The awards, totaling $750,000, are part of a multi-year initiative now in its sixth year, funded by the Baxter Foundation – the philanthropic arm of Baxter International – and implemented by Direct Relief. The program supports community health centers and free and charitable clinics in developing programs that integrate nutrition education with chronic disease management and mental health services.

The following organizations will receive funding to support 18-month programs:

• Tampa Family Health Centers – Tampa, Florida – A federally qualified health center serving Tampa’s diverse communities, has launched a weight loss program using lifestyle medicine that integrates nutritional education, physical activity support, behavioral health counseling, and emotional wellness coaching.

• Faith Community Pharmacy – Newport, Kentucky – A charitable pharmacy serving low-income residents across the region has brought together multiple community partners to address barriers to implementing healthy habits and social determinants of health.

• Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services Center – Clarksdale, Mississippi – A community health center serving rural Mississippi Delta communities, started the Healthy Weight and Wellness Program, addressing critical health challenges, implementing innovative treatment, nutritional access, and education strategies.

• St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy – Cincinnati, Ohio – A charitable pharmacy providing medication access to uninsured and underinsured patients, created a program that offers culturally and economically responsive education tailored to each patient’s lived experience, demonstrating an important step toward advancing health equity.

• NeoMed Center – Gurabo, Puerto Rico – A community health center serving rural Puerto Rico with both fixed and mobile health services, developed the Integrated Nutrition Prescription program targeting patients with chronic conditions, food insecurity, and behavioral health conditions.

Addressing Critical Health Disparities

Community health centers and free and charitable clinics serve as the medical home for over 36 million people living in medically underserved areas across the United States. Patients at these facilities experience significantly higher rates of multiple chronic conditions compared to the general population, with 35% higher chances of having at least one chronic condition and 31% higher odds of having two or more chronic conditions.

“Nutrition is fundamental to managing chronic disease, yet many people face significant barriers in accessing healthy food and nutrition education,” said Maris Steward, program manager & regional analyst at Direct Relief. “These awards enable safety net providers to develop innovative, culturally appropriate programs that address health disparities in their communities.”

Program Impact and Innovation

The Transformative Innovation Awards support integrated healthcare models that go beyond traditional clinical care. Awardees will leverage community partnerships to expand outreach and education, creating comprehensive approaches to chronic disease management that incorporate nutrition counseling and mental health services.

“At Baxter and through the Baxter Foundation, we recognize that effective healthcare extends far beyond clinic and hospital walls and to the everyday lives of people and patients,” said Verónica Arroyave, vice president of corporate responsibility and global philanthropy at Baxter and executive director of the Baxter Foundation. “By supporting community health centers in implementing nutrition-focused programs, we’re investing in innovative, sustainable approaches to address the social determinants of health and advance resiliency in the communities we serve.”

The post Direct Relief, Baxter Foundation Announce 2025 Transformative Innovation Awards in Community Health appeared first on Direct Relief.

Youngblood, a store manager who currently works 13-hour shifts starting at 4:30 a.m., had no insurance. And she was getting worse by the day. Youngblood left a message for Wheeling Health Right, a local free clinic. “That was Tuesday,” she said. “On Wednesday, they said Wheeling Hospital is waiting for you for x-rays. No paperwork. I don’t have health insurance because I can’t afford it. Health Right said, ‘If the hospital sends you a bill, you bring it to us.’”

“Next thing I knew, I had a Z-Pak [antibiotics],” she said.

Wheeling Health Right is the only free clinic in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, serving uninsured and underinsured residents across several counties from Brooke to Tyler, an area shaped by decades of industrial decline and a significant drop in population. According to the latest census data from 2020, 124,670 people live in the Northern Panhandle, a decline of nearly 6 percent compared to 2010.

In 2024, the clinic logged about 29,000 patient visits across medical, dental, and pharmacy appointments. The clinic also partners with organizations, including the West Virginia University Eye Institute, to provide heavily discounted care.

“I can honestly tell you I get better care there than I have with any primary care physician,” Youngblood said. “I’m not saying that just to say it, I mean it. They take the time to get to know you personally, they’re so compassionate.”

She said the clinic’s responsiveness has been consistent, even during holidays. “It was a holiday, a Friday, and the clinic was closed. I got out of work late, and couldn’t make it in time to get my prescription. I left a message, and Don, the pharmacist, called me back and asked, ‘Do you need your meds today? I’ll meet you down there.’ They’re just all good people.”

She also survived a stroke five years ago, and now takes several daily medications, including one that costs about $700 a month without assistance.

Beyond acute illnesses, Youngblood depends on inhalers to manage COPD, chronic lung disease. “That inhaler is a lifesaver,” she said. “Without Health Right and that inhaler, I’d probably die.”

Clinic Key in Fragile Local System

Like Youngblood, many of Wheeling Health Right’s patients fall into coverage gaps, as they earn too much to qualify for certain safety net programs, yet are unable to afford private insurance premiums or high deductibles. Hospital closures across the area have made access even more limited, pushing more people toward the few ERs still operating.

“The need for care in our region is huge,” said Anne Ricci, executive director of Wheeling Health Right.

During a recent phone interview with Direct Relief, clinic leaders say that geography and transportation barriers routinely keep patients from attending appointments, especially when breathing problems worsen. Even for those with some insurance coverage, high deductibles, inconsistent pharmacy benefits, and Medicare Part D gaps mean essential medications are often unaffordable.

For the past year, the clinic has been able to draw on a multi-year donation of albuterol inhalers supplied by Teva Pharmaceuticals U.S. via Direct Relief, creating a reliable and consistent supply of the medications.

