Rapid Response: The Bismack Biyombo Foundation Takes on COVID-19
From the beginning, one of the primary goals of the Bismack Biyombo Foundation was to improve hospitals and access to healthcare in Bismack’s home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most DRC hospitals were in poor condition, basic needs were not being met, and primary medical supplies were in short supply.
So starting in 2016, the Foundation set out to improve the quality of care for six medical centers across the DRC by upgrading equipment and facilities, while also operating mobile clinics in rural regions. Plans for building new hospitals were also in development – when everything changed fast.
Fast forward to Spring 2020 when COVID-19 hit. In a country of over 80 million people, there were only 50 oxygen masks in existence in all hospitals combined, and very few face masks or other vital equipment. Facing an unprecedented public health crisis, Bismack and the Foundation sprang into action.
“How can we save lives and prevent more people from getting infected?,” Bismack asked himself and his team. And with that question, the Foundation’s goals immediately shifted to addressing the crisis head-on.
As the virus began to spread across Africa, Bismack donated one million dollars and critical supplies to combat the crisis, including 10,000 face masks, 780 hazmat suits, medical beds, and more. Bismack’s Foundation was established to make a difference, and suddenly this difference was between life and death.
Throughout 2020 and into 2021, the Foundation’s work – timely hospital upgrades, new equipment drops, and supply distribution network – saved lives. All of this was possible because of volunteers, Foundation staff, partner healthcare workers, and donors from across the world.
If you can, please join Bismack’s ongoing efforts to improve the lives of so many people in this critically underserved part of the world. Even small donations can make a big difference in the lives of so many. Visit bismackbiyombofoundation.org for more information on how you can help change this world for the better.
As Bismack likes to say, "We’re gonna keep putting out our effort and coming up with solutions. And I think we’re gonna get there.”
