Seattle has received the most snow in 70 years, with more than 10 inches reported in some areas.

In anticipation of extreme weather conditions, Direct Relief staff contacted health partners throughout the Northwest to assess the situation and offer support.

One response came from staff at the Seattle Indian Health Board, a community health clinic in King County, Washington. The clinic serves more than 6,000 patients annually, and specializes in the care of Native people.

Patrick Henry, the board’s director of pharmacy and laboratory services, said the extreme weather is unusual for the area.

“We are not used to cold temperatures and snow in Seattle,” Henry said Monday. “We were closed early three days last week and all day today.”

Dangerous road conditions and low temperatures have impacted the facility’s operating hours, leading to concerns about vulnerable patients in need of medical services. Extreme weather events have a disproportionate effect on those who are already vulnerable, including the elderly, patients with chronic health issues or individuals living outside.

“We are seeing more of our homeless patients who could use items to help with the cold,” explained Henry.

Warm outerwear including socks, blankets, gloves, boots and more were listed as items needed to protect patients from the elements.

Seattle Indian Health Board is doing its best to inform patients in the hopes of returning to normal operating hours early this week. A recent update posted by staff on Facebook offered information about warming shelters for those experiencing homelessness.

Winter Storm Nadia comes just weeks after arctic conditions swept across the Midwest, bringing temperatures well below zero and claiming the lives of at least two dozen. Despite record-breaking temperatures, business continued as usual for some health facilities, including Community Health Care Clinic in Normal, Illinois.

In addition to operating under normal hours, except for January 30 when the wind chill dropped to minus 53 Fahrenheit, the clinic provided daily transportation to keep patients in need of medical services out of the extreme cold.

“We have a fairly large number of patients that take public transit, and the walk to our building is a quarter of a mile from the bus stop,” explained the clinic’s executive director, Mike Romagnoli, in an email to staff.

Exposure to such blistering temperatures can lead to frostbite within minutes, and hundreds of severe cases were reported as a result of the storm, requiring medical care to prevent complications.

To keep patients safe, “we offered to pick them up from the bus stop and bring them back,” wrote Romagnoli, who even made a house call for a medication drop-off during the storm.

“That’s not entirely out of the norm for us,” he added.

Similar to Seattle Indian Health Board, social media became a powerful means of communication for the clinic, which turned to Facebook to share information about warming shelters, safety precautions, and status updates.

While communities across the Pacific Northwest are in the thick of extreme conditions, the harsh mix of snow and ice is slated to move through the Midwest and Northeast later this week. Direct Relief will remain in contact with health centers and free clinics across the region and is ready to respond to medical needs if requested.

In the past week alone, Direct Relief has delivered 272 shipments to 194 health centers and clinics in 36 U.S. states. That includes Washington and other states in the Midwest and Northeast affected by extreme winter weather.

The post Across the U.S., Caring for Patients Weathering Extreme Cold appeared first on Direct Relief.

“I want to donate it,” Mae told her grandmother, Patti Weber.

Mae’s response came just months after visiting Direct Relief in 2017, at the age of six, to volunteer with her grandmother. The pair joined more than a dozen volunteers to assemble feminine hygiene kits for distribution to parts of the world where such resources are limited, causing girls to miss as many as two months of school each year while disrupting the professional lives of women.

With support from Day for Girls, a local organization dedicated to creating a more dignified and sustainable world for girls, Mae and others assembled 180 sanitary kits that day. Drawstring bags, two pairs of girls’ underwear, travel-size soap and much more were carefully packed with the intention of keeping girls in school longer – regardless of the time of month. To date, more than 1 million women and girls in over 125 countries have received the kits as part of the organization’s larger effort to support their potential and value as agents of social change.

Moved by the kit’s impact to equip and empower girls globally, Mae left the volunteer event eager to do more.

“It’s been just over a year since Mae started raising money for Direct Relief,” said Patti, remembering the day in December 2017 when the two started baking goods from scratch. That was Mae’s first of many bake sales to come over the course of 2018.

Fresh out of the oven, warm cookies and festive cupcakes were transported to the curb outside of Patti’s house. There, Mae seized the opportunity to encourage neighbors and friends to buy sweets for a cause she was passionate about.

“I was always shy as a little girl, but Mae isn’t that way,” said Patti. “She would wave her hands and call out to people to encourage them to buy something.”

Often buyers would ask Mae to keep the change when they learned how she planned to use the money.

“Once someone gave me $20,” Mae recalled with a big smile.

In addition to raising money for Direct Relief, Mae also educates neighbors and friends about the importance of feminine hygiene for girls across the globe.

“Her focus is always about keeping girls in school,” Patti explained.

On Tuesday, January 22, Mae and Patti visited Direct Relief’s headquarters in Santa Barbara to deliver a check.

“I hope that you can use this money,” Mae wrote in a card to staff.

A certificate of appreciation was awarded to Mae for her extraordinary commitment to improving the health and lives of girls worldwide.

The post Motivated to Keep Girls in School, 7-Year-Old Raises Funds for Direct Relief appeared first on Direct Relief.

Dr. Ifthikher Mahmood, founder of HOPE Foundation for Women & Children of Bangladesh, and Dr. Steve Arrowsmith, medical director of the Fistula Foundation and consulting medical director for Direct Relief, spoke to staff and a small group of supporters.

The doctors have traveled the world to bring care to the most vulnerable women.

Dr. Mahmood was born in Southern Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazar, and knew from a young age he wanted to help his community.

“Our destiny [as humans] is in our childhood,”  the doctor said. “All that we see and do as young children impacts our path through life.”

He wanted a way to give back to those in his community. In 1999, he founded HOPE Foundation for Women and Children of Bangladesh.  The foundation operates a 40-bed hospital in Ramu Cox’s Bazar, as well as eight medical centers in rural areas.

Many women in Bangladesh lack access to a skilled birth attendant, and the country’s maternal mortality rate remains high. The hospital allows women a safe place to give birth and also facilitates training of local midwives.

In 2007, a deadly cyclone struck the region, and HOPE staff connected with Direct Relief  to coordinate shipments of medical aid.

“HOPE depended on Direct Relief so much it was unbelievable,” said Mahmood.

The hospital’s mission became even more critical when nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees fled from neighboring Myanmar into Southern Bangladesh, just miles away from HOPE’s front doors. The hospital was suddenly confronted with a massive humanitarian crisis, and began to work with patients, one at a time and eventually expanded to providing care in the Rohingya camps.

The hospital provided  treatment like fistula repair, during which a surgeon repairs a fistula, or opening, that results from obstructed labor and can have devastating consequences. The hospital has been able to offer the surgery, sometimes to patients who have lived with the condition for decades. “Without Direct Relief supplies, like wound sutures, HOPE couldn’t have done the fistula surgery,” said Mahmood.

Arrowsmith, a surgeon has provided countless surgeries for women with fistula over the past 25 years, also spoke. Arrowsmith started the Fistula Repair Center in Jos, Nigeria, and also conducted surgeries at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital.

He trains surgeons on how to do the surgeries, and said that he’s depended on Direct Relief surgical supplies for many surgeries.

When asked about identifying where and how to help, Arrowsmith encouraged organizations to continue supporting people on the frontlines of healthcare, like Dr. Mahmood.

“Find people with passion and a heart for what they do, and grab onto those who have that calling,” he said.

The post Maternal Health, from Nigeria to Bangladesh appeared first on Direct Relief.

The storm made landfall Wednesday near Mexico Beach, Florida, as a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145 miles per hour.

At least six people were reported dead with hundreds of thousands displaced as search and rescue efforts begin in areas with extensive damage. More than 350,000 people are without power.

The death toll from #Michael has risen to 6 as the storm spins across the Southeast: https://t.co/3NOLNZ7QZ2 pic.twitter.com/gETDcYwP4E

— Breaking Weather by AccuWeather (@breakingweather) October 11, 2018

Communities in Florida are just starting to assess the damage, while the rest of the storm sweeps through the South and into the Carolinas, just weeks after Hurricane Florence devastated the region and health facilities there were just beginning to recover.

