COVID-19: Operational Response
EngenderHealth is working to protect the wellbeing of our staff, support our communities, and continue to provide our partners and programs with exceptional engagement and assistance. Our immediate priority remains the health and safety of our staff. For more than 75 years, our staff members have been the backbone of our work to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world. We have taken the following measures to ensure that they and their families remain safe during this uncertain time:
- Suspending all travel
- Instituting work from home practices for staff based on government guidance in each country
- Working with office managers and human resources staff to ensure we support staff who are in roles that do not lend themselves to working from home
- Asking staff to refrain from attending in-person meetings and gatherings
- Ensuring staff are supported if they are sick or need to care for a sick family member
- Recommending that staff follow community guidelines on physical distancing
Still, EngenderHealth’s critical work to implement high-quality, gender-equitable programs will continue—people need contraceptive services, safe abortions, HIV and cancer screenings, and support if experiencing violence. Our teams in our African and Asian country offices are working with their government and local partners to determine how we can best accomplish our workplans and support the immediate needs of the providers and communities we serve.