Direct Relief delivered on Monday a total of 6,000 vials of insulin valued at $240,318 (wholesale) to two Haiti facilities treating diabetic patients: Partners in Health (PIH) and Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS).

Specifically requested by physicians from PIH and HAS, this donation is especially significant for the many people with diabetes in need of insulin in Haiti. Insulin requires specialized shipping a tightly controlled temperature range from its point of origin in the United States to cold-storage facilities in Haiti hospitals, which makes it challenging to handle. Direct Relief’s operations and program staff at its Santa Barbara headquarters coordinated efforts closely with staff on the ground in Haiti to ensure that this delivery was received immediately upon arrival at the Port-au-Prince airport and was dispatched promptly to hospitals.

Serious health issues arise for insulin-dependent people with diabetes who do not have an adequate supply of insulin to manage their blood sugar levels, including diabetic ketoacidosis, which can lead to coma or death if untreated. This generous donation was provided by Eli Lilly and Company, which manufactures these insulin products.

Direct Relief has recently expanded its capacity to deliver temperature-sensitive medicines to better serve the medical needs of the people of Haiti, and others in great need around the world. Direct Relief constantly works to expand its ability to deliver needed medicines for vulnerable people.