Medical Support Departs for Haiti, 20 Additional Countries Over the Past Week

Over the past 7 days, Direct Relief has delivered 406 shipments of requested medical aid to 43 U.S. states and territories and 21 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 10.7 million defined daily doses of medication

Recent shipments include ongoing medical support for health facilities in Haiti. Other therapies shipped include medications for breast cancer, rare diseases, and more. Some high-volume supplies delivered this week included surgical drapes, sodium chloride, and N95 masks.

Mpox Declared Global Health Emergency Again

The WHO declared mpox a global health emergency on Aug. 14, 2024, marking the second time the disease has received such a status, the first being in 2022. Case counts have escalated significantly in Africa, with more than 38,000 cases and hundreds of deaths reported across 15 African Union Member States since 2022. In 2024 alone, there has been a dramatic increase in cases, with 15,000 reported, representing a 160% rise from last year, and 500 deaths.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been the most affected, accounting for about 96% of all cases and 97% of deaths this year. Children under 15 are particularly vulnerable and comprise the overwhelming majority of deaths. The outbreak's rapid spread, especially to displaced persons camps, and the limited access to vaccines and treatments, underscore the urgent need for support.

The DRC declared the mpox outbreak an epidemic in December 2022, and since then, it has spread throughout the country. The emergence of new genetic variants and limited resources have further complicated response efforts.

The outbreak's expansion to other countries in Africa, including South Africa, Central African Republic, and Nigeria, highlights the growing regional crisis. The need for medical supplies, vaccines, and capacity building is critical to managing this escalating health emergency.

On Monday, Emergent announced that Direct Relief would receive a donation of 50,000 doses of a vaccine for mpox, as well as diluent solution, needles, and syringes required for administration. The donation includes 50,000 doses of ACAM2000®, (Smallpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine, Live) for potential deployment across often difficult-to-reach locations, and as informed by local and regional health authorities.

Direct Relief is preparing to send the vaccines and other aid to health facilities and organizations in impacted countries that include the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and others. Direct Relief is working with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations to coordinate in-country storage, logistics, and distribution of the vaccines.

Atlantic Hurricane Season Continues

Atlantic hurricane season has so far seen five major storms which have directly led to at least 88 fatalities and more than $8 billion in property damage. This season has seen the earliest recorded Category 5 storm on record, with Hurricane Beryl in July. Hurricanes Beryl and Debby have been the most destructive, severely impacting Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, northern Venezuela, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

The National Hurricane Center is currently tracking four tropical systems, which have the potential to build into more powerful storms and hurricanes. None are expected to hit the mainland U.S., Caribbean, or Mexico next week. U.S. Hurricane Season officially ends on November 30.

In the Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Hone is predicted to impact Hawaii starting on Saturday, with Hawaii's Big Island most directly in the storm's path.

Medical Essentials Arrive in Haiti

Haiti has been in the midst of a rise in civil unrest this year, making aid deliveries challenging amidst a breakdown in logistics networks and security. Direct Relief supported local partners with cash grants to procure supplies locally while ports were closed, and has since resumed material support. Direct Relief has supported Haiti with $430.7 million worth of medical aid since 2010.

Recently, the latest in a series of shipments, including wound care items, diabetes management supplies, prenatal vitamins, and more arrived in Cap Haitien, located in northern Haiti, where Haiti Health Network operates. The organization transported medical aid to multiple health facilities as part of its distribution network, which includes midwifery and birthing centers as well as hospitals and primary care locations.

Direct Relief has provided Haiti Health Network with more than $1.7 million worth of medical support since 2022.

Direct Relief Hosts Brazilian InstrumentalistS

This week, Direct Relief hosted instrumentalist and composer Alejandro Brittes, who shared his award-winning music and his experience before, during, and after the recent environmental catastrophe in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil before a live audience at Direct Relief during his North America tour to raise awareness and support for recovery efforts. Brittes appeared alongside Andre Schmidt Ely and Carlos Eduardo de Cesaro, all members of the Alejandro Brittes Trio.

This past spring, the State of Rio Grande do Sul was devastated by torrential rain and extreme flooding that impacted nearly 90% of the state's municipalities and more than 2.3 million people.

In response, Direct Relief has been working with the Brazil California Chamber of Commerce, the Pan American Health Organization, and local organizations on the ground in Brazil to provide nutritional supplements, field medic packs for triage care, and emergency funding.

Read more about Direct Relief's response to the floods.

Operational Snapshot

WORLDWIDE

Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped more than 10.1 million defined daily doses of medication to countries outside the U.S. that include the following:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 364 shipments containing 631,426 doses of medication during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 16,300 shipments to 2,102 partner organizations in all 50 U.S. states, four U.S. territories, and 83 countries.

These shipments contained 308.8 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $990 million (wholesale) and totaled 3.7 million pounds.

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