The Breathe Campaign: To Bring Enough Ventilators To Fight Coronavirus

Amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) global health pandemic, the world is faced with a shortage of ventilators. 

The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said that the government will be manufacturing ventilators, as per an article by Egypt Today. The government explained that all facilities needed for manufacturing will be provided. But why are ventilators so necessary when it comes to treating COVID-19? 

According to an article published by the BBC, ventilators are necessary for patients who are badly impacted by the infection. The BBC article reported the ventilator “takes over the body’s breathing process when the disease has caused the lungs to fail” which makes the difference between life or death in some cases. Essentially, this gives the patient more time to recover and fight the infection despite having breathing issues.

The Breathe Campaign 

The Breathe Campaign video features public figures and influencers inhaling and exhaling to emphasize the “underrated importance of a simple breath”. 

The campaign’s Facebook page posted that “Egypt will face a severe shortage of ventilators, which are essential in treating cases of COVID-19. We must learn from our neighbors; we must practice contingency planning.”

 

In neighboring countries where COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed uncontrollably, doctors are being forced to choose who gets treatment and who does not because of a lack of ventilators. This campaign, with the help of Bank el Shefa and HumanKind, aims to flatten the curve in Egypt by bringing ventilators into the country. 

Click the link to see how you can donate to help flatten the curve: https://www.breathecampaign.org/

Ahram Online reported yesterday that the total number of COVID-19 cases reached 656 with a death toll of 41. Although there are many cases who recovered and whose test results turned from positive to negative (196 cases, as per the article), the rate at which cases increase is the bigger issue. Hence, initiatives that aim to flatten the curve is what will bring the country on the road to recovering. 

Dania Akkawi

Dania Akkawi graduated from the American University in Cairo with a major in Multimedia Journalism and a minor in Creative Writing and History. After spending all her high school and college years writing, that's pretty much what she wants to keep doing for now too.