The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the entire world, and one of the lesser-known effects is the one being felt by organizations that support those suffering from malignant mesothelioma and other health conditions. To counter this, the heads of 213 patient and community-based organizations have collectively written to the leaders of Congress, imploring them to include support for them along with that being provided to the airline and travel industries, as well as others that have lost opportunities as a result of the health crisis.
Nonprofit Patient Advocacy Groups Lose Opportunities for Essential Funding Outreach
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is just one of the hundreds of nonprofit patient advocacy groups that have written to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, as well as congressional leaders McConnell, McCarthy and Schumer. They point to the significant harm that the virus is having on them, citing being “significantly harmed by reduced charitable giving, travel restrictions, fund-raising event cancellations, and reduced meeting attendance as a result of COVID-19.”
As mesothelioma patients shelter in place in order to avoid exposure to those who may be carrying the coronavirus, the non-partisan, nonprofit organizations that work to support them and research into their disease have expressed real despair about their ability to continue doing so because of the sudden drop in ability to meet with congressional leaders about government funding, as well as philanthropic donors.
Need for Mesothelioma Services Expected to Increase
Because mesothelioma patients have compromised immune systems and their lungs have been ravaged by the disease, it is anticipated that their need for medical care will expand. This is happening at the same time that patient advocacy groups would normally be holding charitable events and visiting with government leaders to obtain funding for education and research, and with that activity stopped by the virus, they are asking Congress to include them in the emergency economic action that they are currently considering.
The group is asking Congress to incentivize charitable giving, make tax credits available for nonprofit organizations’ taxes, and to include $60 billion in emergency stimulus for their organizations.
If you or someone you love has malignant mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, it is important that you follow your physician’s guidance during this worrying period. If you need information, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can be reached at 1-800-692-8608.