The inhalers have become one of the most heavily used resources in the pharmacy, said Don Rebich, a pharmacist at the clinic, and the person who Youngblood recalled came to meet her after the clinic was closed during a holiday. Since January, Wheeling Health Right has received albuterol inhalers and dispensed them to patients at no cost.

“Retail prices [for inhalers] can reach $100 or more, so many patients with chronic respiratory problems simply go without treatment,” said Rebich.

“And that shouldn’t be an option,” Ricci added, before her colleague, Linda Shelek, a nurse practitioner and clinic coordinator, chimed in, “and then they end up in the emergency room.”

Some patients have pharmacy coverage that may exclude certain medications altogether. The donated supply allows same-day dispensing and helps stabilize breathing before patients deteriorate.

The need for inhalers often intensifies during emergencies. Ricci shared that, after a recent flood, one patient with chronic lung disease lost his only rescue inhaler while clearing mold-damaged debris from his home.

He was able to get a same-day refill from the clinic’s pharmacy and return safely to cleanup work. In Triadelphia, where flooding disrupted access to medications across multiple neighborhoods, the clinic has been providing no-cost albuterol refills throughout the ongoing recovery effort.

Other patients face chronic challenges that don’t require a disaster to impede their lives. One woman living at the YWCA struggled to climb three flights of stairs with untreated asthma until she enrolled in the program and received a no-cost inhaler, allowing her to manage daily tasks and keep medical appointments.

To address increasing healthcare access challenges, Ricci said the clinic is working to expand partnerships and mobile services while continuing to apply for grants from state and local organizations. Maintaining access to donated medications, Ricci said, remains essential for their patients, including Youngblood.

“What would be my workaround without Health Right?” Youngblood said. “I honestly don’t know.”

The post For Patients in West Virginia, a Free Clinic and Donated Inhalers Mean Survival appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included diabetes therapies, rare disease treatments, pain-relief medications, cold-chain equipment, and more.

Direct Relief Boosts Support as Post-Melissa Health Needs Grow

Direct Relief continues supporting health facilities across the Caribbean as communities work to restore essential services following Hurricane Melissa. To date, several large scale shipments of emergency medical aid have been delivered across the region—including antibiotics, chronic disease therapies, first-aid supplies, IV solutions, and disease-prevention items.

 In Jamaica, Direct Relief staff have been in-country this week coordinating with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, PAHO, and local partners. Recent deliveries include the Nov. 8 chartered airlift of 16 tons of medical supplies and a follow-on shipment of insulin supporting the annual treatment needs of 300 children and youth with Type 1 diabetes. 

Direct Relief continues working closely with partners to meet ongoing health needs and strengthen recovery efforts across affected communities.

Mobilizing Support Following Back-to-Back Typhoons in the Philippines

Back-to-back storms — Typhoon Kalmaegi and Super Typhoon Fung-wong — have caused extensive flooding, landslides, and widespread damage across the Philippines, displacing more than 1 million people and leading to significant disruptions in health services.  A nationwide state of emergency remains in effect as authorities continue search and rescue operations and assess emerging health needs. 

Direct Relief has been in active communication with long-standing partners across the region, including the Philippines Disaster Resilience Foundation and the AHA Center, to assess medical needs as conditions evolve.  

A $10,000 emergency grant has been approved for PH-Wadah to support ongoing operations in Cebu and at its birthing center in Aborlan, Palawan, where flooding has disrupted maternal and child health services. Direct Relief has also made an emergency offer of medical aid to the Philippines Department of Health and is awaiting confirmation to mobilize additional shipments once the government declares its highest emergency rating. 

Direct Relief will continue to closely monitor the situation and prepare medical inventories for rapid deployment to support health facilities in affected communities as requests are received. 

Direct Relief’s New Europe Entity Completes First Donation with Teva

Direct Relief’s newly launched European entity has completed its first coordinated medicine donation, working with Teva to deliver essential treatments to logistics partner Logicall.  

The milestone follows the opening of Direct Relief’s European headquarters in Frankfurt earlier this month, where global partners and health leaders gathered to mark the organization’s expanded capacity to streamline EU-based donations and strengthen humanitarian supply chains.  

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 667 shipments containing 1.3 million doses of medication this past week to organizations, including the following:

AROUND THE WORLD

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 575,961 defined daily doses of medication, totaling 18,860 lbs., to countries including the following:

Year-to-Date

Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 26K shipments to 2,636 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 88 countries. These shipments contained 282.9 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.9 billion wholesale, totaling 3.7 million lbs.

IN THE NEWS

On the Ground in Jamaica, Direct Relief Emergency Team Reports Devastation, Heroism after Melissa – Angels in Medicine 

Small Plane Carrying Hurricane Relief Supplies To Jamaica Crashes | WBZ NewsRadio 1030 | NightSide with Dan Rea 

How to Help Jamaica Relief Efforts After Hurricane Melissa 

Direct Relief Recognized as an Action for Women’s Health Awardee for Its Work To Expand Global Maternal Care 

Direct Relief donates medical supplies to Jamaica – Jamaica Observer

Small Plane Carrying Hurricane Relief Supplies To Jamaica Crashes | KFI AM 640 | Leo Laporte – The Tech Guy 

embecta Corp. Expands Partnership with Direct Relief to Enhance Access to Diabetes Supplies on World Diabetes Day 

embecta Announces Major New Commitment to Direct Relief

embecta Expands Direct Relief Partnership, Donates 15M Units | EMBC Stock News 

The post Medical Aid to Jamaica, Supporting Women’s Health in the Philippines and More appeared first on Direct Relief.

In 2025, embecta donated approximately 15 million units of pen needles and insulin syringes to Direct Relief. Through 2026, embecta and Direct Relief will continue their partnership to provide pen needle and insulin syringe access to those most in need across the globe. This major commitment represents embecta’s largest humanitarian partnership since becoming an independent company and will support Direct Relief’s comprehensive diabetes programs serving vulnerable populations both domestically and internationally.