Health Facilities Providing Real-Time Updates 

A number of health centers and clinics in storm-affected areas have turned to social media to share status reports and operational updates.

Staff at the Medical Center, Navicent Health, located in Macon, Georgia, posted that the center was open to receive patients, and even had a fleet of emergency medical vehicles ready to respond.

Staff at CommWell Health, located in Dunn, North Carolina with sites throughout southeastern North Carolina, posted that all locations were open to receive patients, but some were scheduled to close earlier than normal due to inclement weather.

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, which serves a 17-county region in North Florida and South Georgia, reported that the Urgent Care Center returned to normal operating hours on Thursday, October 11.

Several health centers and free clinics were still closed as of Thursday afternoon, as staff evacuated for their own safety.

Direct Relief partner PanCare Health operates 13 clinics in Northwest Florida, four of which are near the water. Two are in Panama City and one in Port Saint Joe and one in Carrabelle, said PanCare’s Ashley Kelley.

Kelley said Wednesday that she and most of PanCare’s staff have evacuated the area and that the system would be closed until at least Monday.

“We are going to continue to remain closed until we can get to the clinics and assess the damage, then we’ll plan openings and closures from there,” she said.

The situation is changing hourly for many communities, and health needs are only beginning to come into focus.

Direct Relief stands ready to support impacted health centers and clinics with the medical aid needed to serve displaced and impacted patients.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on Monday, October 15. 

The post In Hurricane Michael’s Wake, Health Facilities Turn to Facebook to Inform Patients appeared first on Direct Relief.

NEW: Florence is now a category 4 hurricane. Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter indicate that Florence has continued to rapidly strengthen and has maximum sustained winds near 130 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 946 mb (27.93 inches) https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/wfLt6fJPl2

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2018

Direct Relief has offered support to more than 200 healthcare partners that are currently in the storm’s projected path to coordinate potential relief efforts. At the start of hurricane season, hurricane-specific medicines and supplies were also prepositioned in locations serving high-risk areas along the coast and can be opened by health centers should they be needed.

Hurricane preparedness is central to Direct Relief’s emergency efforts in the United States, and began with the organization’s response to Hurricane Katrina in 2004.

Essential medicines and supplies are delivered to secure locations near hurricane-prone areas prior to hurricane season each year. The organization also keeps a stock of emergency medical supplies at its headquarters for high-risk areas should the need for additional support arise.

Financial support from Direct Relief’s long-time partner, FedEx, supported the delivery of hurricane-specific medicines and supplies donated by the following companies:

3M; Abbott; Alcon; Apotex; BD; Boehringer Ingelheim; Lilly; Merck; Omron; Pfizer; Sanofi.

Direct Relief is closely monitoring Hurricane Florence and will continue to provide information as the situation evolves.

The post Hurricane Florence: Essential Medicines and Supplies Staged as Storm Approaches East Coast appeared first on Direct Relief.

An emergency shipment of 11,840 N-95 masks is bound for District 4-C1 Lions Clubs to support wildfire response efforts in Northern California. pic.twitter.com/JQfuKEum4V

— Direct Relief (@DirectRelief) August 8, 2018

Northwest of Shasta County, the Carr Fire, the deadliest of the sixteen-plus fires burning across California, has killed at least eight people and destroyed more than 1,600 structures.

Evacuations and road closures remain in effect with nearly 207,162 acres charred.

Nearly 600,000 acres burned. More than 13,000 firefighters battling blazes. More than 2,300 members of the National Guard pulled into the fight. https://t.co/Zyr2kV3xC8

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 8, 2018

Direct Relief has extended offers of support to more than 20 healthcare providers in the region and has also been in communication with the California Department of Health and the California Office of Emergency Services.

Direct Relief maintains a standing inventory of items needed during wildfires, such as N-95 masks and respiratory medications. A shipment of 1,000 N-95 masks, along with personal care items like lotion and soap for evacuees, was delivered to the Lake County Health Department earlier this month.

A total of 20,000 N-95 masks were also sent to the District 4-C1 Lions Club and Shasta County’s Health and Human Services Agency in response to the Carr fire, and additional respiratory medicines and supplies were delivered to Worldwide Healing Hands for those impacted by the Mendocino Complex Fire.

Companies that have supported the response with donated financial support or products include AbbVie, Baxter, BD, CVS, Google, Integra, and Sanofi.

As the situation evolves, Direct Relief will continue to monitor the impact and remains ready to support response efforts as needed.

The post As Wildfires Burn Across California, More Emergency Shipments Bound for Local Health Providers appeared first on Direct Relief.

Direct Relief witnessed these activities first-hand after Hurricane Maria. With limited energy and phone signal, individuals were connecting with loved ones and offering support.

Organizations and first responders also rely on the platform to communicate operational statuses, identify available services, or convey emerging needs.

On July 16, Facebook’s Crisis Response team joined Direct Relief in Puerto Rico to meet with local community leaders and learn about the role technology played during and after Hurricane Maria, and gauge how the platform could further connect people and services in times of crisis.

Last year, Facebook created Crisis Response where people can connect and support each other in crises. In Crisis Response, people can quickly and easily let their loved ones know they’re safe, give or get help like goods and services from organizations and people in the affected area, fundraise or donate, and get the latest information about a crisis from a variety of sources.

Direct Relief, one of the first organizations to use Facebook’s Crisis Response tool, posted on the page in March 2018 to raise awareness of a campaign to combat influenza in Puerto Rico. The post included information about the campaign and was shared in conjunction with updates and live videos to reach people across the island. The post reached approximately 110,000 individuals, and the campaign immunized more than 9,400 people across 55 different sites in Puerto Rico.

The field visits were followed by a Disaster Response workshop hosted by Facebook on July 17. The event took place in San Juan, where local policymakers, nonprofits, and community leaders gathered to discuss the benefits and challenges of social media before, during, and after a crisis.

Facebook’s Crisis Response tools, which make it easier for people to come together and help one another during a crisis, have reached a broader audience than ever before.

Recent efforts to introduce the tools to first responders have opened the door to new opportunities for collaboration and communication during public health emergencies, and Direct Relief will continue exploring how these tools can further inform its efforts to deliver critically-needed assistance for people and communities in crisis.

The post With Lessons Learned from Maria, Direct Relief, Facebook Refine Crisis Response Tools in Puerto Rico appeared first on Direct Relief.

A reported 20,000 houses in refugee camps for Rohingya were damaged in the wake of the storm, leaving many with no place to return.

Direct Relief has reached out to health partners in the area to asses current medical needs and coordinate response efforts. In addition to organizations in hard-hit Bangladesh and Myanmar, Direct Relief has also contacted local groups in Nepal and India. The ASEAN AHA Centre has also been part of these efforts.

The post Cyclone Mora Hits Bangladesh appeared first on Direct Relief.

Weather forecasters have referred to the storm as a “bomb cyclone,” or rapid decline in atmospheric pressure, that is expected to peak on Thursday, bringing with it 6 to 12 inches of snow and winds up to 80 mph.

A reported 19 people have died due to the storm while more than 100,000 lost power on the East Coast, prompting emergency and warming shelters to open for those without shelter or heat. Recent reports from the National Weather Service predict that conditions will worsen overnight as snow freezes and coastal areas experience extreme flooding.

Direct Relief has reached out to the health partners in the area to offer support and monitor any health needs that may arise as the storm passes through. Beyond the immediate danger associated with winter storms, high winds mixed with cold temperatures can lead to severe health concerns like frostbite and hypothermia. Roads closures or blockages can also prevent people from accessing basic yet essential needs such as food, water, and healthcare.

