Utilizing Technology during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Daryn Joy Go International Care Ministries Inc.
  • Natalee Hung International Care Ministries Inc. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1455-4250
  • Hannah Ferrolino International Care Ministries Inc.
  • Kendall Wilson International Care Ministries Inc.
  • Mia Choi International Care Ministries Inc.
  • Daniel Mayhugh International Care Ministries Inc.
  • Lincoln Lau International Care Ministries Inc.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v7i5.479

Keywords:

COVID-19, pandemic, LMICs, social networks, technology

Abstract

National lockdowns and social distancing measures enforced in response to COVID-19 have forced many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) serving in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to suspend their operations. While low-income families continue to suffer from hunger and poverty, community quarantine restrictions additionally isolated them from town centers where healthcare, education, food, supplies, and livelihood opportunities are usually accessed. International Care Ministries (ICM) is a Philippine-based NGO that runs a poverty-alleviation program targeted towards extreme low-income households. As we re-evaluated how we may continue to effectively minister and serve our communities despite lockdown measures, we identified two priorities: (1) to serve people’s physical needs by providing food and access to healthcare, and (2) to serve people’s spiritual needs through spiritual feeding and community. In this field report, we describe how ICM was able to identify and use social network platforms as an alternative to continue both service delivery and spiritual feeding remotely. We hope this example may encourage other development NGOs to persevere as we all continue to seek ways to adapt to these extraordinary and seemingly ever-changing circumstances.

Author Biography

Lincoln Lau, International Care Ministries Inc.

PhD, Director of Research, International Care Ministries, Manilla, PH; Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Public Health & Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

References

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Published

2020-12-21

How to Cite

Go, D. J., Hung, N., Ferrolino, H., Wilson, K., Choi, M., Mayhugh, D., & Lau, L. (2020). Utilizing Technology during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Christian Journal for Global Health, 7(5), 94–98. https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v7i5.479