“As we mark World Diabetes Day, embecta is proud to deepen our commitment to ensuring that everyone living with diabetes—regardless of their ability to pay or where they live—has access to the supplies they need,” said Dev Kurdikar, Chief Executive Officer, embecta. “Since becoming an independent company, we have focused on empowering people with diabetes while paving the way for a life unlimited for all. This partnership with Direct Relief helps extend that mission to those who need it most.”

Supporting Underserved Patients Nationwide

embecta’s donation will significantly expand Direct Relief’s ability to serve uninsured and low-income patients with diabetes through Direct Relief’s safety net support program. Direct Relief partners with more than 1,600 community health centers and free and charitable clinics across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, serving more than 36 million patients—including one in five of America’s uninsured.

Through this program, embecta’s diabetes products, including syringes, pen needles, and diabetes management supplies, will reach patients who cannot afford insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid, ensuring they have consistent, uninterrupted access to the tools essential for managing their diabetes.

“Direct Relief welcomes embecta’s extraordinary commitment to expanding diabetes care access,” said Amy Weaver, CEO, Direct Relief. “We are one of the largest charitable insulin providers worldwide and in the U.S., and embecta’s support will help us impact thousands of lives—from children with Type 1 diabetes through our support of the international Life for a Child program to increasing access for underserved patients at safety net clinics nationwide.”

Global Impact: Supporting Children and Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

Internationally, embecta’s products support Direct Relief’s partnership with Life for a Child, which provides life-sustaining diabetes care to children and young people with Type 1 diabetes in resource-limited countries. Direct Relief has supported Life for a Child since 2011 and currently helps provide care to more than 53,000 children and young people with Type 1 diabetes in 45 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Through Direct Relief’s Global Diabetes Partnership with the International Diabetes Federation, embecta’s donated pen needles and syringes support people living with diabetes in more than 30 countries experiencing crises or facing significant gaps in healthcare access.

Most recently, in collaboration with Direct Relief, embecta donated 2.7 million insulin needles and syringes to support an upcoming humanitarian response campaign in Sudan. This campaign is organized by the Sudanese Diabetes Federation and other regional charitable stakeholders. The donation highlights embecta’s and Direct Relief’s shared commitment to providing life-saving diabetes care in regions affected by humanitarian crises.

Empowering Young People Through Diabetes Education

embecta’s commitment also extends to Direct Relief’s support of the Diabetes Education & Camping Association’s, or DECA’s, network and diabetes camps nationwide. These camps provide children and young adults with diabetes with the opportunity to learn diabetes management skills, build confidence, and connect with peers while enjoying outdoor activities in a medically supervised environment. embecta’s past donations of pen needles, insulin syringes, sharps containers, and other essential supplies ensure these life-changing camp experiences can continue serving thousands of young people each year.

Emergency Response and Ongoing Support

The partnership includes continued emergency response capabilities, building on embecta’s July 2025 grant of $25,000 to Direct Relief for Texas storm and flood relief. This ensures that people with diabetes receive uninterrupted care even during natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

The Diabetes Crisis

According to the International Diabetes Federation, more than 537 million people worldwide are living with diabetes—a number projected to reach 783 million by 2045. In the United States, approximately 38 million Americans have diabetes, yet access to affordable care and supplies remains a critical challenge, particularly for uninsured and underinsured populations. Diabetes is responsible for 6.7 million deaths worldwide annually, with mortality rates directly correlated to economic stability and healthcare access.

The post embecta Announces Major New Commitment to Direct Relief on World Diabetes Day appeared first on Direct Relief.

The grants were disbursed from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, with support from Sanofi, and will address chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The funds will support prevention, education, and improved care for both children and adult patients. Community health centers in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, where Sanofi has a significant presence, are receiving the awards.

“Respiratory conditions, including asthma, disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. These funds will directly support organizations working to address and prevent these life-altering conditions,” said Dr. Byron Scott, Direct Relief’s President and Chief Operating Officer and Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity. “I am humbled that both Sanofi and Direct Relief can help these organizations with their goals of improving the health of people seeking care.”

Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity mobilizes financial resources for community health centers, free and charitable clinics, and other nonprofit organizations focused on non-clinical interventions that affect a person’s health – commonly known as the social determinants of health. These factors include a person’s physical, social, cultural, and economic environments.

Sanofi’s donation is part of the company’s “Breathe Easier” campaign, which focuses on the intersection of the environment and human health, and supports communities experiencing a high burden of respiratory illness.

“We are proud to support Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity and the 10 centers that will lead the way in improving respiratory care in many communities,” said Diana Blankman, Head of U.S. Corporate Social Responsibility at Sanofi. “We strongly believe in the development of community-based solutions by those who know best how to provide culturally relevant care to the patients they serve.”

The funding will support the following 10 health centers’ efforts:

• Brockton Neighborhood Health Center – Brockton, MA
• Codman Square Health Center – Dorchester, MA
• Holyoke Health Center – Holyoke, MA
• Greater Lawrence Family Health Center – Methuen, MA
• Caring Health Center – Springfield, MA
• Zufall Health Center – Dover, NJ
• Henry J. Austin Health Center – Trenton, NJ
• Valley Health Partners – Allentown, PA
• Delaware Valley Community Health – Philadelphia, PA
• Spectrum Foundation for Health Equity and Community Impact – Philadelphia, PA

The post Direct Relief Awards $2 Million to 10 Community Health Centers appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included rare disease therapies, diabetes medications, personal protective equipment, field medic packs for first responders, and more.