According to the National Association of Community Health Centers and State Primary care organizations, at least 46 out of the 81 health sites in Connecticut and Massachusetts are closed for the day while 26 sites have modified operations by closing early and reducing the number of staff on site.

A recent Facebook post from one health partner, Manet Community Health Center, notified patients that their site would be closed on Thursday. The post was followed by an update that an emergency shelter would open due to “the likelihood of a number of flooded basements causing the loss of heat for some residents.”

Direct Relief will remain in close contact with health centers across the Eastern seaboard as residents hunker down until the storm’s howling winds and freezing temperatures subside.

The post Support Offered as East Coast Storms Bring Hurricane-Force Winds, Record-Low Temperatures appeared first on Direct Relief.

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The post 2017, Captured appeared first on Direct Relief.

Since the fires began last month, Direct Relief has supported 10 sites with 17 emergency deliveries of N-95 masks, inhalers, insulin, and other medications. Recipients of the supplies, valued at $265,045.95 (wholesale), include the California Office of Emergency Services and Public Health, public health departments in three affected counties, and nonprofit community health centers and shelters.

Direct Relief supports more than 40 healthcare providers in the affected area on an ongoing basis and offered assistance to these sites in the hours after the fires broke out.

One of those clinics, Santa Rosa Community Health Center, lost their largest health center, the Vista campus, when the fires blew through on Oct. 9.

The 42,500-square-foot health center housed 56 exam rooms and served approximately 24,000 patients per year. Comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services were provided by the 180 employees who worked at the site. Fourteen of those staff members lost their homes in the blaze.

In addition to providing N-95 masks and other emergency medical supplies, Direct Relief provided the health center with a $50,000 cash grant to support its response.

After the final evacuation center closed last week, Santa Rosa Community Health Center’s Annemarie Brown discussed the challenges that remain.

“The community is really just digging into what the recovery process means,” explained Brown.

The days and weeks following the fires were quieter than usual at the center as displaced residents came to terms with the impacts to their communities. With more than 6,000 structures destroyed in Napa and Sonoma Counties, many were concerned about the loss of homes and other buildings crucial to their daily life.

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A post shared by Los Angeles Times (@latimes)

Santa Rosa Community Health Center is actively reaching out to the public to reiterate the importance of accessing health care, even more so in times of disaster when vulnerable populations are especially hard-hit.

“We’re continuing heads down here, adapting our operations following the fires,” Brown added.

To ensure displaced patients continue to receive essential care, hundreds of medical staff members have been relocated and redeployed. Mobile medical units have also been set up to serve those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.

The post Wildfire Update: Recovery Process Comes into Focus in Northern California appeared first on Direct Relief.

“Untreated, these newborns can develop sepsis or meningitis and die,” Dr. Saint-Fleur explained.

With the right medicine at the right time, the infection can be treated. And the sooner, the better the outcome for the newborn.

Dr. Saint-Fleur is a pediatrician at Justinian University Hospital, Haiti’s second largest hospital, located in Cap-Haitien. The 300-bed public hospital is one of three residency programs in Haiti that partners with Konbit Sante, a nonprofit working to improve the quality of health care in Cap-Haitien. Since 2001, the organization has worked with Haiti’s existing public health system to provide health services to vulnerable communities.

A reported 60 percent of people lack access to basic healthcare in Haiti, a country with the highest infant mortality rate in the western hemisphere, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund.

With an emphasis on pediatrics, Konbit Sante has assisted the hospital in securing essential medicines and supplies to care for children who need it most. Specifically requested medical aid from Direct Relief has been a central part of this partnership.

“Direct Relief’s donations have had an enormous impact on the health and well-being of children who receive care here in our pediatric ward,” Dr. Saint-Fleur said.

Medicine like gentamicin and azithromycin, antibiotics commonly used to treat bacterial infections, have been administered to newborns regardless of their parents’ ability to pay. While the over-the-counter cost of the drug is out of reach for many families, donations from Direct Relief ensure that Justinian University Hospital can deliver basic, yet essential, care to children who need it most.

For more than nine years, Direct Relief has worked with Konbit Sante to support their life-saving work. As the central hospital for a region populated by more than 900,000 people, JUH is frequently in need of quality medicines, like IV solutions and antibiotics. Meeting the needs of such a large volume of patients, many of whom cannot afford to pay, requires a reliable supply chain.

The long shelf life of medicines from Direct Relief is deeply valued, allowing for a level of planning that’s difficult to achieve in a resource-poor environment, according to Dr. Saint-Fleur. Direct Relief remains committed to equipping healthcare providers with much-needed, quality medicine and supplies.

The post The Right Medicines at the Right Time Protect Vulnerable Babies in Haiti appeared first on Direct Relief.

Since the fires began, Direct Relief has made 17 emergency deliveries, valued at more than $264,000, to the California Office of Emergency Services and Public Health, public health departments in three affected counties, and nonprofit community health centers and shelters. Items such as N-95 masks, inhalers, insulin, and other medications have been sent to support the response.

Beyond the immediate danger posed to nearby communities, wildfires can exacerbate chronic health issues such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. For those with such conditions, fires deal a harsh mix of smoke, dust and other particulates in the air.

For over a decade, Direct Relief has served as a member of the California Business and Utility Operations Center to mobilize private medical resources in emergencies with official response efforts. On Monday, Oct. 9, the center was activated in response to the devastating fires.

Direct Relief supports more than 40 healthcare partners in the affected area on an ongoing basis and has offered assistance to these sites in response to the fires. One of the clinics Direct Relief supports, Santa Rosa Community Health Center, lost their largest health center when the fires swept through on Oct. 9. The center served 24,000 patients each year with 180 employees on staff. Fourteen of those staff members lost their homes. Shortly after the fires, Direct Relief delivered a shipment of N-95 masks and other emergency medical supplies to the clinic.

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, actress and humanitarian, Ashley Greene, partnered with Direct Relief to deliver a $50,000 check and additional emergency medical supplies to Santa Rosa Community Health Center.

The 22-year-old organization is the largest federally qualified health center in Sonoma County, recognized for providing comprehensive primary medical, dental, and mental health care for 50,000 diverse and low-income patients.

To support SRCHC’s wildfire response, Direct Relief sent a $50,000 check that was presented by Ashley Greene, who is garnering support and raising funds for fire relief efforts. Medicines and supplies were also delivered by Greene.

The actress, best known for her role in the “Twilight” series, reached out to Direct Relief to support the wildfire response.

During a Facebook live video, Fuchs shared more about the days and weeks following the loss of their largest health center, which displaced tens of thousands still in need of medical care.

“We have opened all of our other health sites and turned every square inch we can into medical space,” said Fuchs.

To ensure displaced patients continue to receive essential care, SRCHC has also relocated and redeployed hundreds of staff members.

“The response has been really gratifying,” Fuchs added.

The post Wildfire Update: Additional Medical Aid, $50,000 Recovery Grant Delivered to Health Center Damaged by Blaze appeared first on Direct Relief.

Since the fires began, Direct Relief has made 12 emergency deliveries valued at more than $264,000 to the California state offices of emergency services and public health, public health departments in three affected counties, and nonprofit community health centers and shelters containing more than 100,000 N95 masks, Rx medications — including inhalers and other respiratory Rx medications as well as insulin, and emergency health kits.

Beyond the immediate danger posed to nearby communities, wildfires can exacerbate chronic health issues such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. For those with such conditions, fires deal a harsh mix of smoke, dust and other particulates in the air.

For over a decade, Direct Relief has served as a member of the California Business Operations Center to mobilize private medical resources in emergencies with official response efforts. On Monday, Oct. 9, the center was activated in response to the devastating fires.

Direct Relief supports more than 40 healthcare partners in the affected area on an ongoing basis and has offered assistance to these sites in response to the fires.

Earlier this week, a shipment of N-95 masks was dispatched to Lake County Public Health Department to protect against inhalation of fine particulate matter in ash and smoke.

