Hope Initiative COVID-19

is a nonprofit project dedicated to furthering the social cause and sharing rigorous scientific information on COVID-19 with Latin American Countries.

Sharing Information: Spreading facts, not fear

Mission

To assist countries in Latin America around the COVID-19 preparation and response efforts, by sharing relevant information (in Spanish) with researchers, doctors, nurses, health officials, pharmacists, chemists, official authorities, International Institutions, opinion leaders and Rotarians via local Rotary Clubs.

Philosophy Guide

The world is amid a pandemic that is impacting people and society in ways that are hard to grasp. The most apparent impact is on physical health. It also affects our attitudes in society, our economy and cultural life. Throughout history, humanity has had to face the challenge of understanding, managing and fighting viruses.

The dramatic spread of COVID-19 has disrupted lives, livelihoods, communities and businesses worldwide. All stakeholders, especially global institutions, must urgently come together to minimize its impact on public health and limit its potential for further disruption to lives and economies around the world.

But the sum of many individual actions will not add up to a sufficient response. Only coordinated actions by institutions, and businesses, combined with global, multi-stakeholder cooperation – at exceptional scale and speed can potentially mitigate the risk and impact of this unprecedented crisis.

Purpose

To position the Newsletter as one of the most prominent sources of rigorous scientific information on Covid-19 in Latin America to benefit the largest number of patients. Saving lives one by one.

Message

Message from Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Chief Medical Advisor to the President in the virtual/in person meeting organized by The Global Impact Group and the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club in California, celebrated at the garage of one of our memeber’s home, while Rotary Club members antend virtually via Zoom. (December 2020).

The Newsletter

Each week we produce and distribute the free Newsletter COVID-19 to Latin American countries. The Newsletter COVID-19 is distributed across 29 Rotary International Districts in 20 Spanish-speaking countries across Latin America.

Argentina, Beliza, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Republica Dominicana, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Additionally, the Newsletter is distributed in the United States.

Additionally, the Newsletter is shared with International Institutions in Latin America: the World Health Organization, the Red Cross, UNESCO, Unicef, the Organization of American States (OEA), OCDE, Inter- American Development Bank (BID), National Olympic Committee, Special Olympics, APHA, AIHA, Associations of Actors and Composers.

Moreover, the Newsletter is distributed in 12 National Academies of Medicine, 12 Medical Societies, 152 Societies across 16 Medicine Specialties, 10 Scientific Foundations, and more than 1.500 opinion leaders in Latin America.

Academic Links:

With the support of:

Testimonials

“If the search for happiness is a universal goal, then I have concluded that for the members of Rotary International, Real Happiness Is Helping Others”.

– Cliff Dochterman | President of Rotary International | 1992 – 1993

“In times of pandemic-induced confusion and uncertainty, we all needed to have a source of truth to guide people that are doing good across the world. Thanks to you Roberto, and the Rotary Club Lamorinda Sunrise, we have a way to achieve that goal. The response from health professionals and friends with whom I distribute the Newsletter is unanimous: A clear, positive, scientific, and objective source based on facts that help make better decisions while fighting the pandemic, at both a personal and professional level. Congratulations and thank you for this great work. I fully agree with the above words around this magnificent work. Thank you for having me among the recipients of the Newsletter. Keep it up!!! Good luck!!!”

– Jorge Aufranc | Trustee 2019-2023 | The Rotary Foundation | ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

In a social setting marked by individualism and hedonism, where the norm is to look after oneself, the pandemic forces us to consider a new message: to succeed in this head-to-head battle with coronavirus, we need solidarity. Shared responsibility; the feeling that your destiny is contingent not just on us as individuals, but on everyone surrounding us. And we all depend on each other.”

– H.E. Laura E. Flores Herrera | Director for the Americas Division Department of Political and Peace Affairs Peace Operations | United Nations

“The Newsletter on COVID-19 has scientific and ethic projection with profound social impact, which is helping to redirect our Rotarian vision on service in the health field. It is a highly useful tool that will help us overcome this new pandemic.”

– Fernando Aguirre P. Md. | GD. Rotary Int. D 4400, 2020-2021 | Ecuador

“I think it’s easy to focus on how lucky you are, and that is true. And I do and I am. But you have to also let the other stuff be there at the same time, it has to coexist. It is heavy. It’s heavy for everyone. And it’s just, how do kids in this world not just live in all this heaviness?”

– Jennifer Garner | Actress, producer, and entrepreneur

“In these times where the flow of information is overwhelming, with little time to check the veracity of the data, it is extremely important to rely on trustworthy and updated tools. In this sense, we will contribute not only to have a well-informed population but also to prevent fake news, conspiracy theories or have people exposed to dangerous treatments. The effort underway to provide this information is praiseworthy. Thank you.”