In Mexico, Expanding Health Services in Flooded Communities

Direct Relief is continuing its response to severe flooding in Mexico, working with partners to expand access to medical care in affected communities. This week, staff joined the NGO Medical Impact during a medical campaign in Huauchinango, Puebla — one of the areas hardest hit by last month’s flooding — and delivered 10 additional emergency medical backpacks donated by FedEx to support ongoing care. 

More than 100,000 households were affected by the floods, and Direct Relief teams and partner organizations continue to distribute medical supplies and assess needs as recovery efforts progress. More than 300 pallets of medical aid are currently being prepared for distribution to health facilities serving impacted families. 

Direct Relief Scales Emergency Medical Support to Jamaica with Charter Flight

Direct Relief is expanding its medical response in Jamaica as health facilities continue to face severe outages and supply shortages following Hurricane Melissa. To meet ongoing needs, Direct Relief has chartered a Boeing 757 scheduled to depart Miami on Nov. 8 with approximately 16 tons of emergency medical aid requested by Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness.

The airlift includes chronic disease medications, PPE, first-aid supplies, oral rehydration solutions, water purification tablets, and mosquito repellent, which public health officials have identified as critical due to rising vector-borne disease risk. A $50,000 emergency grant has also being provided to the JAHJAH Foundation to support local health and recovery efforts. 

Prepositioned hurricane preparedness packs and field medic packs have already been deployed in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the National Health Fund, and PAHO, with additional shipments of essential medicines and other requested aid arriving in Kingston this week. 

Direct Relief Opens New European Headquarters

Direct Relief staff and global partners gathered in Frankfurt, Germany, for the launch of the organization’s new European headquarters on Nov. 3, 2025. The event brought together health leaders, pharmaceutical partners, and government representatives from across Europe and crisis-affected regions.

The event marked a major milestone in expanding the organization’s ability to deliver medical aid worldwide. Attendees described the moment as both long-awaited and deeply meaningful, with speakers from Ukraine, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East reflecting on the impact of Direct Relief’s support in their communities and the importance of strengthening humanitarian supply chains at a time of growing global need. 

Monitoring Impacts of Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines and Vietnam

Direct Relief is closely monitoring the severe impacts of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which caused extensive flooding and landslides across the Philippines before moving west into Vietnam and neighboring countries. Hundreds of casualties have been reported, and authorities in both countries have declared states of emergency as response efforts continue.

Direct Relief has been in communication with longtime disaster response partners in the region, including the Philippines Disaster Resilience Foundation and the AHA Center. Direct Relief will continue to monitor the situation closely and remains ready to mobilize medical aid if needed. 

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 607 shipments containing 403,760 doses of medication this past week to organizations, including the following:

AROUND THE WORLD

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 6 million defined daily doses of medication, totaling 86,047 lbs., to countries including the following:

Year-to-Date

Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 25.3K shipments to 2,609 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 87 countries. These shipments contained 281.1 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.8 billion wholesale, totaling 3.6 million lbs.

IN THE NEWS

Direct Relief Rushes Lifesaving Aid to Storm-Struck Jamaica | News Channel 3-12 

Direct Relief delivering life-saving medical supplies to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather 

Direct Relief Expands Global Humanitarian Operations With Opening of European Headquarters in Frankfurt 

Jamaica hurricane relief: How to help after storm strands farmworkers in Peru – Adirondack Almanack 

Holland America Line Joins Hurricane Melissa Relief Efforts – Cruise Industry News | Cruise News 

Carnival Horizon Makes Relief Call to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Delivering Thousands of Hurricane Aid Supplies | Carnival Cruise Line 

Naples groups aid Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa. How to help 

In move to reach survivors in Haiti, millions for hurricane relief bypass government 

Direct Relief Mobilizes Emergency Response for Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa 

How to help Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa 

A Look at Carnival (CCL) Valuation After Its High-Profile Hurricane Relief Efforts in Jamaica – Simply Wall St News 

Grim death toll rises in Jamaica, as nation grapples with disaster left behind by historic Hurricane Melissa | Fox Weather 

Hurricane Melissa Recovery: How Airlines and Travel Brands Are Helping the Caribbean – Travel And Tour World 

Travel industry rallies to raise funds for Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa – News 

Improved Connectivity Expected In Western Jamaica This Week | RJR News – Jamaican News Online 

Carnival Horizon Delivers Vital Hurricane Relief Supplies to Jamaica – Jamaica Information Service 

Gov’t partners with OECS to boost healthcare resilience 

Direct Relief has provided Ukraine with $2 billion in aid: what healthcare professionals received – all the latest news today – Inkorr 

The post Emergency Response and Monitoring Continues in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Philippines appeared first on Direct Relief.

“This expansion reflects Direct Relief’s commitment to addressing urgent health needs wherever they arise,” said Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief. “Establishing a presence in Europe enables greater collaboration and helps ensure that critical medical resources reach the people and places that need them most—quickly and reliably.”

The new European headquarters, based in Frankfurt and legally registered in Germany as Direct Relief gGmbH, will serve as a logistics and partnership hub, building on long-standing collaborations with European pharmaceutical and medical product manufacturers.

“Frankfurt is proud to welcome Direct Relief as part of our international community,” said Eileen O’Sullivan, Deputy Mayor for International Affairs of the City of Frankfurt. “Establishing their European headquarters here strengthens Frankfurt’s role as a global hub for collaboration and humanitarian engagement and contributes to strengthening democracy through international solidarity.”

Over the past decade, Direct Relief has delivered more than $16 billion USD in medical aid throughout Europe and around the world. Roughly a quarter of the medicines Direct Relief delivers worldwide originate in Europe, supported by partnerships with leading European companies.

