Calling for Joining ​the International Alliance for COVID-19 Community Response (IACCR)

Calling for Joining

the International Alliance for COVID-19 Community Response (IACCR)

Dear Friends/ Colleagues,

In response to the Covid-19 epidemic in China, Associate Professor Zhang Guoyuan, who is Deputy Director of the Social Work Practice Research Center of Beijing City University and Dean of New Century Institute of Education Safety Science and Technology, initiated the Civil Engagement in Emergency Rescue for COVID-19 (CEER) with China Association for Disaster Prevention (CADP) in early February 2020. As a platform providing both online and offline services, CEER mainly works to collect, verify and share information of needs from hospitals and individuals in COVID-19 affected areas in China, and help seek and match appropriate rescue supplies or services over the country and from overseas. CEER manages and supports volunteers to participate in the above rescue services. So far, CEER has served more than 20,000 people and organized more than 1,000 volunteers in COVID-19 response action. Moreover, CEER opens a hotline at makeshift hospitals in Wuhan to provide psychological support to patients in need. CEER also spreads the knowledge of epidemic prevention and mental health to the public through online videos. A total of 300,000 people watched these videos.

When the COVID-19 broke out in China, governments, companies, organizations from overseas generously provided help and support, from which we greatly benefit and deeply touched. Currently, China's effort to stop the epidemic has achieved phased achievements. The epidemic prevention and control situations are improving, and the overall production of emergency supplies such as masks has been resumed. However, it is unfortunate that the spread of the epidemic globally is getting worse, and as WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on March 11th, COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic now.

The epidemic is the common enemy of mankind, and the fight against the virus has no borders. It's time for the world to work together. Recently, Associate Professor Zhang Guoyuan (Dean of New Century Institute of Education Safety Science and Technology, Deputy Director of Social work Research Center of Beijing City University) initiated a call for a global response to COVID-19, and Professor Tomohide Atsumi (Department of Human Science, Osaka University, Japan), Assistant Solicitor General Reynaldo (Office Of the Solicitor General of the Philippines), Member of the Parliament Maisarah (Philippine Congress) and other partners actively responded and agreed to co-found the "International Alliance for COVID-19 Community Response (IACCR) ".

In accordance with the laws and regulations of countries or regions where the members are from, the IACCR plans to regularly hold online meetings, release updates, and share relevant information, lessons and experiences, good practice of each country or region in response to the epidemic. Topics are including but not limited to epidemic situation, medical knowledge, psychological first aid skills, individual and family protection advice, community-based mutual support and response strategies, NGO actions, and related research. Special attention is paid to the needs of children, women, elderly, and disabled people in the epidemic. The IACCR advocates non-discrimination against patients and to treat foreigners with kindness as well. At the same time, the IACCR will carry out mutual assistance to members in various countries or regions in recruiting volunteers, raising or purchasing emergency supplies such as masks, and take other actions according to each member’s capacity. By far, founding members of the IACCR have exchanged their experiences through online video conferences, emails, and online communications.

FYI, at present, we have the following drafted objectives and tasks for the IACCR:

1.The IACCR is initially set to operate for one year, which can be jointly determined by members whether to extend according to the global situation of the COVID-19 epidemic;

2.The IACCR regularly holds meetings for members to report on local epidemic situation and share response measures and experiences in various countries (regions) so that to support members' adequate preparedness and responses in the following areas, including but not limited to: human resource, medical equipment, emergency supplies (masks, electronic thermometers, protective clothing, etc.), procurement and logistics, action plans, etc.

3. The IACCR plans to collect technical information and guidance on epidemic prevention and control, especially summarize and translate technical manuals of China's experience in COVID-19 response on the individual, family, and community level, and share them with alliance members and other countries or regions in need.

4.The IACCR plans to provide technical guidance or tools for members in need to conduct a community needs assessment and infection risk assessment.

5.The IACCR plans to help members of the affected countries or regions to raise funds, raise materials or medical professional volunteers, and provide assistance in emergency material procurement (from China).

6.The IACCR will discuss and respond to other proposals or requests from alliance members.

7.Due to the emergency of the epidemic, the IACCR Secretariat was temporarily set in the research institute of the Convener (A/Prof Zhang Guoyuan)'s, New Century Institute of Education Safety Science and Technology Research (NCIESST) in China. The working venue, operation cost, and salary of staff of the Secretariat is supported by NCIESST at this moment.

Again, we are calling for more members and sincerely invite your agency/organization to join the International Alliance for COVID-19 Community Response (IACCR). Hope that we could work together to strengthen international cooperation and collaboration, and to effectively fight against the epidemic together. You are also much welcome to forward this to whoever else may be interested in our action or recommend other organizations to join the IACCR.

If you volunteer to join the IACCR, please download the Constitution attached in the email for reference. If you agree with the articles of the Constitution, please fill the International Alliance for Covid-19 Community Response (IACCR) Member Registry attached and send it back. Thank you!

Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. Thanks!

Convener & Contact Person:

A/Prof. Zhang Guoyuan（Jack Zhang）

Convener of the International Alliance for COVID-19 Community Response (IACCR);

Convener of the Civil Engagement in Emergency Rescue for COVID-19 of China Association for Disaster Prevention;

Deputy Director, Social Work Practice Research Center, Beijing City University;

Dean of New Century Institute of Education Safety Science and Technology