May 11, 2020

Students pitch in to donate face shields, masks to Detroit hospitals

Hdeal (left) and Hashim (middle) Alhaddi at DMC Receiving, delivering face shields to the DMC.

Moved by the selflessness of health professionals around the country and in the Detroit area particularly, Hdeal and Hashim Alhaddi looked at Wayne State University and its School of Medicine as a role model in the effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The two siblings made and donated 1,000 face shields and masks to Detroit-area hospitals, including the Detroit Medical Center, Beaumont Hospital and the Karmanos Cancer Center.

Hdeal and Hashim both have aspirations to serve as public health professionals, and when they saw WSU’s response and community involvement  — including the launch of mobile test sites for first responders, providing support to Detroit hospitals and health care workers, and advancing research and clinical studies in the field — they wanted to pitch in and help, too.

“We knew we needed to help, and we were inspired by the selflessness of health professionals. It triggered our decision to help frontline fighters in any way we can. We saw a living example in WSU of how to help,” said Hdeal, who recently graduated with a degree in biology from the University of Michigan Dearborn and has applied to WSU’s School of Medicine.

The siblings are following the pandemic closely, and they monitor the number of confirmed cases and deaths daily. They noted the ongoing need for personal protective equipment.

“We keep track of what medical supplies are accepted by which hospitals, then we make and donate accordingly,” said Hashim, who is currently a junior majoring in chemistry at the University of Michigan Dearborn. “It’s a natural response to want to help, and WSU has set the path. It’s about being proactive, and stepping in to do what we can to help prevent new cases and lessen the burden on the health professionals.”

Just as the two future health professionals were inspired, they hope their work will inspire other college students, especially in the Detroit area.

“These are unprecedented times, and many health professionals are being put to the test under extraordinary circumstances,” said Hdeal. “Our donations are with great gratitude to them, and now more than ever, we can all work together to help them.”  

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