“We’re grateful to Direct Relief for their longstanding partnership and look forward to supporting and working with them as they expand their important work,” said Bayer AG Chief Executive Officer Bill Anderson. “Bayer’s mission is Health for all, Hunger for none. And we see organizations like Direct Relief as vital partners in achieving that mission.”

As health systems face mounting pressure from conflict, climate-related disasters, and economic instability, the ability to deliver targeted, high-impact humanitarian medical aid has become increasingly vital.

“Promoting health equity is at the heart of our sustainability efforts,” said Shashank Deshpande, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors at Boehringer Ingelheim. “Direct Relief’s expansion in Europe strengthens global health systems and ensures critical care reaches underserved communities worldwide. We are proud to support their mission and to help deliver sustainable health solutions where they are needed most.”

Europe has been integral to Direct Relief’s humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, which has surpassed $2 billion USD in medical aid since the war began in 2022.

“Direct Relief has been consistently supporting Ukraine’s healthcare system throughout the war,” said Viktor Liashko, Ukraine’s Minister of Health. “This assistance is coordinated with the Ministry of Health, ensuring that resources are directed where they are needed most. We highly value this partnership, which saves Ukrainian lives and strengthens the resilience of healthcare services. In the most challenging moments — when hospitals operate under shelling, when the power goes out but doctors continue treating patients — the support of Direct Relief is especially tangible. It stands as an example of effective international solidarity, embodied in concrete results: modern equipment, medicines, backup power systems, and the development of rehabilitation and mental health services.”

The post Direct Relief Expands Global Humanitarian Operations with Opening of European Headquarters in Frankfurt appeared first on Direct Relief.

He feared the worst. “Here in Africa, when you have a stroke, it’s over for you. You are never standing again,” he said. “My family, my little family, depends on me.”

Until recently, his fate would have been grim. But doctors at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo had just received their first donation from Direct Relief and Boehringer Ingelheim of alteplase, an effective medicine that can dissolve blood clots blocking blood flow to the brain (the main cause of most strokes), reducing the risk of long-term impairment.

In a video taken two months after his stroke, Mayenga moves his left arm and leg freely, lifts a jug with more than 20 lbs. of water up and down, and carries it in his left hand as he walks past his children. “Really, it saved my life, and my family too,” he said. “It was something magnificent.”

“Direct Relief’s donation of alteplase has revolutionized stroke management in the Congo,” the Brazzaville hospital reported in a survey. “We are so grateful.” The first four patients to be treated were all evaluated post-treatment as either completely symptom-free or remaining functionally independent despite having minimal symptoms, the hospital reported.

In one of the more complex programs in its 77-year history, Direct Relief partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim to donate more than 37,000 vials of alteplase to 38 healthcare partners in 30 countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, India, Jordan, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Zambia and others.

Among non-communicable disorders, stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of death and disability combined. The overwhelming majority of the global stroke burden – 87% of deaths and 89% of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost – occurs in low-income and low-middle-income countries, the World Stroke Organization (WSO) says in its Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2025. Between 1990 and 2021, stroke incidence rose by 70%, stroke deaths by 44%, and DALYs lost by 32%.

Direct Relief hadn’t previously donated stroke medicine, so it had to build a mostly new network of partners capable of providing the treatment. Administering alteplase requires a high level of medical capabilities. The medicine must be administered within 4.5 hours of a stroke, according to the approved label. The hospital must have brain imaging (MRI or CT scan) equipment to confirm and evaluate the nature of the stroke. In many countries where Direct Relief sought to bring the medicine, only top academic or referral hospitals met the clinical requirements.

Direct Relief worked with the WSO to identify many of these facilities, establishing new relationships across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean with top hospitals, and with national ministries of health that managed or helped arrange distribution in 10 nations. Among 13 institutions that responded to an initial survey of recipients, six said Direct Relief’s donation was the first time they had received a supply of the medicine.

“With initiatives like this and our Rare Diseases Program, Direct Relief is building the systems needed to deliver advanced medicines to people who otherwise would have no access to them,” said Direct Relief CEO Amy Weaver. “Each of these efforts moves us closer to a world where geography no longer determines access to care — where the best medical innovations reach everyone who can benefit from them.”

The program began in 2024 when Boehringer Ingelheim informed Direct Relief that, due to changing regulatory circumstances in the countries where it offers the drug, it had tens of thousands of vials of the medicine available for donation, and wanted to know whether Direct Relief was able to meet the complex requirements to distribute it.

“While this donation presented an immense opportunity to expand our support of stroke care globally, we also recognized the complexity and scope of the work ahead,” said Neesha Rao, Associate Director, Access to More Health, Boehringer. “We are deeply grateful for the expertise and unwavering commitment that Direct Relief brought to meet these challenges. Every story we receive about how this endeavor has made a difference—for patients, their families, and healthcare providers—is a cause for celebration.”

Direct Relief doesn’t simply take donated medicines and ship them out, hoping that recipients will find a use for them. It only donates medicines to partners who have specifically requested them and have a proven ability to manage and administer the drugs properly. Recipients must comply with standards for tracking the storage, distribution, and disposal of each batch of medicine. Direct Relief only ships medicine with enough remaining shelf-life to comply with standards in recipient countries.

Building Capacity

Another key participant in the effort was Angel’s Initiative, a Boehringer Ingelheim nonprofit initiative dedicated to improving stroke patients’ chances of survival and living a disability-free life. Angel’s Initiative creates “stroke-ready hospitals,” helping hospitals adopt and drill staff in proven stroke treatment protocols, emphasizing rapid and standardized response. The organization helped Direct Relief identify hospitals capable of administering the medicine and provided online stroke training courses to recipients.

