2010 Spring Newsletter - Direct Relief

Direct Relief staff sort emergency medical supplies with Hospital
Sacre-Cour CDTI Pharmacist Vincent Nivenson Jr. (center, front).
Efficiency, Ingenuity Mark
Earthquake Responses in
China and Chile
Emergency response presents challenges in countries
with stringent customs or importation policies.
Most recently, Direct Relief faced these challenges in
responding to the 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile and
the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in China. Thanks to strong
collaborations with healthcare providers and medical
manufacturers working in these countries, Direct Relief
was able to provide needed assistance to people injured in
the earthquakes.
ALISON WRIGHT
The
Community
Grant Fund
FOR HAITIAN NGOs AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS,
CASH GRANTS UP
TO $25,000
“In Haiti, Direct Relief has
delivered more critically
needed assistance in less
time to more groups than
ever before. The best
interests of local groups
have long been at the
heart of Direct Relief’s
work, because we know
that the best interest of the
community are at the heart
of these groups’ work.”
– Brett Williams, Direct Relief Director of
Emergency Preparedness and Response
International aid groups have received over
$2 billion in donations for Haiti, yet many
smaller Hatian groups still struggle to access
funding.
Direct Relief has committed $500,000
for a Community Grant Fund that will give
local Haitian NGOs and community groups
access to cash grants up to $25,000. These
grants will ensure that local groups that were
operating before the earthquake and have
the most at stake in the country’s recovery
aren’t overlooked.
FUNDING PRIORITIES
➔ Healthcare Services
➔ Training and Capacity Building
➔ Infrastructure and Repair
“Direct Relief is an amazing group
with tremendous heart. We could
never thank you enough for
how fast you’ve been in helping.
FEDES and the people of Chile
are very, very thankful.”
– Steven Colon, FEDES Founder and President
“Covidien can always count on Direct
Relief’s responsiveness, passion,
network of in-country partners, and
clear action plans in delivering our
products to those in greatest need.”
– Teresa Hacunda, Covidien Director of Civic Affairs
REUTERS/ALFRED JIN,
COURTESY OF ALERTNET.ORG
FEDES
The Qinghai earthquake damaged tens of
thousands of buildings in a mountainous region
of China. Following news of the quake, Direct Relief
program staff contacted
our partners incountry:
One HEART
and the Amitabha
Foundation, which
we have supported
with aid and cash
grants, as well as Mercy Relief, an emergency response
and medical aid organization based in Singapore. Direct
Relief committed up to $100,000 for earthquake recovery
efforts, with initial grants issued to support medical
mission trips by these three groups to the affected area,
including Yushu.
With the Amitabha Foundation, Direct Relief plans
to help rebuild and equip the village clinic and Yushu
Hospital, both at the epicenter of the earthquake. In 2008,
Direct Relief supplied Amitabha with a full surgical suite
to increase access to quality care. With One HEART,
Direct Relief hopes to help rebuild and bring more
advanced maternal and child health care to the affected
region, including a birthing center in the local hospital.
In Chile, Direct Relief provided $277,000 in
medical material assistance and personal
care supplies to FEDES, which distributed aid on
medical outreach
trips to coastal
villages destroyed
in the earthquake.
The Chilean army,
along with the
Ministry of Health,
set up temporary field hospitals outside damaged
facilities so patients could receive both emergency
and ongoing medical care, and FEDES helped supply
them with critically needed medical products. For
the thousands of people left homeless, personal care
products like shampoo and soap were greatly appreciated
as they provided a bit of comfort despite the difficult
circumstances.
Covidien is supporting Direct Relief ’s efforts
in Chile with a direct donation of pharmaceuticals,
including morphine, through the company’s relationship
with CENABAST Center for Supply (the central supply
agency for the National Health Service/Ministry of
Health in Chile). CENABAST is processing the
emergency medical assistance and will handle the
in-country distribution. FEDES will likely receive a
portion of this aid.
WWW.DIRECTRELIEF.ORG SPRING 2010 THIS REPORT WAS PAID FOR BY A GENEROUS BEQUEST 5