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Operational Update: Cold-Chain Storage in Nepal, Field Medic Packs for Turkey, and More

News

Health

Critical medical supplies donated by direct Relief are distributed to local healthcare providers in Ukraine by Kharkiv Renovation Fund on March 1, 2023. (Courtesy Photo)

Over the past seven days, Direct Relief has delivered 286 shipments of requested medical aid to 44 U.S. states and territories and eighteen countries worldwide.

The shipments contained 13.5 million defined daily doses of medication, including antibiotics, emergency medical backpacks, personal care products, and more.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake Response

Direct Relief’s response to recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has continued, and more than 109 tons of medicine and supplies have been distributed or are being prepared to ship to the region, including antibiotics, wound care dressings, protective gear, and other requested medical resources.

This week, 500 emergency medical packs departed Direct Relief’s warehouse in Santa Barbara, California, for Turkey’s Ministry of Health Crisis Command Center. The backpacks will be distributed to first responders providing critical aid to patients after recent earthquakes.

Groups supported with medical aid include Turkey’s Ministry of Health, Ahbap, AKUT, Syrian American Medical Society, Independent Doctor’s Association, and Syrian Relief and Development.

In addition to continuous deployments of medical aid, Direct Relief is infusing cash support to local organizations scaling up to meet the needs of the moment. More than $2.5 million in financial aid has been committed.

Containerized housing for medical staff providing emergency medical care was installed in Turkey this week. (Photo courtesy of the Turkish Renal Disaster Task Force)

Among the groups that received funding is the Turkish Renal Disaster Task Force, which used funds from Direct Relief to secure containerized housing for specialized medical teams cycling into Adiyaman, Hatay, and Kahramanmaras to provide medical care for crush wounds and resulting kidney issues that occur after acute traumas.

Direct Relief approved a similar project for the Turkish Society of Intensive Care so health providers can access safe housing while they provide emergency care. Direct Relief has committed $70,000 to purchase 14 units of temporary medical staff shelter in Turkey so far.

Read more about the latest earthquake response updates here.

Supporting cold-chain in Nepal

A new cold storage building funded by Direct Relief is up and running in Kathmandu, Nepal. The earthquake-resilient building houses a 440-square-foot walk-in freezer, two 216-square-foot walk-in coolers, and a backup diesel generator capable of powering all three units during a power outage.

With support from One Heart Worldwide, the new building will increase Nepal’s cold storage capacity of critical medications and vaccines.

A new project funded by Direct Relief in Kathmandu, Nepal, will increase the country’s cold storage capacity. (Courtesy photo)

Cyclone preparation in Vanuatu

This week, Direct Relief’s hurricane prep module arrived in Vanuatu to support the healthcare system before an impending cyclone impacted the region.

Direct Relief’s Hurricane Prep Module arrived in Vanuatu this week to support the healthcare system before a cyclone. (Courtesy photo)

Each module is stocked with enough materials to treat 100 patients for 72 hours and contains supplies to treat issues ranging from trauma injuries to chronic conditions. The modules are provided free of charge, and are provided as part of Direct Relief’s hurricane preparedness program, which has grown to become the largest in the U.S., supporting 50 partners organizations throughout the U.S. Gulf Coast and Eastern seaboard, as well as in other hurricane- and cylone-prone areas throughout the world.

Material aid for Ukraine

This week, TAPS Ukraine delivered two Direct Relief field medic backpacks to the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital, which has been operating since 2014 in conflict zones in Ukraine. TAPS Ukraine has so far received 18 medical backpacks for redistribution to hospitals and clinics.

Two Direct Relief medical backpacks were distributed to the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital by TAPS Ukraine on February 28, 2023. (Courtesy Photo)

Since Feb. 24, 2022, Direct Relief has provided medical aid to Ukraine weighing more than 2.5 million pounds, or 1,250 tons, with more on the way.

Critical medical supplies donated by Direct Relief are distributed to local healthcare providers by Kharkiv Renovation Fund on March 1, 2023. (Courtesy Photo)

OPERATIONAL SNAPSHOT

WORLDWIDE

This week, Direct Relief shipped 13 million defined daily doses of medication outside the U.S.

Countries that received medical aid over the past week included:

  • Ukraine
  • Turkey
  • Iraq
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Senegal
  • Kenya
  • Pakistan
  • Lebanon
  • Dominican Republic

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 255 shipments containing 481,740 doses of medications over the past week to organizations, including the following:

  • Palmetto Health Council, Inc., Georgia
  • Volunteers in Medicine, Florida
  • Bread of Healing Clinic, Wisconsin
  • Antlers First Baptist Church Free Clinic, Oklahoma
  • The Pic Place, Colorado
  • Light of the World Clinic, Florida
  • Good News Care Center, Florida
  • Agape Clinic, Texas
  • Community Care Center, North Carolina
  • Good Samaritan Clinic, Florida

YEAR-TO-DATE (GLOBAL)

Since Jan. 1, 2023, Direct Relief has delivered 2,358 shipments to 1,015 healthcare providers in 52 U.S. states and territories and 49 countries.

These shipments contained 112.6 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $280.5 million (wholesale), totaling 1.3 million lbs.

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