09/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/01/2024 07:46
Over the past 7 days, Direct Relief has delivered 329 shipments of requested medical aid to 45 U.S. states and territories and 13 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 507,098 defined daily doses of medication.
Medical aid delivered this week included antibiotics, personal protective equipment, and cancer treatments.
Strengthening Solar Energy Capacity in Africa
This week, with funding from Direct Relief, Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health commissioned a solar power installation to support the energy needs of the Bo Government Hospital. The installation will provide reliable power for 70% of the hospital's energy intake. The energy will ensure medical oxygen is readily available for patients 24/7.
This initiative is part of the Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) Africa Infrastructure Relief and Support (AIRS) project, which was first started in 2023 to bring lifesaving oxygen to hospitals in The Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The SCCM AIRS project received a $5.5 million grant from Direct Relief.
Learn more about the SCCM AIRS project here.
Supporting Community Health Centers in the U.S.
Last week, Direct Relief attended the National Association of Community Health Centers' annual Community Health Institute and Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. The community health centers provide affordable, comprehensive healthcare (often including medical, dental, behavioral health) and support services, to the country's most vulnerable populations. Direct Relief provides ongoing support to these clinics for patient care, including during times of disaster.
Direct Relief was also recognized by NACHC as a 'Partner of Choice' and Direct Relief's Chief Operating Office Dr. Byron C. Scott spoke on a general session panel with HLTH, Instacart Health, and AltaMed Health Services, a community health center in Los Angeles, California.
The panel, titled 'Beyond the Medical Exam Room/Social Determinants of Health,' invited the speakers to detail how their organizations are addressing healthcare gaps through technology, healthy food access, patient education on policy impacts, and providing access to medications that many patients, served by health centers, cannot afford.
Operational Snapshot
WORLDWIDE
Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped 317,544 defined daily doses of medication to countries outside the U.S. that include the following:
UNITED STATES
Direct Relief delivered 313 shipments containing 189,554 doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:
YEAR TO DATE
Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 16,600 shipments to 2,108 partner organizations in all 54 U.S. states, four U.S. territories, and 85 countries.
These shipments contained 309.3 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $1 billion (wholesale) and totaled 3.8 million pounds.
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