Today Direct Relief provided Hospital Albert Schweitzer, one of Direct Relief’s longest running partners in Haiti, with medications and medical supplies essential to helping them stem the new tide of cholera that has taken hold of the region since the rainy season began in May.

This shipment was valued at over $15,000 (wholesale) and contained a variety of products that are invaluable for treating more than 31,000 cholera patients. These products were supplied from Direct Relief’s warehouse in Port-au-Prince and included 3,800 tabs of erythromycin (a broad-spectrum antibiotic), 2,000 liters of Drip-Drop oral rehydration solution, 1,800 bottles of antibacterial liquid hand soap, and 564 liters of lactated Ringer’s solution (an intravenous solution).

According to Paul Hendershot, Director of Logistics for Hospital Albert Schweitzer, the hospital is treating an average of 160 to 180 cholera patients each day and takes in nearly 50 new cholera patients every day. Since June 1, it has admitted 1,141 patients; because the patients are admitted faster than they are discharged, the hospitals’ patient numbers are steadily increasing.

Hospital Albert Schweitzer is one of over 100 medical facilities that Direct Relief supports in Haiti. This facility has received $3.6 million (wholesale) in essential medicines, supplies, and equipment since January 2010. These supplies have been provided from Direct Relief warehouses both in Port au Prince and California and will continue to be supplied as needed.

Additionally, Direct Relief is currently assembling 50 cholera kits that will treat 625 patients each and can be provided to partner medical facilities in all 10 departments of Haiti if there is a cholera outbreak in these regions.

Since January 2010, Direct Relief has provided over $60 million (wholesale) worth of medications and medical supplies and has provided over $1.5 million in cash grants to local organizations in Haiti working toward recovery from the earthquake.