Dr. Suzette Oyeku, from the academic general pediatrics division, and Dr. Miguelina German, from the HealthySteps program at Montefiore Medical Group, went to Costco on Sunday Apr. 19 to use the fund donations to stock up on essential items in order to prepare care packages for the families of patients seen at different Montefiore Medical Group practices.

Of particular concern were new mothers with COVID-19. A statement by Dr. Miguelina German on the Amazon wish list page detailing the initiative called, Montefiore New Mothers with COVID, reads, “Parents with newborn children are struggling to buy food, diapers, wipes, baby clothes and cribs”.

 

The statement continued, “In light of this, we are expanding this wish list to include items for ‘Infant Survival Kits’ to be distributed to Covid+ mothers of newborns as well as other extremely vulnerable families at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx”. Dr German went on to say that the hospitals’ volunteers are still seeking to provide emergent, critical support to new families, many of whom have contracted COVID, who are vulnerable, living in poverty and who need basic supplies to care for their babies.

 

The Bronx still has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases per head of population across the City according to the latest data from New York City Department of Heath. Meanwhile, the racial breakdown of fatalities from COVID-19, which was first made available by the New York State health department in early April, shows that communities of color are disproportionately affected by the virus, with hispanic deaths highest.

 

Council Member Fernando Cabrera said at the time of release of the racial breakdown that low-income people of color are far more likely to have underlying chronic health conditions that make COVID-19 mortality more likely, and are also more likely to work as healthcare aids and in other occupations that expose them to the public, and ultimately, to unhealthy environments.

 

 

 

 

In her statement on the amazon wishlist page, Dr. German said that the local WIC office had been inaccessible to local Bronx families due to what she described as the limited hours during which it is open, coupled with the requirement for in-person registration, thereby depriving low-income families in need of access to essential aid.

 

A review of the various websites for the WIC offices in the Bronx show that most are open until 5:00 p.m., while one is open until 7:00 p.m. A voicemail recording at the Fordham Plaza WIC office states, “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking extra precautions to protect our participants and our staff. New York State has temporarily granted permission to issue benefits for all appointments over the phone. We will contact you prior to your appointment with further instructions”.

 

As of 1 May, the Montefiore New Mothers with COVID fund has directed over $30,000 worth of formula, scales, breast milk pumps, thermometers, diapers and wipes to families in need.

 

Anyone wishing to purchase additional items on the wish list, as part of the initiative, can do so by clicking on the following link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/QMLS9Y3F7R64/ref=cm_go_nav_hz