Earthquake Recovery: 21 Healthcare Companies Making a Difference in Nepal
Direct Relief-Chartered Airlift Delivers 55 Tons of Donated Medical Aid for Nepal
KATHMANDU, Nepal, June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Direct Relief-chartered airlift landed today in Kathmandu with 55 tons of essential medications and emergency supplies to help people affected by last month's devastating earthquakes.
A June 10 report issued by Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population noted that 375 of the 446 public health facilities and 16 private facilities in Nepal's hardest hit regions were destroyed, with the highest near-term priority being the resumption of health services, including the provision of logistics to provide drugs and supplies, to care for both injured persons and the general population.
"The Nepal earthquakes delivered a cruel blow, causing more people to need care and destroying the places where they can receive it," said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief. "Private resources are keenly needed as part of the collective effort, and we are deeply thankful to the companies that have again stepped up to help in such a substantial way."
The 21 healthcare companies listed below contributed to today's airlift, which contains 5,350,173 defined daily doses (DDDs) of medications, trauma and wound care supplies, and thousands of liters of oral rehydration solution (Pedialyte) – acutely needed in a country where cholera is endemic and posing a heightened risk.
| 3M |
BD |
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
| Abbott |
Bristol-Myers Squibb |
Mountain O&P Services |
| AbbVie |
Calmoseptine, Inc. |
Mylan Laboratories, Inc. |
| Actavis Pharma, Inc. |
Covidien |
Omron Healthcare, Inc. |
| Ansell Healthcare |
Ethicon, Inc. |
Sanofi Foundation for North America |
| Baxter International, Inc. |
Hospira, Inc. |
Soap Box Soaps |
| Bayer |
Integra LifeSciences |
Teva Pharmaceuticals |
The airlift also contained Direct Relief prenatal vitamins for 10,000 women and contributions from colleague nonprofits such as 192 wheelchairs from Free Wheelchair Missions and 100 Solar Suitcases from We Care Solar. Each item on the airlift was requested by local health facilities, nongovernmental groups, and Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population.
Today's delivery is the 11th from Direct Relief since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015. Direct Relief has now delivered 251,468 lbs. of medical aid totaling $28.6 million to health facilities throughout the Country's earthquake-affected regions. Direct Relief also purchased essential equipment – including five digital x-ray machines and five ventilators that were requested by Nepalese health officials last month – and has committed an initial round of cash grants to support local Nepalese health groups, including $100,000 to the Midwifery Society of Nepal (MIDSON) to help address the increased risk facing an estimated 126,000 pregnant women.
About Direct Relief
Direct Relief is a medical aid organization with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies. Direct Relief has been among the world's largest medical suppliers to West Africa in response to the Ebola epidemic, the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan, and Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Named among the world's 10 most innovative nonprofits by Fast Company, Direct Relief has top charity ratings, including four-stars from Charity Navigator and a 100 percent fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes magazine. For more information visit http://www.DirectRelief.org.
CONTACT: Tony Morain, (530) 574-5707, [email protected]
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SOURCE Direct Relief
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