On Tuesday, Direct Relief staff hand-delivered an Emergency Health Kit, designed to treat 100 patients for up to three to five days and filled with items like antibiotics and wound care supplies.

Other items, such as eye and throat drops, were also included in the shipment to the Sonoma County Department of Health for distribution to numerous evacuation shelters.

Direct Relief delivered an additional 4,080 N95 masks to the Santa Clara Community Health Center on Wednesday.

Further Reading

Death toll in Calif. wildfires hits 29, matching the toll of 1933 fire in Los Angeles, with hundreds still missing https://t.co/8HCxZTphlr

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 12, 2017

The latest on the California wildfires, from @KQED, in the thread
We’re updating our story here: https://t.co/kDQ8NvH3Ft https://t.co/WYhc7TVkA1

— NPR (@NPR) October 12, 2017

The post Wildfire Update: Emergency Medicine, N-95 Masks Delivered to Northern California appeared first on Direct Relief.

As firefighters work to contain wildfires burning more than 160,000 acres in California, Direct Relief has offered emergency assistance to California’s Office of Emergency Services, the Napa County Public Health Department, and more than 40 health centers and clinics in the affected region.

This is what we saw when we went to Santa Rosa, CA. The death toll is now 13 from the devastating fires ripping through Northern California. Officials are prepared for that number to rise: 150 people have been reported missing. ( ?: @bvanderbrug)

A post shared by Los Angeles Times (@latimes) on Oct 10, 2017 at 10:47am PDT

On Monday, Oct. 9 Direct Relief sent a shipment of N95 respiratory masks to Lake County Public Health Department to help residents filter out particulates and ash in the air.

Additional emergency medical supplies were delivered Tuesday night to Sonoma Public Health for wildfire evacuees.

Emergency medical supplies delivered tonight to Sonoma Public Health for evacuees of Northern California #Wildfires pic.twitter.com/VjIgVAQBLL

— Direct Relief (@DirectRelief) October 11, 2017

Included in the shipment was an Emergency Health Kit designed to treat up to 100 patients for three to five days. The kit contains key items like antibiotics, wound care supplies and medications for chronic diseases.

Beyond the immediate danger posed to nearby communities, wildfires can exacerbate chronic health issues such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. For those with such conditions, fires deal a harsh mix of smoke, dust and other particulates in the air.

Personal care packs were also included in the shipment for communities who remain displaced due to the deadly fires.

The aid arrived at a crucial time as mandatory evacuations remain in effect and many shelters have reached full capacity, according to Sonoma Public Health.

Direct Relief staff will continue to deliver much-needed medicines and supplies to health clinics and evacuation centers throughout the week.

As a longstanding member of the California Business Operations Center, Direct Relief will continue to distribute vital medical resources during this emergency and ensure coordination with official fire response efforts.

Direct Relief maintains an inventory of fire-related items – N-95 particulate masks, inhalers, nebulizers and personal care items – for wildfire events, which will remain available to partners upon request.

Check back for additional updates as the response continues to unfold.

Further Reading

The fires ravaging California continue to burn out of control. At least 21 people have died. https://t.co/EPmAwqhapA

— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 11, 2017

24 structures lost and 7,500 acres burned in Orange County firestorm, but slow progress reported https://t.co/YfNuPRyFPj pic.twitter.com/TXQhQ3MMVe

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) October 10, 2017

Death toll in Northern California wildfires rises to 15, with more than 150 people reported missing https://t.co/eHierdZhvY

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 10, 2017

The post As Wildfires Burn Across Northern California, Direct Relief Delivers Critical Aid appeared first on Direct Relief.

With more than 40 percent of Mexico’s population living in poverty, defined as less than $50 US dollars per month in rural regions, survival rates remain low. Chiapas, a state located in the southern part of Mexico, has the highest rate of poverty at 76.2 percent, and consequently, experiences one of the greatest cancer burdens.

One organization dedicated to assisting children affected by cancer is Casa de la Amistad (CDLA). CDLA provides extensive social services (transportation, lodging, meals, counseling and continuation schooling) with a mission to provide a chance at life for children in Mexico with limited resources and minimal access to cancer treatment. By working with hospitals across the country, CDLA receives referrals when there is a pediatric patient in need of their services. CDLA currently collaborates with 29 hospitals across 17 states and as of Feb. 2016 has assisted over 8,300 children affected by cancer in low-income families.

Direct Relief is privileged to support the critical services Casa de la Amistad provides to families each year.

In partnership with CDLA and the AbbVie Foundation, Direct Relief is improving access to care by focusing on increasing treatment adherence by providing underserved patients with meals, lodging and transportation support. The ability to target and prevent treatment abandonment and failure for compliance has greatly contributed to decreasing the prevalence of pediatric cancer mortality.

This collaborative program assesses patients’ needs and administers funds that enable children and their families to access ancillary and emotional support services. The financial assistance largely covers transportation, meals and nutrition and other non-medical needs such as familial support and education. While familial support contributes to easier transitions and increased treatment compliance, educational services ensure that children don’t fall behind in school while receiving treatment far away from home.

As the only institution in Mexico offering comprehensive support to low-income children free of charge, CDLA plays a vital role in the fight against cancer. The unwavering support provided by CDLA staff and volunteers ensures that children not only receive a timely diagnosis but also proper attention and appropriate treatment.

In partnership with Direct Relief and a grant from the AbbVie Foundation, CDLA has served over 300 children with cancer in Mexico. While many children were previously placed on a wait list before receiving care, there are currently no patients in line for treatment. Ongoing efforts to reach out to even more children in need will continue.

Direct Relief remains dedicated to CDLA’s vision to lead in pediatric cancer prevention and treatment in low-resource settings.

In addition to CDLA, Direct Relief has supported the work of 13 partners located in Mexico in 2016, providing more than 154,000 pounds of needed medical aid with a value that exceeds $23 million.

The post Helping Children in Mexico Live Cancer Free appeared first on Direct Relief.

When he was first diagnosed, Audelio sought medical treatment to manage his psoriasis. However, he abandoned treatment after an improperly prescribed medicine worsened his symptoms.

That experience led Audelio to endure the painful symptoms of his condition for more than a decade without seeking dermatological care.

Finally, with the encouragement of his family, Audelio visited a clinic in Chiapas.

Chiapas is one of Mexico’s poorest states. Fortunately, the region is home to a network of rural public health clinics that aim to reach marginalized highland communities and provide critical health services to those who need it most. The network is operated by the nonprofit Compañeros En Salud (CES) or Partners In Health.

CES started working in Mexico in 2011. Its central office is in Jaltenango de la Paz, a city in the Sierra Madre mountains of Chiapas where half the population lives below the poverty line. Beyond providing care in these rural clinics and the maternity ward of a community hospital, much of CES’s work involves addressing the obstacles that patients face in accessing care and successfully being able to adhere to treatment.

CES trains local women as community health workers (CHWs), who visit patients in their homes to ensure that they understand their conditions and treatment plans, and that they have the resources and support they need to adhere to them. CES also links patients to specialized care when needed, whether outside the community (through its Right to Health team that manages referrals to hospitals, attends patients’ medical consultations, and provides all transportation, meals and lodging so that patients can get the care they need), or by facilitating visits from specialists to patients in their communities.

As part of the Vaseline^® Healing Project, medical missions were conducted in the region to bring dermatological care to people without access. With support from Direct Relief and the Vaseline brand, a team of healthcare providers joined local clinicians and specialists in providing comprehensive care and treatment to patients.

All consultations and medications were provided free of charge.

Over the course of three one-day clinics, more than 150 patients were treated in centers throughout Chiapas, including the Honduras health site. Señor Audelio was one of those patients.

In addition to caring for and treating patients, the medical mission offered dermatological training for doctors in the region. The objective was to provide local physicians with knowledge so they could continue providing quality care to their patients.