“We’ve demonstrated that donating this type of medicine is completely possible, and on the way we’ve built relationships with the WSO and Angel’s Initiative, we’ve broadened our own partner network quite significantly, and we’re offering stroke care training to every partner that receives this donation,” said Direct Relief’s Eleni Brauner, who arranged the donation from Boehringer Ingelheim and led the global distribution effort. “This is a long-term healthcare systems strengthening exercise catalyzed by a donation.”

For Direct Relief’s Regional Director for Africa, Jeffrey Samuel, the relationships with ministries of health and top academic hospitals that he helped establish over the past year for the alteplase donation created a pipeline for the increasing volume of highly specialized medicine donations Direct Relief receives.

Ministries of health offer geographic reach that individual hospitals often lack, as well as the ability to align with evolving regulatory systems that safeguard the quality of medicines entering their countries. “As health systems strengthen across Africa, it’s vital that our partnerships evolve with them,” Samuel said. “By working more closely with governments, we can help ensure that patients everywhere — regardless of where they live — have access to the advanced treatments they need.”

The post How Direct Relief and Boehringer Ingelheim Brought Advanced Stroke Treatment to 30 Low-Income Countries Around the Globe appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included treatments for diabetes, pain and inflammation, and bacterial infections.

Tropical Storm Melissa Gains Strength, Bringing Damage to the Caribbean

Tropical Storm Melissa continues to pose a major threat across the Caribbean, bringing heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and landslides to Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Three people have been killed as a result of the storm’s impacts in Haiti, and between 10–20 inches of rain are expected in southwestern Haiti and eastern Jamaica through Monday, with 6–12 inches expected across southern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic.

Direct Relief has shipped more than $3 million in medical support recently to Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The organization is also preparing a shipment of 100 field medic packs for the National Health Fund Jamaica, as well as 250 personal care kits with hygiene items for displaced families.

The organization will continue to monitor medical needs as the storm’s impacts become known.

Direct Relief Expands Oxygen Access in The Gambia

Direct Relief’s Regional Director for Africa, Jeffrey Samuel, joined partners in The Gambia this month for the inauguration of a new medical oxygen system at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul.

The system, part of the larger AIRS project, provides reliable medical-grade oxygen and training for biomedical technicians, helping strengthen care for newborns and critically ill patients.

Government leaders, health officials, and the First Lady of the Gambia recognized Direct Relief’s ongoing support, including recent medical shipments that improved oxygen access nationwide.

Health Organizations from Across U.S. Share Learnings

Direct Relief hosted a two-day learning summit at its headquarters this week for 34 leaders from 18 health centers and free clinics. The gathering marked the completion of a two-year program, in partnership with Pfizer, that delivered more than 127,000 vaccinations and reached over 700,000 people in underserved communities.

Through the Innovation Awards in Community Health: Addressing Infectious Disease in Underserved Communities, Direct Relief and Pfizer invested $4.52 million in local programs that maintained trust between providers and the communities they serve.

Summit participants shared lessons learned, discussed strategies for sustaining community-based vaccination efforts, and explored opportunities for continued collaboration.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 550 shipments containing 1.9 million doses of medication this past week to organizations, including the following:

AROUND THE WORLD

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 4.3 million defined daily doses of medication, totaling 34,925 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR-TO-DATE

Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 24.1K shipments to 2,588 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 86 countries. These shipments contained 272.4 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.8 billion wholesale, totaling 3.5 million lbs.

IN THE NEWS

Direct Relief: Lebanon & Honduras — Humanitarian News Feed 

The OECS and Direct Relief Strengthen Vector Control and Surveillance in Antigua and Barbuda – iNews Cayman

Doctors Without Walls Updates Donors on Street Medicine Work — The Independent

ICM’s Midwives Data Hub a Finalist for Prestigious Anthem Award — International Confederation of Midwives

The Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul has commissioned its first medical oxygen production plant, an $8 million facility supported by Direct Relief and other partners. The plant is expected to ensure a steady supply of lifesaving oxygen and strengthen the hospital’s capacity to manage critical cases. | QTV Gambia | Facebook 

The post Responding to Tropical Storm Melissa, Oxygen Needs in West Africa, and More appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included treatments for hormonal health, mental health, diabetes, cancer therapies, and pediatric care.

Cancer Therapies Bound for Ghana

This week, Direct Relief shipped essential medicines, including cancer treatments, to Ghana to support Breast Care International, a nonprofit providing lifesaving treatment, education, and awareness programs for women facing breast cancer. 

The shipment was made possible through Teva’s Breast Cancer Access Program — a partnership between Teva, Breast Care International, and Direct Relief — which ensures up to 400 women in Ghana each year can access essential cancer medicines. In a country where as many as 70% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, timely access to medication is often the difference between life and death. 

In addition to cancer medicines, the delivery included treatments for heart conditions, infections, mental health, and general patient care — covering both essential and supportive therapies. 

Direct Relief staff recently visited BCI in Ghana, further underscoring the importance of this long-standing partnership and the urgent need to expand access to care. Since 2014, Direct Relief has provided more than $100 million in medical support to BCI, working alongside Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai and her team to strengthen early detection, treatment, and cancer care nationwide. 

Personal Care Kits Distributed at Pasadena Fire Recovery Fair

Earlier this week, Shared Harvest and DENA Forward distributed Direct Relief-donated personal care items at a Pasadena community fair for families affected by the Eaton Fire. The kits help families meet basic needs and safeguard their health as the community continues recovering from the fires earlier this year. In addition, the event provided residents with health screenings, educational resources, and other recovery services. 

By working alongside partners like Shared Harvest and DENA, Direct Relief helps ensure communities have access to both immediate relief items and the broader support needed to recover and rebuild. 

At the same time, Direct Relief hosted a volunteer packing event at its Santa Barbara headquarters, where volunteers assembled dental care kits for children to be distributed to local organizations across Santa Barbara County.

