pandemic has left hundreds dead and thousands of people infected in El Salvador, posing a risk to workers on the front lines, including those in healthcare facilities, police officers, sanitation personnel, and rescue services.

Comandos de Salvamento is a nonprofit public-service organization that has provided ambulance services to the Salvadoran population for 60 years. However, the Board of Directors limited care for people suspected of having COVID-19 as a safety measure for the young volunteers who dedicate their free time to helping others.

Comandos de Salvamento has faced a financial crisis since the previous government made a budget cut to a subsidy it receives from the Ministry of Public Health, which has affected its finances for several years. Now, as it faces the pandemic, it is very difficult to purchase biosecurity suits for all the rescuers.

As a result, many young people risk becoming infected during emergencies involving traffic accidents or injured people, since hundreds of people are asymptomatic and the volunteers face the danger of being infected with the coronavirus. Therefore, donations of protective suits have been requested from both Health authorities and private companies so they can continue providing the valuable ambulance service to the population.

Biosecurity suits are disposable because of the contamination they may represent, as are masks and gloves, which are constantly discarded by personnel who attend to patients.

Comandos de Salvamento is making a new appeal to Public Health authorities, private companies, or altruistic individuals to donate biosecurity suits, masks, gloves, disinfectants, and alcohol for the volunteers’ safety and for cleaning the ambulances.

For any donation, call (503) 2133-0000 or send it to 9ª. Calle Oriente and 16ª. Avenida Norte, Pasaje Letona #834, in San Salvador.