Hi Friend,

This past year, we’ve witnessed fragile health systems pushed to the brink by the COVID-19 pandemic. At Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) we’ve responded to outbreaks and other disasters at a moment’s notice for 50 years. We go wherever we’re needed to ensure our patients receive lifesaving care.

During the second wave of COVID-19 in Amazonas state, Brazil, MSF teams supported health workers at Tefé Regional Hospital. Bonifácia de Oliveira, a 109-year-old woman who had lived in Tefé most of her life, was admitted with COVID-19 and quickly endeared herself to the hospital staff. Throughout her treatment, she impressed health workers with her determination and emotional stability. Staff at the hospital said she was always joking and even celebrated her birthday with them while undergoing treatment.

In March, before MSF finished their intervention at the hospital, Bonifácia was discharged and returned home with her family. “109 years old, she overcame something impossible, went home, and lived through one of the biggest struggles of her life,” said Carolina Kennedy, an MSF doctor at Tefé “She went happy, laughing. It was such a happy moment.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, MSF teams have been responding to COVID-19 and providing other essential medical services in countries including Brazil, Yemen, and India to ensure the most vulnerable communities have access to lifesaving care.

To help MSF teams respond to the next emergency at a moment’s notice, we’ve set a goal for 250 donors to raise their hand and make a lifesaving contribution by Friday. Over 94 donors have already risen to the challenge—will you help?

In addition to emergency COVID-19 care, your gift could help our teams around the world provide vaccinations for diseases including measles, deliver healthy babies, and offer other essential health services in more than 70 countries.

So Friend, will you be one of the 156 donors we still need to meet our goal by Friday?