Restoring Access to Care: Grants Supporting Maui’s Recovery

Following the devastating Maui wildfires in 2023, Direct Relief partnered with Mauliola Pharmacy to ensure displaced residents maintained access to essential medicines and care. Direct Relief supported these emergency efforts with funding and shipments of requested medicines, vaccines, medical supplies, and personal protective equipment. 

Beyond emergency response, Direct Relief has continued to support Mauliola Pharmacy’s sister organization, Nohona Health, which blends traditional Native Hawaiian healing with modern medicine. With grant funding, Nohona Health built a greenhouse to expand access to medicinal plants, strengthen cultural education, and create new opportunities for emotional and physical healing. 

From urgent medication access to long-term community healing, Direct Relief’s partnerships in Maui reflect a broader commitment: supporting locally led recovery and resilience initiatives long after the immediate crisis has passed. 

Ryan’s Bar Mitzvah Project Supports Communities Affected by Floods

Direct Relief’s mission to support people affected by disasters recently inspired 13-year-old Ryan to select the organization as the focus of his bar mitzvah project. Drawing from his Torah portion, the story of Noah and the flood, Ryan wanted to give back by supporting an organization that helps people impacted by flooding and other disasters. 

To raise funds, Ryan organized a bake sale at his synagogue, preparing all the treats himself. His efforts raised $277, which he generously donated online to Direct Relief. His support comes at a critical time, as Direct Relief continues to respond to severe flooding events worldwide, including the recent floods in Texas, Bali, and Pakistan. 

Contributions like Ryan’s help ensure that communities affected by disasters have access to the medical aid they need. Direct Relief is grateful for Ryan’s generosity — and for the many others who support its mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by emergencies. 

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 543 shipments containing 1.9 million doses of medication this past week to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 11.4 million defined daily doses of medication, totaling 66,733 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR-TO-DATE

Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 22.2K shipments to 2,515 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 86 countries. These shipments contained 230.8 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.6 billion wholesale, totaling 3.2 million lbs.

The post Strengthening Women’s Health in Ghana, Ongoing Response to L.A., Maui Fires, and More appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included cancer treatments, rare disease therapies, diabetes management medications, and more.

Medications Support Essential Health Services in Georgia, South Africa

Medicines, over-the-counter items, and other requested medical support arrived this week in Atlanta, Georgia, to support critical screening and health services.

SisterLove Inc. is an Atlanta-based organization founded in 1989 in response to a lack of attention and resources for Black women impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The organization provides comprehensive sexual health services, including free HIV/STI screenings and care support, across Atlanta. The organization also operates SisterLove International, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, which is focused on HIV prevention and treatment as well as reproductive health.

Direct Relief has provided more than $245,000 in medical support to the organization, including medications for HIV/AIDS treatments, contraceptives, and essential medicines, as well as a grant through Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity to support a mobile bus that provides health services in the community.

Strengthening Cold Chain Capacity in Colombia

In June, Direct Relief expanded cold chain capacity to support Colombia’s efforts to address yellow fever in the country. In coordination with the Pan American Health Organization, Direct Relief provided 10 ultracold portable freezers to support testing efforts.

The country has recorded an increase in yellow fever in 2025, as well as rising case numbers of dengue fever. Transporting samples from rural areas of Colombia to testing facilities in urban areas proved challenging, with samples often becoming unusable during the long journey.

Direct Relief sent 10 ultra-cold freezers to Colombia to ensure that samples remained viable for testing, which play a crucial role in enabling healthcare workers to identify and treat patients before outbreaks escalate. Transportation of the freezers was provided by FedEx.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief 257 shipments departed containing 436,423 doses of medication during the past week to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 2.0 million defined daily doses of medication, totaling 30,954 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR-TO-DATE

Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 19.9K shipments to 2,400 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 86 countries. These shipments included 189.4 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $1.4 billion wholesale, totaling 2.9 million lbs.

In the News

How Direct Relief and FedEx Are Helping Fight Disease Outbreaks in Colombia – FedEx

20 Years After Hurricane Katrina: What Humanitarian Organizations Learned from the Historic Storm – Fox Weather

Equipping Midwives for Success and Transforming Maternal Health in Nigeria – Angels in Medicine

The post Medical Support Departs for 15 Countries appeared first on Direct Relief.

“Her eyes were piercing through mine, asking me to save her,” Dr. Addai recalled. “She didn’t want to die and leave her young children.”

For Dr. Addai, then a young surgeon, that moment would become a turning point. “I asked her why she had come so late. She told me, ‘Doctor, I didn’t know. I didn’t know this painless lump could end like this.’”

The encounter exposed a devastating truth, according to Addai. Many Ghanaian women simply did not know about the telltale signs and risks of breast cancer. In a culture where breast cancer was rarely spoken of, where a lump might be treated with prayer, herbs, or even considered a spiritual curse, women often sought care only when the disease was far advanced.

That same night, troubled, Dr. Addai went to a friend’s house. She told her she needed a platform to speak to women directly. Her friend suggested going with her to church. That Sunday, Dr. Addai was standing before a congregation, answering basic questions, a couple of which she remembered were, “If a lump is painless, why should I worry? Can breast cancer be cured by witchcraft?”

The events of that week would mark the beginning of her life’s mission.

Breast Care International

Breast cancer ranks as the most prevalent cancer affecting women globally, yet outcomes differ starkly depending on geography. In the United States, breast cancer deaths have dropped 43% since 1989. But in Ghana, more than 4,000 women are diagnosed each year, and nearly half will die. As many as 70% are diagnosed at advanced stages, when chances of survival plummet.