Dr. Caren Aquino, a dermatologist from Chiapas’ capital city, Tuxtla Gutierrez, joined the three-day mission. With the goal of improving staffing and linking vulnerable communities to more specialized care in Mexico, CES welcomed Dr. Aquino for the first time.

Her presence was invaluable.

In addition to bridging the gap between specialized care in hospitals and rural communities, Dr. Aquino provided hands-on training to local clinicians.

Among the 150 patients served during the medical mission was Audelio. After a visit with Dr. Aquino, he received the medicines and treatment needed to manage his disease.

Nearly 15 years after his initial diagnosis, Audelio finally found much-needed relief from his plaque psoriasis.

The post More Than Skin Deep: Patients in Mexico Receive Dermatological Care appeared first on Direct Relief.

Steven A. Amerikaner currently serves as Office Managing Partner for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, a national law firm with offices in five California cities, including Santa Barbara. With 30 years of experience in real estate law, Amerikaner represents developers, businesses and homeowners with regards to zone changes, conditional use permits and other similar discretionary approvals. Past clients, such as a hedge fund with over 25,000 acres of coastal ranch land and a retirement community seeking to expand its medical facilities, are among those who Amerikaner has represented. He also serves as general counsel for two public agencies, in addition to his work in the private sector.

Amerikaner received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College. Before entering private practice in 1991, Amerikaner served as Santa Barbara and Los Angeles City Attorney and managed a field office for a Los Angeles-area Member of Congress.

As former president of the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation, former chair of the Santa Barbara Hillel and Regional Chamber of Commerce, Amerikaner has a long history of community involvement and leadership. He served on the Board of Directors for the Central Coast Judicial Selection Advisory Committee that advises the Governor on judicial appointments. Presently, he is Chair of the Santa Barbara Business Leaders Council and is also President of Congregation B’nai B’rith, an 800-member reform congregation in Santa Barbara.

In 1991, Amerikaner received the Anti-Defamation League’s Distinguished Community Service Award and was inducted into the Hillel Hall of Fame in 2010. Each year between 2012 and 2017, Amerikaner was named Best Lawyers in America and California Super Lawyer from 2014 to 2017.

Jamie A. Ruffing, Ph.D., MPH, M.S., with more than 20 years of experience leading critical, complex government projects and programs, is an epidemiologist and engineer. She is currently the Public Health Officer and Lieutenant Colonel for the 177^th Wing of the U.S. Air National Guard. She also works as General Engineer, ARDEC Liaison to Port Hueneme for the United States Army.

Prior to the National Guard, Ruffing was a researcher at the Helen Hayes Hospital, a sales representative for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and a general engineer for both the United States Army and Homeland Defense Technologies. In addition to being recognized as “Who’s Who Among Rising Young Americans” in 1990, Ruffing received the Air Force Commendation Medal four times over the course of nine years. She was also awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal in 2001 and 2006.

Ruffing received her Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Columbia University, after completing undergraduate studies at West Point Military Academy. She also attended Rutgers University, where she earned her MPH in Health Care Organization and Administration.

She has served as a board member for the Montecito Education Foundation, YMCA Channel Islands and currently the Girls Scouts California Central Coast. Ruffing is also a Girl Scout Troop Leader.

Thomas Sturgess, who served in the United States Marine Corps and California Division of Forestry, is Executive Chairman of Tiri Group Limited, a diversified New Zealand manufacturing company. He is also Executive Chairman and Co-Owner of New Zealand’s largest printing company, Blue Star Print Holdings, in addition to the proprietor of Lone Star Farms Limited.

Previously chairman of New Zealand King Salmon, Inc., Sturgess oversaw 400 employees and managed $100 million in revenue. He also led several other manufacturing corporations such as Blue Star Print Group, Angus and Robertson Whitcoulls for Pacific Equity Partners and Blue Star Group Ltd.

After graduating with honors from California State University, Sturgess attended Harvard Business School, where he received a master’s degree in Business Administration.

Sturgess currently serves as a board member for the Golden Bay Community Trust, Mercury Capital Limited Private Equity Fund and Fifeshire Foundation.

The post Direct Relief Announces Three New Directors to Board appeared first on Direct Relief.

At the age of 25, Fousseni completed schooling at the National School of Midwifery in Lomé, the capital city of Togo. Located on Africa’s west coast, Togo has struggled to address health issues with a reported 368 pregnant women dying per 100,000 births.

As part of Fousseni’s program, she began work at a health clinic in Sarakawa, a remote village in northern Togo that lacks the medical resources readily available in Lomé.

In early 2017, Fosseni arrived at the clinic with a goal to ensure that women in even the country’s most remote villages had access to a trained midwife.

With support from Hope Through Health, a non-profit providing crucial healthcare services in northern Togo, the Sarakawa Health Clinic serves rural communities in the region. The organization’s mission is to deliver community-driven healthcare in neglected settings in Togo.

Direct Relief is committed to supporting Hope Through Health’s life-saving work.

To help increase access to maternal and child healthcare services in Togo, Direct Relief sent 20 Midwife Kits last year to Hope Through Health.

Direct Relief Midwife Kits are endorsed by the International Confederation of Midwives and contain the 59 essential items a midwife needs to perform 50 facility-based deliveries.

So far in 2017, Direct Relief has delivered 10 re-supply kits to Togo to replace consumables in the kits, including prescription drugs, gauze, gloves and other items that the midwives use on a regular basis.

Direct Relief’s Midwife Kits alleviate a lot of stress for midwives like Fousseni. She doesn’t have to worry if she will have quality medicines or supplies to deliver a healthy baby. It’s all in the kit.

“These kits allow me to do the work I was trained to do,” Fousseni said.

Support from Direct Relief ensures midwives can treat to those who need it most, supporting Hope Through Health’s mission to deliver the quality care patients deserve.

The post Empowering the Life-Saving Work of Midwives in Togo appeared first on Direct Relief.

Mudslides and floods cause devastation in Sri Lanka – in pictures

Last Friday heavy rain caused floods and landslides that killed more than 200 people and displaced 600,000 from their homes in Sri Lanka

Nearly 12,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed with 15 out of 25 districts affected by severe weather conditions.

The catastrophic rainfall is the worst to hit the country in almost 15 years.

In the coming days, local organizations will receive emergency medical aid from Direct Relief. With a focus on mobilizing resources and saving lives, organizations have requested assistance to address potential disease outbreaks among displaced populations. Front-line responders have intensified medical response efforts to support communities affected by high flood waters.

Emergency medical items like antibiotics and wound care supplies were specifically requested to treat displaced communities in affected regions. After widespread flooding, stagnant water sources can become contaminated, leading to a host of health issues. Crowded evacuation shelters with inadequate sanitation may lead to disease outbreaks, making emergency medical aid crucial.

As flood waters recede, Direct Relief will continue to actively respond and support health partners in Sri Lanka with essential medical aid.

Sri Lanka Floods Seen in Stunning Before-and-After NASA Animated Image

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The post Flooding in Sri Lanka: Direct Relief Ships Emergency Medical Aid appeared first on Direct Relief.

Located at the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve in San Diego County is Camp Wana Kura, a day camp organized by the American Diabetes Association. There, by lakes and under trees, children engage in activities like hiking and racing paddle boats. With a focus on providing a fun and unique experience for kids with diabetes, Wana Kura gives campers a chance to build friendships and grow together. Over the course of four days, children connect with others while developing necessary skills to live a full life with their condition.

In North Carolina, Camp Needles in the Pines offers children with Type 1 diabetes a chance to have fun and bond with others. On the banks of the Pamlico River, located in the eastern part of the state, kids between eight and 14 play outside. From archery to canoeing, the week-long camp is never short of activities. In addition to providing items like insulin and glucose test strips, the staff includes medical professionals who monitor and help children manage their diabetes.

