Stamford, Conn. – Dec. 23, 2015 – AmeriCares has $1.1 million worth of medicine headed to Nepal to restock hospitals running critically low on essential supplies. The shipment, which is expected to arrive in early January, is in response to an urgent request from the World Health Organization. AmeriCares pharmaceutical partners, including AbbVie, Fresenius Kabi, and Pfizer, generously donated products for the emergency shipment.
The delivery is part of a series of aid shipments AmeriCares is sending to address a serious medicine shortage in Nepal. A political dispute is disrupting the flow of imported products from India, vastly reducing the amount of fuel, medicine and other necessities entering Nepal. This is the second shipment this month to alleviate the medicine shortages. Last week, AmeriCares shipped enough basic medicine to Nepal to support a population of 40,000 people for three months.
Many of the health facilities AmeriCares is supporting through its earthquake recovery program report suppliers have halted deliveries, and some have warned they might have to cut services if they cannot access the products they need. AmeriCares latest shipment includes antibiotics, pain relievers, thyroid medication, allergy medicine and other medical products. The WHO and the Ministry of Health and Population will manage the distribution of products to health facilities throughout the country.
“The shortage of fuel and medicines has created a second emergency only eight months after the devastating earthquake,” said AmeriCares Vice President of Emergency Response Garrett Ingoglia. “With support from our pharmaceutical partners, we are helping to ensure hospitals in Nepal can continue serving patients.”
An AmeriCares emergency response team was on the ground in Nepal within 48 hours of the April 25 earthquake, working to restore critical health services. To date, AmeriCares has deployed emergency medical teams to treat survivors, delivered more than $21 million in urgently needed medicines and relief supplies and supported health care services in affected regions. AmeriCares opened an office and warehouse in Kathmandu to oversee its earthquake recovery programs through 2018.
AmeriCares has been aiding survivors of natural disasters, political conflict and extreme poverty around the world for more than 30 years, saving lives and restoring health and hope.
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