By Lara Cooper
In the past 7 days, Direct Relief has delivered 470 shipments of requested medical assistance to 41 U.S. states and territories and 10 countries worldwide. The shipments contain 4.7 million defined daily doses of medication.
Medications and supplies shipped this week include field medicine kits for triage care, thyroid medications, anti-inflammatory medications, personal protective equipment, therapies for rare diseases and more.
Mobile healthcare services reach hurricane-ravaged communities
Direct Relief relief efforts continue as communities across the southeastern U.S. recover from back-to-back hurricanes.
As of October 25, Direct Relief had sent 111 shipments of specifically requested emergency medical assistance worth nearly $2.5 million to 26 health care providers responding to the needs of storm-affected communities in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Among the medical items shipped are antibiotics, emergency medical backpacks, hygiene kits, over-the-counter products, personal protective equipment and medications to treat chronic diseases, as well as tetanus vaccines, hepatitis A and B vaccines, epinephrine for allergic reactions from bees. and yellow jacket ticks, oral rehydration salts and water purification tablets.
Recently, Dr. Yousef Motii, a physician for Oceana Community Health who provides medical care in the Spanish Lakes community, which was hit hard by tornadoes during Hurricane Milton, delivered donated hygiene items to the community by Direct Relief. Dr. Motii also used a Direct Relief medicine package to support patient triage care.
This week, Direct Relief announced $700,000 in direct financial assistance to 28 organizations providing health care services in hurricane-affected communities. These grants will go to individual health centers, charity clinics and other nonprofit organizations responding to these crises to keep health care accessible to low-income patients affected by these disasters.
Critical anti-infection therapies arrive in Gaza
Recently, a shipment of eight pallets of antibiotic therapies for immunocompromised cancer patients in Gaza arrived. The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital has treated thousands of cancer patients in Gaza in the past, but the hospital was decommissioned until a recent relocation of services to Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
NGO Anera, which partnered with Direct Relief to transport the donation to Gaza, delivered the medicines to the hospital’s relocated facility, which also houses a cancer treatment center.
Direct Relief continues to provide humanitarian support to Gaza and regionally. To date, Direct Relief has provided more than $255 million in requested assistance across the region, including to Egypt, Gaza, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, the West Bank and Yemen.
Free clinics in California come together at Direct Relief
Representatives from more than 33 free clinics across the state of California gathered this week during Direct Relief.
The California Association of Free and Charitable Clinics Annual Conference and Membership Meeting met Friday morning at Direct Relief’s Hatch Hall to kick off a two-day conference, covering topics including sustainable financing strategies, legal and policy issues and the current landscape in the state. for free and charitable medical care.
Direct Relief staff welcomed the clinic representatives and informed attendees about the organization’s history, Direct Relief’s work supporting free clinics across the state during wildfires, floods and the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as product support that was available upon request.
Since 2008, Direct Relief has supported 71 free charity clinics across California with more than $30 million in medications and medical supplies. Fifteen clinics across the state also received $1.29 million in cash grants to support programs focused on healthcare equity and mental health.
Operational snapshot
UNITED STATES
Immediate assistance provided445 shipments of 1.8 million doses of medication over the past seven days to organizations, including the following:
- PanCare RX, Florida
- Community Volunteers in Medicine, Pennsylvania
- PryMed Medical Care, Inc., Puerto Rico
- Fundacion Manos Juntas, Oklahoma
- Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Oklahoma
- UHI CommunityCare Clinic, Florida
- Community Care Clinic, North Carolina
- New Song Health Center, Illinois
- Mercy Medical Clinic, Kentucky
- Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Hawaii
All over the world
Direct Relief has been shipped worldwide 1.7 million defined daily doses of the medication in total 22,179 pound., to countries including the following:
- Senegal
- Malawi
- Yemen
- St. Lucia
- India
- Zimbabwe
- Guatemala
- Sudan
YEAR TO DATE
Since January 1, 2024Immediate assistance has yielded results 20.3K shipments to 2,269 partner organizations in 54 US states and territories and 88 countries. These shipments include 349.5 million defined daily doses of medication worth $1.4 billion (wholesale) and totaling £4.3 million.
In the news
After Hurricane Helene, pop-up microgrids powered medical clinics, water generators, communications equipment and other critical resources – Knowledge of microgrids
Familiar with disasters, New Orleans residents take action to help after hurricanes Helene, Milton – NOLA.com
As Hurricane Milton hits Florida, how New Yorkers can help loved ones in need – CBS News
Hurricane Milton: How to Donate and Get Help in Palm Beach County – The Palm Beach Post
This San Diego health center offers patients a community-focused career – Angels in medicine
Solon Schools’ Comet Care initiative aims to provide relief to hurricane victims – cleveland.com
Amid unrest in Haiti, Direct Relief and Partners are testing new avenues for insulin donations – Angels in medicine