In addition to Wana Kura and Needles in the Pines, Direct Relief also supports 124 camps with adorable names like:

Camp UPeninsulin

Riding On Insulin

Camp Sugar Falls

Camp Hot Shot Wentworth-Douglass

Since 2013, Direct Relief has worked with BD, and more recently LifeScan, to support camps for children with diabetes. Items like insulin syringes and tests trips are sent for campers to monitor blood glucose levels and manage their disease.

This year, 124 camps will receive Direct Relief’s assistance, which will reduce the cost of camps, allowing more children a chance to participate. The donations also allow more funds to go toward activities for kids to continue enjoying the great outdoors.

“You make it possible for me to go to Camp Stix each year,” one camper wrote after attending the summer camp for children with diabetes in Spokane Valley, Washington.  “Camp is the only way for me to be around more people like me, with type 1 diabetes. It lets me feel normal and free. Camp also reminds me how much I need to take care of myself and my diabetes so that I can live a long and healthy life.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 208,000 Americans under the age of 20 have Type 1 diabetes, a disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and destroys them.

For the first time this year, Direct Relief will be sending insulin pump supplies, which help control blood glucose after food consumption, as well as other essential items like needles and meters for glucose monitoring.

Diabetes camps will run through the fall, with most occurring in June and July.

As kids with diabetes embark on an adventure to remember, Direct Relief’s medical donations will support campers in monitoring and managing their disease.

The post Adorably Named Camps Create Summer Adventures for Kids with Diabetes appeared first on Direct Relief.

Deadly tornadoes hit Oklahoma https://t.co/JHumCRhHvX

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 17, 2017

On Thursday, Western Oklahoma Family Care Center (WOFCC) contacted Direct Relief with a list of needed medical items. The list included personal care supplies and emergency medical backpacks. The backpacks, which contain essential first aid items for first responders, were requested as a high priority.

WOFCC helps underprivileged individuals living in western Oklahoma. The nonprofit, based in Elk City, was open Tuesday morning to provide disaster relief and distribute essential items, including clothing and household goods.

Severe t-storms are erupting over Texas & Oklahoma with one storm already producing a #tornado. Storm reports: https://t.co/kAiqjl4I43 pic.twitter.com/he8We9VGGd

— AccuWeather (@breakingweather) May 18, 2017

Hope Medical Clinic, owned and operated by the WOFCC, also requested critical items including pain medication and wound care products to treat victims in need of medical attention. A shipment of medical resources is departing today from Direct Relief’s warehouse.

Direct Relief will continue to monitor the storm and respond to any additional requests by health centers and clinics in the coming days.

Dangerous tornado outbreak forecast Thursday in Kansas, Oklahoma

CLOSE Violent weather is forecast Thursday for the second time this week in the nation’s heartland. An outbreak of severe thunderstorms with tornadoes, large hail and wind damage is expected across parts of the southern and central Plains on Thursday afternoon into the overnight hours, the Storm Prediction Center said.

The post Direct Relief Ships Emergency Aid to Oklahoma After Tornado Strikes appeared first on Direct Relief.

A Missouri town saved from flood faces questions about its levee https://t.co/lStlhh4A6i ?

— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 14, 2016

Local businesses and homeowners frantically scrambled to move personal items and other possessions to higher ground, while the river demolished much of their town. Over the course of a day, families and friends watched their livelihood wash away as homes and churches were inundated.

With all access to Ripley County cut off due to widespread flooding and storms, local response efforts were crucial. Direct Relief stepped up to support these efforts with essential medical items, like antibiotics and wound care supplies, specifically requested by partner Missouri Highlands Health Care. Ripley County was one of the six counties in their service area affected by severe flooding, with many people evacuated to shelters or the homes of family members.

A local church was used as a shelter for displaced community members and to serve those in need of food and medical care. Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines, donated by Direct Relief, were first provided to frontline responders, who began rebuilding much of what was lost as flood waters receded. The vaccine is often needed to protect residents and first responders from instances where they could be exposed to contaminants. A reported 130 Tdap vaccines were given almost immediately as the community prepared its flood response.

Ripley Relief, a local relief center, was set up to provide support and resources to families impacted by the loss of over 400 homes across the county. Shipments from Direct Relief, with medical aid like first aid kits, were immediately distributed to infants, children, adults and diabetics.

“These kits went to people who had lost everything,” according to Ashley Oldham, a nurse practitioner at Missouri Highlands Health Care.

Mississippi, Missouri rivers starting to drop, but flood crisis in Midwest isn’t over yet https://t.co/cjw0TN4RDH pic.twitter.com/WIPlgUc48w

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) May 4, 2017

To date, Missouri Highlands Health Care has received eight shipments of medical aid with an estimated value of $75,000, from Direct Relief. In addition to 200 packs of Tdap, an emergency health kit, containing essential medicine and supplies to treat 100 patients for up to three days, was also sent.

“During a time when many of us felt so helpless, your aid and vaccines gave us a place to turn,” Ashley wrote, in a recent message to Direct Relief.

Last Friday, Direct Relief received an additional request for sunscreen and insect repellent, which will be shipped in the coming days. Missouri Highlands Health Care will also be receiving a donation of 200 doses of Hepatitis A vaccine, used to prevent infection from contaminated water sources. The vaccine will protect people as they return to their homes and begin cleanup.

The post From the Front Lines, Missouri Highlands Health Care appeared first on Direct Relief.

Knowing first-hand the potential severity of an ear problem left untreated, Dr. Milan has devoted herself to the prevention and treatment of hearing loss among children in Nepal.

In 2013, she established Ear Care Nepal, a nonprofit dedicated to serving children unable to receive essential health services, namely related to ear care.

Dr. Milan and her team carry out detailed examinations and audiological evaluations for children with suspected ear diseases. The aim of the program is to prevent and cure deafness among the school children in Nepal’s community schools. Over the past three years, Dr. Milan and her team have screened more than 30,000 children throughout Nepal’s Bhaktapur District, 300 of which have required surgical intervention.

Over 16 percent of the Nepalese population suffers from hearing disability with more than half of these cases occurring among children between the ages of five and fifteen, according to a study conducted in Nepal.

A hearing impairment can lead to communication challenges, delayed education growth, and social isolation, reiterating the importance of addressing basic ear problems at a young age.

Direct Relief began supporting Ear Care Nepal after the 2015 earthquake, providing the organization with funding for staff salaries, medical equipment and other expenses.

Nearly two years after the Nepal earthquake, access to healthcare remains challenging and limited. Damaged infrastructure, like roads and schools, still awaits reconstruction and makes screening programs particularly challenging for Ear Care Nepal staff, and children receiving ear care.

Direct Relief is committed to supporting the crucial work of Dr. Milan and Ear Care Nepal to screen even more children than before.

In a recent interview, Dr. Milan reflected on her early years when family members emphasized the importance of giving in life. With unparalleled devotion to reaching and treating the unreached, Dr. Milan is undoubtedly fulfilling this sentiment of giving.

The post A Doctor’s Mission, Heard by Thousands of Children in Nepal appeared first on Direct Relief.

BD Helping Build Healthy Communities

The Health Means Business campaign is a partnership of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which encourages businesses to invest in the health of local communities. The Healthy10 Awards ceremony honors 10 specific partnerships and initiatives that are dedicated to improving the health of communities across the United States.

This award highlights the BD Helping Build Healthy Communities partnership, a multi-year initiative that expands access and improves care for underserved and vulnerable populations throughout the United States.

“The BD Helping Build Healthy Communities partnership increases access to care to communities severely in need,” said Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “It’s an honor to recognize BD, Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers for their outstanding partnership.”

The initiative, funded by $5 million in cash and product donations from BD, is implemented together with Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers. The program provides award funding and products to community health centers to support innovative approaches in the delivery of health care to underserved populations related to the prevention and treatment of diabetes, cervical cancer and HIV.

