A private-sector initiative recently secured more than 11-million pieces of personal protective equipment for use by Arizona agencies on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effort delivered over 11-million pieces of PPE to more than 100 hospitals, senior living communities, nonprofit community service organizations, fire departments, law enforcement agencies and other healthcare organizations across the state on June 18 and 19. Members of AzHHA and the Arizona Coalition for Hospital Emergency Response (AzCHER) were among those receiving their deliveries from the Arizona National Guard last week.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, it is imperative healthcare workers and other frontline workers have the necessary resources to keep them safe and ready to respond during these critical times. The PPE delivery included N95 masks, isolation gowns, goggles, surgical masks, nitrile gloves and face shields.

“This initiative will save lives, period. It will help ensure the safety of our frontline healthcare workers and allow our hospitals to respond as effectively as possible not only to the COVID-19 crisis, but to the healthcare challenges that people face on a day-to-day basis. It will reach almost every corner of our state, including areas that need PPE the most,” stated Ann-Marie Alameddin, AzHHA president and CEO.