Mother and Daughter Duo responds to the Call

Posted about 5 years ago

The year 2020 woke up into the dawn of a new pandemic like never before. A pneumonia of unknown cause was first detected in Wuhan China and reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) county office on December 31, 2019. Shortly after the outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International concern was declared on January 30, 2020 and on March 11, 2020, the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic ( WHO, 2020). COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly affecting communities across the United States. The cumulative total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States from January 12, 2020 to April, 2020, is 579,005( CDC, 2020). New York has been determined as the epicenter of COVID-19 cases followed by New Jersey. Despite the rigorous effort to control the infection, the novel coronavirus continues to emerge globally, threatening to transmit in the community and hospitals in the absence of an effective treatment or vaccine.

Mother and daughter duo responds to the call after CDC recommended use of cloth face coverings to help slow COVID- 19. The mask as per CDC is recommended to be worn in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain. As per CDC this is a voluntary public health measure that has been instituted.

Merlin Mendonca who served as the secretary of American Association of Indian Nurses, New Jersey chapter ( AAIN-NJ2) during the last term and currently the Public relations committee chair, encouraged her daughter Melanie Mendonca to put her skills of an elective she took as a freshman and sophomore at JP Stevens high school , Edison, NewJersey. Melanie, without any hesitation took up the challenge to sew mask with the supplies that her family provided.

These mask will be used as part of the effort that AAIN-NJ2 has initiated to provide care packages to the community, families and patients discharged from the hospital. This act of kindness is a simple example of how teenage children currently at home can help contribute towards the COVID-19 pandemic. This effort by a high school student with encouragement from her mother, is well appreciated and deserves recognition. AAIN-NJ2 extends our recognition and appreciation to Melanie Mendonca and her mother Merlin Mendonca. Thank you.

AAINJ-NJ would also like to recognize Kavita Natarajan, Treasurer for her efforts in securing mask for the project as well as going above and beyond to deliver the mask to members or families that have requested . Kavita states that she continues to collaborate with a group of women who have sewed 5,000 mask for distribution to the community in Somerset county and beyond.

Siby Varghese a member of the governing board has also joined the effort to secure mask from a local community organization for the care package project.

AAINJ-NJ 2 will join National Association of Indian Nurses ( NAINA) to enhance support and services to nurses, families and patients discharged to the community.

A sophisticated machine that Melanie was gifted by her parents

Thank You
AAINJ2 Executive board