Gulf Oil Spill: Direct Relief and BD Helping to Save Marine Mammals
Santa Barbara, CA, (May 21, 2010)—On April 20, a major oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, adversely impacting wildlife in the region. In response, Direct Relief International is shipping over 30,000 donated syringes and other medical supplies to animal rescue and rehabilitation sites in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. The assortment of syringes will be used to feed and medicate sea birds, sea turtles, dolphins and other marine mammals. Direct Relief received the syringes as a donation from BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company).
Following the Deep Water Horizon rig oil spill in the Gulf, Direct Relief reached out to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWNC), which includes 25 members of world-class aquaria, universities, scientific organizations and rehabilitation groups, and is administered by the University of California, Davis Wildlife Heath Center in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
In coordination with OWCN, Direct Relief is preparing four shipments of requested supplies, over 30,000 syringes, to the following rescue and rehabilitation sites in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida: The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas; The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies; Florida’s Gulfarium; and Gulf World. Direct Relief is also preparing to ship syringes and blood collection sets to Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. These supplies will be used to feed and give fluids to birds in recovery.
BD has been a major partner with Direct Relief since 1996, helping people in developing countries and disaster-ravaged areas, supplying and delivering specifically requested medical supplies to communities in greatest need. BD has donated over 5 million syringes and pen needles for diabetes treatment to community health facilities in the U.S. through Direct Relief USA, the largest medical support program for America’s safety net health centers and clinics.
About Direct Relief International and Direct Relief USA
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief is a Santa Barbara, California-based nonprofit organization focused on improving quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide. Direct Relief has provided more than $1 billion in privately funded humanitarian aid since 2000, including more than $150 million in assistance in the United States. It has earned a fundraising efficiency score of 99 percent or better from Forbes for the past eight years, and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California's largest international nonprofit organization based on private support.
While best known for its international programs, Direct Relief now operates the largest medical product support program for America’s safety net health centers and clinics – Direct Relief USA. In 2004, Direct Relief launched the program to address the needs of the more than 46 million people in the United States who are uninsured and struggle to access affordable medicines. To date, the program—the largest of its kind in the U.S.—has provided close to $200 million (wholesale) worth of medicines and supplies to more than 1,000 partner clinics and health center entities in all 50 states. This assistance includes more than 6 million needed prescriptions. For more information, please visit www.DirectRelief.org.
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