“BD’s Helping Build Healthy Communities program is a perfect example of the type of partnership that can make a tremendous difference in improving the health of people who have limited access to the health services that everyone needs,” said Thomas Tighe, president and CEO of Direct Relief. “It’s a privilege for Direct Relief to work with NACHC and BD to identify, award and share the powerful examples of innovation and successful health outcomes that occur every day ─ often under the radar ─ at America’s community health centers.”

Since 2013, 16 health centers have received funding through the Helping Build Healthy Communities initiative for their innovative approaches in patient care. In addition, BD donated more than 20 million syringes and needles to Direct Relief for patients who are insulin-dependent.

“The National Association of Community Health Centers values the partnership with BD and Direct Relief that has benefited many community health centers and their 25 million patients living in medically underserved communities,” said Malvise A. Scott, NACHC’s senior vice president for Partnership and Resource Development. “The awards program and product donations have positively impacted patients’ health status and indeed their lives.”

This is the first Healthy10 Awards ceremony and Health Means Business National Summit and was held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., Feb. 15-16.

The post BD Partnership Honored by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation at the Health Means Business National Summit with Healthy10 Award appeared first on Direct Relief.

In stark contrast to its wealthy enclaves, almost 14 percent of residents live below the poverty line, while the region’s homeless shelters often reach capacity and, at certain north county schools, over 90 percent of students qualify for subsidized or free lunches.

In an effort to address needs around the county and strengthen communities in Santa Maria, Lompoc, Guadalupe, Santa Ynez, Goleta, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, local groups  have united to provide a full range of essential services.

Direct Relief works on an international scale, but remains dedicated to helping vulnerable people wherever they are. That includes here.

Since 1994, Direct Relief has supported Santa Barbara organizations that serve tens of thousands of individuals in need –schools, homeless shelters, medical providers, youth organizations, counseling centers, and more.

Twice a year, representatives from these organizations travel to Direct Relief to collect personal care kits for families in need. The kits contain non-prescription items such as toothpaste, soap, lotion, towels, deodorant and floss. While basic, these items can mean a lot to somebody who has to make tradeoffs to pay rent or afford groceries.

Breanna Casas, a case manager at New Beginnings Counseling Center in Santa Barbara, CA, expressed in a recent interview the impact of these kits from Direct Relief. Homeless individuals visit the center “so excited to have personal care products” that improve their cleanliness and hygiene.

A total of 37 local nonprofit organizations that serve homeless and low-income individuals and families visited the Direct Relief Goleta warehouse to collect hygiene kits.

The post Why Basic Items are Needed Items, Even in Santa Barbara County appeared first on Direct Relief.

Isolation and feelings of uncleanliness, rooted in cultural beliefs and limited knowledge about periods, generate social stigmas and discourage women from seeking needed support. An additional lack of feminine hygiene products commonly forces girls to miss as many as two months of school each year, while disturbing the professional lives of women.

One organization with a mission to create a more dignified, humane, and sustainable world for girls is Days For Girls. Established in 2008, this organization is committed to supporting women in discovering their potential and value as agents of social change. Days For Girls encourages volunteers to sew sanitary kits for distribution to parts of the world where such resources are limited.

On Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, 18 volunteers gathered to assemble over 200 kits at Direct Relief’s Goleta warehouse.

Each kit consists of a drawstring bag, two-gallon Ziploc freezer bags, two moisture barrier shields, eight absorbent tri-fold pads, one washcloth, one travel-size soap, one instruction sheet and two pairs of girls’ panties. The kits are designed to be functional, long-lasting and geared to environments where disposable products aren’t practical. Vibrant, colorful patterns, thoughtfully sewn together, contribute to the discrete design of these reusable pads, which cater to areas where a female’s menstrual cycle is taboo.

Moving forward, these kits will be distributed to an existing network of partners supporting efforts to equip and empower women. Historically, these kits have been distributed to organizations in Peru, Haiti and countries in west and east Africa. With the intention of keeping girls in school longer, these groups have received assembled kits as a means of providing lasting feminine hygiene solutions.

To get involved, visit the Days For Girls website for instructions on how to make a hygiene kit.

The post How a Hand-Made Hygiene Kit Empowers Girls to Stay in School appeared first on Direct Relief.

Currently, diabetes is a rising issue with over eight percent of the country’s population suffering from the disease. Characterized by elevated levels of blood sugar that can lead to serious health complications, diabetes calls for efforts that not only improve access to critical diagnostic services and essential medicines, but also raise awareness about the disease itself.

The Helpers

One organization dedicated to building healthy communities is Alliance for Medical Outreach & Relief (AMOR). Since 2008, AMOR has supported five clinics and one hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. By targeting underserved communities and tailoring programs to the unique culture and needs of the population, AMOR’s goal is to reach impoverished people with life-saving health care and education.

Afshar Hospital, a facility aimed at increasing access to healthcare for vulnerable populations in the outskirts of southwest Kabul, assists AMOR in achieving its vision to provide quality healthcare. Each year, Afshar serves nearly 43,000 patients and facilitates 45,000 patient visits for services including: child immunization, obstetric fistula repair, x-rays, hypertension diagnosis and management, diabetes screening and management, childhood pneumonia/acute respiratory infection screening and treatment, emergency obstetric and newborn care, in addition to birthing and delivery.

Helping the Helpers

Direct Relief is committed to supporting AMOR’S Afshar Hospital efforts to promote healthy families and thriving communities.

A recent donation from Direct Relief arrived at Afshar Hospital in December 2016, delivering medical supplies that included: saline and dextrose IV fluids, antibiotics, syringe needles, gauze bandages, and other key products.

These items arrived in time to care for a young patient in need of treatment for a previously undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes. Mahdi, 22, was rushed to urgent care in a drowsy, dehydrated state that was later identified as Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA).

Low blood sugar, low potassium and swelling in the brain were all symptoms Mahdi experienced upon arriving at Afshar Hospital. Saline and dextrose IV fluids from Direct Relief were used to rehydrate this young patient and ultimately, cure his DKA. After three days of specialized treatment, the young patient not only received vital health care but also, critical health education regarding diabetes control and management.

Since July, Direct Relief has sent four shipments to AMOR’s Afshar Hospital, delivering more than 14,000 lbs. of essential medicines with a value of nearly $1 million. In addition to the life-saving work of AMOR, Direct Relief also supports the work of Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), another organization that represents a vast network of healthcare providers serving those in need.

The post Helping Patients in Afghanistan Manage Their Diabetes #HelptheHelpers appeared first on Direct Relief.

Nepal’s civil war, lack of rural medical services, limited education, and the devastating earthquake that struck in April 2015, are all factors contributing to an increased number of children living with disabilities today.

High levels of poverty and poor access to healthcare services, especially in Nepal’s hilly and mountainous regions, prevent children from receiving needed care. Consequently, general health tends to be poor and an individual’s ability to work is decreased, leading to an overall lack of financial stability.

The Helpers

One organization helping Nepali children with disabilities receive medical care and rehabilitation is the Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children (HRDC).

Founded in 1985, HRDC is the largest pediatric orthopedic hospital and rehabilitation center in Nepal, performing an average of over 1,500 surgeries each year. With a mission to treat underprivileged children with physical disabilities, HRDC provides reconstructive surgery, nonsurgical interventions, physiotherapy, low cost prostheses and follow-up care. Since its founding, over 67,000 children have received care regardless of their ability to pay.

Helping the Helpers

Direct Relief is dedicated to supporting HRDC’s critical work.

Specializing in muscular-skeletal disorders, HRDC focuses its treatment and rehabilitation services on children below 18 years of age with priority given to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some of the conditions HRDC provides treatment for include: post-burn contracture (rigidity of joints), bone and joint infection, metabolic bone disease and tumors.

With funding from Direct Relief, HRDC is able to conduct medical outreach missions throughout Nepal, targeting children living in remote and underprivileged communities, where medical care is inaccessible.

