As the world absorbs and responds to the Covid-19 crisis, we send our thoughts to everyone impacted by the virus - from our partners, supporters and beneficiaries - we know current events are touching so many lives. 

At this time it is essential to ensure that disabled people in Africa and Asia, who are at increased risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus, are able to access information in appropriate formats and are not discriminated against or excluded from health service provision.

ADD International will increase its efforts to advocate for the rights of disabled people in the face of this pandemic.

Our offices in the UK, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda are now closed until further notice, and staff will work from home remotely.  We will continue to be available during this time: by email, online and through our social media. The best email to use is supportercare@add.org.uk. If you would prefer to speak to someone, please call us on 07398 109 169, but please only use this number if your matter is urgent or you don’t have easy access to digital platforms.

We will be monitoring the situation and doing everything in our power to support our incredible staff, partners and beneficiaries. We are in close communication with our country teams, who are sending us daily updates on the emerging situation and response in their respective countries. We will take every step necessary to ensure the wellbeing of all whom we work alongside.

In these challenging times, it is heartening to see so many acts of kindness, consideration and community spontaneously occurring as well. These are our best tools for navigating the road ahead, however long it ends up to be. We are so lucky to work with the most incredible, resilient and passionate disability activists over the last 30 years. Their spirit is at the heart of all that we do.

We are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support of ADD International as we keep our communities safe. Many thanks for your patience as we reply to your questions, requests and generous donations as quickly as we can over the coming weeks.

Now seems an appropriate time to share with you a song from one of the activists we supported, Peter Ogik, who campaigns tirelessly for albinism rights in Uganda and who wrote this song "to encourage anyone who has lost hope." Working alongside people like Peter, with spirits as bright and as strong as the sun, we never lose hope.

To every one of you, we send our best wishes. You are in our thoughts and the work for disability equality remains our priority, now more than ever.