The Coronavirus is spreading. We help fund those who can control it.

The coronavirus – it’s a topic on everyone’s minds, driving global headlines and sparking international response campaigns for weeks now. It’s been on our minds at the UBS Optimus Foundation as well. We recognize the need for emergency response so taking solution-oriented action, and fast, is our primary goal.

Late December 2019 – Wuhan, Hubei. People are starting to get sick with fever and flu-like symptoms that have never been seen before, marking the beginning of COVID-19. The highly contagious coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) just a few days ago.

The beginning

What began in Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak, quickly spread throughout China and around the world. Regional governments have worked to ensure the supply of medical products for high-risk areas by organizing purchases from around the country and worldwide, helping local firms expand their production and asking for support from central governments. Even so, there is still a shortage of medical equipment and supplies for health care teams in designated hospitals and quarantine sites. Equipment and supplies are critical to containing the outbreak and without enough protective gear, people will rapidly become infected, with frontline medical workers particularly vulnerable.

Time to take action

In times of a humanitarian crises like this, the UBS Optimus Foundation makes it a priority to provide basic healthcare and a sense of security as quickly as we can and with whatever means are available. That's why we have partnered with Americares and the Beijing United Charity Foundation (BUCF) – both trusted partners working in the areas of emergency relief.

To assist the fight against the spread of the coronavirus and alleviate suffering in the most impacted communities, we've already donated USD 1 million to BUCF, but more remains to be done. Collaborating with philanthropists to pool resources as well as with multilateral organizations and national governments will be key to effectively protecting the most vulnerable citizens and containing the virus from spreading further.

If you too want to help contain the outbreak, we'd like to invite you to team up with us by sourcing key medical supplies – check your region to see how. Because the Foundation's costs are covered by UBS, you can rest assured that 100% of your donation will go directly to Americas and BUCF. And, in addition to the funds our firm has already pledged, UBS Optimus Foundation will automatically match 20% of the amount raised.

Working with trusted partners on the ground

Americares in the US

With a network of over 4,000 clinic partners in more than 40 countries, Americares has 40 years of experience responding to disasters, including disease outbreaks and pandemics such as Ebola in West Africa and DRC, Zika in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as recent outbreaks of Measles and Dengue so they are ready to respond as the situation evolves. Infection prevention and control is a core focus of Americares.

Your donation will help to:

• Provide training and ongoing mentoring for local health centers;
• Provide training and ongoing mentorship for both at-risk and already-responding local health center partners;
• Support the procurement and shipping of medicines and personal protective equipment such as protective masks to protect health workers most at risk;
• Address mental health and psycho-social support services needs of patients and healthcare workers;
• Mobilize medical personnel surge support for overwhelmed health facilities.

BUCF in China

BUCF has ongoing programs in Wuhan, including collaborations with the Wuhan Union Hospital and Maternal and Child Hospital in Hubei province and a strong relationship with the Wuhan government. The foundation will facilitate the procurement, transfer, and delivery of quality protective equipment and other essential supplies to fill temporary gaps and prevent transmission of the virus.  

Your donation will help to:

• Reduce the spread of COVID-19 in China and accelerate national cooperation in areas of critical need;
• Purchase medical and protective supplies for local community healthcare centers and hospitals, as well as sanitary items for local doctors and those from other cities who are supporting response efforts;
• Fill the gap caused by the limited domestic production of equipment and supplies by sourcing large quantities from overseas;
• Reduce the exposure of medical personnel to infectious diseases, decrease the risk of hospital infection and prevent disease transmission.

Questions? Contact us!

If you require any additional information, please don't hesitate to send us an email at [email protected] or visit ubs.com/optimus.

Disclaimer

Donations to the two programs featured in this email will be combined and UBS Optimus Foundation will automatically match 20% of the total amount raised. Unless specifically requested, the final decision regarding allocation of donations received to the featured programs is at the sole discretion of UBS Optimus Foundation.

The UBS Optimus Foundation is a grant-making foundation that helps UBS clients use their wealth to drive positive social and environmental change. The Foundation selects programs that improve children’s health, education and protection, ones that have the potential to be transformative, scalable and sustainable as well as programs tackling environmental and climate issues. This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice or the basis for making any investment decisions. For information, including the different laws and contracts that govern, visit ubs.com/workingwithus.

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