These Direct Relief-funded missions are currently being led by HRDC’s staff member, Dr. Bibek Banskota, who aims to identify and treat disabled children living in remote areas. Reaching patients in need of medical assistance can be challenging as roads tends to be rough and narrow, and in many cases dangerous.

In light of the barriers faced in delivering medical care, these outreach efforts are well worth the journey. Nearly 400 children have been seen and almost 100 have been given surgical dates, revealing the overwhelming demand for these critical services.

In addition to HRDC, Direct Relief also supports the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Center (SIRC), a rehabilitation facility that supports spinally injured patients in Nepal living in resource-poor settings. The dedicated work of partners like these is essential to positive health outcomes and a better quality of life for those living with physical disabilities.

The post Helping Nepali Children with Disabilities Enjoy Healthy Lives #HelptheHelpers appeared first on Direct Relief.

Destroyed shelters and homes contributed to the rising number of injuries that were seen days and months after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck. Many of the skin conditions that affect the Nepali in these regions relate to prolonged exposure to the hot and humid climate, and with the loss of shelters or other permanent dwellings, bacterial infections like impetigo and fungal infections like ringworm are quick to take hold. Cataracts and other chronic eye conditions are prevalent as well.

The Helpers

Children’s Hospital for Eye, Ear/Nose/Throat, and Rehabilitation Services (CHEERS), is a large health care facility located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. With a mission to eliminate barriers that impede the achievement of human potential, CHEERS focuses on health as an entry point for promoting equity and social inclusion. As the first hospital in Nepal dedicated to pediatric eye and ear health, CHEERS helps children in need by providing comprehensive vision and auditory care. Their team of dedicated specialists provides services to Nepalese children who come from all over the country, oftentimes with conditions that are extremely difficult to treat.

Helping the Helpers

To support the critical work of CHEERS and other organizations throughout the world, Direct Relief and Unilever’s Vaseline® brand formed the Vaseline® Healing Project, a partnership set on healing the skin of 5 million people living in crisis and disaster by 2020. A key component of the project involves the deployment of dermatologists, doctors, and medical resources to areas of need around the world.

In 2016, over 11,000 patients were treated and nearly 6,200 dermatological evaluations were performed during medical missions facilitated by the Vaseline Healing Project.

In August 2016, Vaseline and Direct Relief partnered with CHEERS to conduct a medical mission in Bahrabise, Nepal. Doctors and medical staff from Kathmandu traveled to the facility to work alongside the specialists with the Vaseline Healing Project and provide comprehensive medical care to patients.

Over the course of three days, Nepali patients from areas devastated by the Gorkha earthquake, journeyed from their homes high in the Himalayas to see doctors and receive care. A team of 10 doctors treated over 2,000 patients – 481 of them children – and performed 429 dermatology evaluations and 43 eye surgeries. Treatment included the distribution of hearing aids, eye cataract removal surgery, and dermatological care to heal common skin infections including impetigo, ringworm and scabies.

In addition to CHEERS, Direct Relief has supported 23 partners since the earthquake, delivering more than 320,000 lbs. of requested emergency medicines and medical supplies with a wholesale value that exceeds $36 million.

Click below for more #helpthehelpers stories:

The World is Full of Helpers #HelptheHelpers

The post Helping People in the Himalayas See Again #HelptheHelpers appeared first on Direct Relief.

The Helpers

CerviCusco, a medical organization based in Cusco, Peru, works to prevent, detect, and treat cervical cancer in its patient population. Since 2008, CerviCusco has treated more than 50,000 women in resource-poor areas for cervical cancer — free-of-charge.

Helping the Helpers

Direct Relief is dedicated to helping those that help others.

To help advance CerviCusco’s life-saving work, Direct Relief partnered with the global medical technology company BD to train and equip healthcare personnel with essential medical supplies and extend life-saving treatment to more women in the region who would otherwise lack access.

Since 2014, BD and Direct Relief have supported CerviCusco in projects to help increase operational capacity, efficiency, and sustainability of the clinic and its services.  More than 40 BD employees have worked with CerviCusco staff to implement an electronic medical records system, develop best practices in clinic administration,  develop business development and marketing strategies for sustainability, and optimize their laboratory.

The program has allowed CerviCusco to detect cervical cancer early through liquid cytology testing – a method of preparing cervical samples for testing – in tens of thousands of women throughout the region. Preventative efforts have also included the vaccination of underserved children for the Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection – the causative agent for many cancers.

With a vision to continue the detection and prevention of cervical cancer through quality care, CerviCusco remains focused on improving its capacity to save lives and ultimately, help families.

In addition to CerviCusco, Direct Relief supports the work of 13 other partners in Peru, ranging geographically from the northern Amazon to the southern deserts of the country.

The post Helping Women in Peru Survive Cervical Cancer #HelptheHelpers appeared first on Direct Relief.

Over the next few weeks, Direct Relief will be sharing their stories, which serve as a constant reminder that even in the direst situations, there are helpers, bandaging wounds and saving lives.

Here they are:

A Helping Hand to Refugees in Jordan #HelptheHelpers

Helping Women in Peru Survive Cervical Cancer #HelptheHelpers

Helping People in the Himalayas See Again #HelptheHelpers

Helping Nepali Children with Disabilities Enjoy Healthy Lives #HelptheHelpers

Helping Patients in Afghanistan Manage Their Diabetes #HelptheHelpers

Protecting Front-Line Health Workers from Infectious Disease in Rural Haiti #HelptheHelpers

“There When the Community Needed Them Most”

U.S. Communities Hard-Hit by Hurricane Matthew; Volunteers Pitch In

Moved by Hurricane Matthew’s Impact, 8-Year-Old Raises Funds for Direct Relief

Zarway, a Midwife Success Story from Last Mile Health

Micheline’s Story: What it Takes to Beat Cervical Cancer in Haiti

The post The World is Full of Helpers #HelptheHelpers appeared first on Direct Relief.

The Helpers

One organization working to address the health needs of Jordan’s refugee population is the Jordan Aid Health Society (JHAS). Offering services that range from primary to reproductive healthcare, JHAS attends to the country’s refugee population without regard to religion, race, ethnicity or nationality.

Jordan Health Aid Society staff are pictured here at the Zarqa clinic, which serves a large number of the country’s refugees.

Helping the Helpers

To support the crucial work of JHAS, along with other partners worldwide, Direct Relief and Unilever’s Vaseline® brand formed the Vaseline® Healing Project. The project’s goal is to heal the skin of 5 million people living in crisis and disaster by 2020. A key component of the project is sending dermatologists and doctors to areas of need around the world. On these medical missions, all treatment and prescription medicines are provided for free.

In 2016, over 11,000 patients were treated and nearly 6,200 dermatological evaluations were performed during medical missions facilitated by the Vaseline Healing Project.

In September 2016, Vaseline and Direct Relief held a medical mission in Jordan in partnership with JHAS. Three dermatologists from a private practice in Amman were brought in to work alongside JHAS doctors in six clinics and one mobile medical unit.

Refugees from Syria, Iraq, Sudan, and Somalia were treated in various locations around the country, including the Zarqa clinic. Nearly 20 percent of the patients evaluated were treated for impetigo, a highly contagious skin infection, and approximately eight percent were treated for scabies, an infection that spreads quickly in crowded areas like refugee camps. In total, 303 dermatology evaluations were performed over the course of three days.

As the refugee crisis continues, Direct Relief is committed to helping those that help others. In addition to JHAS, Direct Relief supports the following groups that are actively working to improve the lives of refugees in Syria and beyond:

• American Near East Refugee Aid
• ANSAGIAD
• PHM CEE
• Royal Health Awareness Society
• Salaam Cultural Museum
• Syrian American Medical Society

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The World is Full of Helpers #HelptheHelpers

The post A Helping Hand to Refugees in Jordan #HelptheHelpers appeared first on Direct Relief.