– Dr. Aristides Baltodano. | Presidente Academia Nacional de Medicina de Costa Rica

“The fact is, uncertainty is the reality of the moment. To beat this worldwide pandemic, the world has to, must come together. There is nothing short term about this crisis. We can’t lower our guard. We are still far from half-time of the game. Ultimately, the greatest lesson that COVID-19 can teach humanity is that we are all in this together. Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”

– Elías Hurtado Hoyo | President of the Centenial | Rotary Club Buenos Aires (2019-2020) | Honorary President Asociación Médica Argentina | Membre Assotie Etranger Academie Medecine de France

“AIHA stands ready to assist our friends and colleagues in Latin America with access to various Spanish-translated technical resources to help occupational health professionals cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. These include our Back to Work Safely guidance documents and other resources that are written for the general public and based on sound science. We are deeply appreciative of the close relationships we have developed with our sister organizations, which include AMHI (Mexico), SCHO and ACHO (Colombia), APEHO (Panama), and AGSSO (Guatemala). Together, we are stronger!”

– Lawrence D. Sloan, MBA, CAE | Chief Executive Officer | AIHA

“The current pandemic ravaging the world is a graphic reminder of how we all come to be connected and dependent on each other. The world we knew is no more; it is being replaced by transformational challenges and opportunities. Most of all, we need to learn from the strengths and vulnerabilities that this pandemic has exposed so we approach the next crisis with better leadership, better preparation, and better execution. We must keep center the concept that we need global unity at a moment of a true global crisis. Our societies will not be the same after the crisis and the world we live in will also be different. The current Newsletter is a powerful “voice of information” for Rotary International and Latin American countries in this battle we all wage and an opportunity to share the best information and transformational practices, so we all move forward with strength collectively.”

– Chris Laszcz-Davis, President | MS, CIH, COH, FAIHA, AIC Fellow
International | The Environmental Quality | Past President Rotary Club Lamorinda Sunrise (2018-2019)

“Our institution, specialized in Gynecology and Obstetrics, has been designated 100% to run a COVID-19 hospital. This situation has led to dramatic experiences. We have seen colleagues and close friends die due to the contagion but others, fortunately, are recovering. To watch the faces of those recovered patients discharged from the hospital is comforting and it makes us reflect that it is worthwhile to be in the front line. It is a privilege to be part of a multidisciplinary team, though we are uncertain as to when and how we are going to regain the new reality. To receive relevant scientific information is vital for our purpose. We value the cause of those who are devoted to collaborate with Latin American Institutions. Now more than ever, we must be connected. We feel honored by your friendship.”

– Dr. Sergio Fajardo Dueñas | Jefe de la División de Gineco-Obstetricia | Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Dr. Juan I. Menchaca” | Chair Sección México Distrito VII, Colegio Americano de Obstetras y Ginecólogos (ACOG) | Ex Presidente Federación Mexicana de Colegios de Obstetricia y Ginecología

Solidarity is a quality that makes Humanity more noble. People that gather around organizations like Rotary Club and bring to life projects in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as this Newsletter initiative from the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club, are beautiful examples of solidarity. My best wishes for continued success.

– Dr. Carlos Mario Boccia | President Scientific Committee | Honorary President | Sociedad Argentina de Neumonología

In March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic was exploding around the world, Roberto Álvarez del Blanco contacted me with the creative idea of preparing a weekly COVID-19 medical digest translating English medical scientific information into Spanish and sending the weekly reports to his initial email of a small group of Rotary leaders in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay as a test. The feedback was so positive that in less than a month the free weekly Newsletter was distributed to 19 countries in Latin America where it has been widely accepted. Curently the Newsletter is received by tens of thousands. Our Rotary Club Lamorinda Sunrise, District 5160, Lafayette, California, is proud to support this solidary project. Roberto understands and believes in Rotary International´s motto of “Service above Self.”

– Don Jenkins | Past President Orinda Rotary Club, California | Service to Merit 2006 | The Rotary Foundation of R. I.

– Linda Jenkins, BSN, PHN | Rotoplast International Volunteer in Latin America

“This Newsletter has provided a significant and rich resource for latino/a/x communities, organizations, and health professionals around the country and Americas. This resource repository addresses and fills the gap of translated research into spanish. This newsletter also provides many of the Task Force partners with the literature and research that is already translated in spanish- reducing the time and work they need to do to get this information out to the comunidades they work directly with. A wonderful resource the Latinx COVID-19 Task Force is pleased to support and collaborate with.”

– Paulina Sosa, MPH | Chair, Latinx COVID-19 Task Force | Founder/CEO, Latin Voces en Salud Campaign