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Stamford, Conn. – Sept. 17, 2014 – WellPoint Foundation has become an AmeriCares Annual Emergency Response Partner to support the global health organization’s response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and other emergencies worldwide.
The foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Indianapolis-based health care company, has made a $75,000 commitment to AmeriCares Emergency Response Program to ensure it has the capability to pre-position critical relief supplies in disaster-prone countries, mobilize emergency response experts in times of crisis and establish long-term recovery programs in communities affected by disaster. AmeriCares relief workers are among the first to respond to emergencies and stay as long as needed, helping to restore health services for survivors. With WellPoint Foundation’s support, AmeriCares is delivering medical supplies and protective equipment for health workers on the front lines of the Ebola epidemic in Liberia and Sierra Leone. More aid shipments are planned in the coming days and weeks.
“The WellPoint Foundation takes a proactive approach to disaster relief,” said Lance Chrisman, executive director, WellPoint Foundation. “As Ebola continues its relentless spread, our support of AmeriCares demonstrates our commitment for the next three years to work alongside them as they combat the outbreak. With Ebola damaging an already fragile health system, this partnership also impacts the residual critical health needs caused by the outbreak such as prenatal care, births, chronic disease or malaria treatment.”
AmeriCares Annual Emergency Response Partners allow the aid organization to respond quickly whenever disaster strikes. Last year, AmeriCares responded to 29 emergencies in 20 countries including the Philippines where the organization continues to rehabilitate health facilities damaged by Typhoon Haiyan and supports mental health programs for health care workers impacted by the storm.
WellPoint Foundation is a longtime AmeriCares donor, supporting its recovery work in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, its relief efforts in China following the 2008 Sichuan Province earthquake and its response to Myanmar’s Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
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