In 2002, Addai founded Breast Care International, or BCI, to break the silence surrounding breast cancer in Ghana. She assembled nurses, doctors, and volunteers to fan out into markets, parks, and villages in some of the most remote parts of the country, offering clinical breast screenings and education. Over time, she expanded awareness campaigns into schools, churches, and on radio programs, reaching thousands.

But awareness was only one piece of the puzzle. Even when diagnosed, many women could not afford the transportation costs of going to one of the few in-country hospitals offering oncology treatment, much less lifesaving drugs. Access to cancer medication was inconsistent, often dependent on unreliable donations. That changed when Addai was introduced to Teva Pharmaceuticals by Direct Relief.

In January 2022, Teva launched its Breast Cancer Access Program in partnership with BCI and Direct Relief. The program provides essential cancer medications to up to 400 women annually in Ghana.

“You cannot explain how people feel when they receive these medications, people who had no hope,” Addai said about the program in 2023. “It gives them life, it gives their families hope, and it gives us, as doctors, the strength to continue.”

Teva and BCI have also extended their impact with regional projects: training doctors and physician assistants in early detection, equipping journalists to cover cancer accurately, and investigating links between environmental pollution and rising cancer rates in mining regions.

“Teva has done a lot for the country, for our women, children, and country at large,” Addai said.

Building a Permanent Home for Cancer Care

Education and medicine were critical, but Addai wanted to tackle the root problem. Ghana lacked a single, modern, comprehensive cancer center. Some patients were able to travel abroad for care, but it is an impossible option for most. In October 2024, Addai and a team of collaborators broke ground on the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence, a one-stop hub in Ghana designed to serve Ghana, the region, and Africa as a whole.

The vision is sweeping and includes departments focused on prevention, screening, surgery, radiotherapy, palliative care, survivorship programs, and cutting-edge research. International partners, including U.S. and European academic and research institutions, including Johns Hopkins University, the University of Oxford, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, are collaborating to strengthen local expertise.

The center, named for an Ashanti King, sits on a 52-acre site. The first phase, a $10 million radiotherapy wing, is critical. In Ghana, a country with 33 million people, there are only three radiotherapy centers. Treatment delays are routine and can be deadly.

“This is not just about breast cancer,” Addai explained. “We must expand to all cancers. We are not reinventing the wheel; we are learning from high-income countries, adapting to our context, and building a center that can save lives.”

The full project will cost $100 million, but Addai is undeterred. “Whoever can assist with equipment, funding, or manpower, we welcome them,” she said.

From Weeks to Minutes

Technology has also become central to her fight. At Peace and Love Hospital, she introduced CoreView, a breakthrough device from UC Davis. A biopsy sample placed in the machine generates digital images that can be read remotely within minutes. In a country where pathology results often take weeks or are lost entirely, this is revolutionary.

“The experience has been incredible,” she said. “With CoreView, a woman can get her diagnosis in ten minutes. That is a game-changer.” She hopes to expand CoreView across Ghana and eventually to other low- and middle-income countries as well as underserved areas in high-income countries.

Addai’s relentless service has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, she was honored with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States. She has also partnered with the Komen Foundation, leading breast cancer walks in American cities with large Ghanaian populations since 2011. In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Addai serves as the CEO of Peace and Love Hospitals.

Despite the accolades, Addai’s focus remains on the women, children, and men she has reached in Ghana. “My main aim is to get women or men who are diagnosed with breast cancer, or prostate cancer, or other cancers to get the treatment they need in a timely way… our biggest headache is still late-stage diagnosis.”

The memory of the woman on the stretcher still stays with Addai. But in Ghana today, more women are reaching care earlier, with a chance to survive.

Direct Relief has provided more than $154 million in medical support to Breast Care International since 2014.

The post Strengthening Ghana’s Fight Against Breast Cancer appeared first on Direct Relief.

Aguilar coordinates mental health care at the Clínica de Atención al Trastorno por Estrés Postraumático, or ISSEMyM, in the State of Mexico. The clinic focuses on post-traumatic stress, often from gender-based violence, among the state’s government workers. When patients are referred to the clinic, they are screened for mental health disorders, and psychiatrists work in consultation with psychologists to develop a care plan that includes sourcing or covering the cost of mental health medications.

About 70% of her patients are women, Aguilar said. “Women are more affected by social factors,” such as additional, unpaid labor and intimate partner violence, she explained through a translator. Men are also less likely to seek care for mental health conditions, which are stigmatized in Mexico, as in countries around the world.

Desvenlafaxine, a medication often used to treat major depressive disorder and related mental health conditions, is a key component of care for many of the patients at ISSEMyM. But Aguilar said these types of medicines aren’t always available to patients. Certain treatments, specifically serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, like desvenlafaxine and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are widely needed.

“This is common in the health services,” Aguilar told Direct Relief.

To fill these essential gaps, Direct Relief’s Mexico office is working closely with biopharmaceutical company Pfizer to supply desvenlafaxine to five mental health partners across Mexico.

While mental health has worsened worldwide since the pandemic began, Mexico has been hit particularly hard, said Jonathan Mangotich, a corporate engagement manager at Direct Relief Mexico.

Mexico’s Ministry of Health reports that 3.6 million adults are currently experiencing depression – a significant increase from pre-pandemic numbers.

Direct Relief’s program in partnership with Pfizer is designed to increase access to essential mental health care for vulnerable individuals, Mangotich said, with a particular focus on treating widespread anxiety and depression.

He estimates that the donation of desvenlafaxine has supported about 700 patients across Mexico.

“Our efforts to create greater access to mental healthcare are driven by the understanding that mental well-being is fundamental to overall health and quality of life,” a Pfizer representative told Direct Relief. “Through strategic partnerships, innovative programs, and a focus on affordability and equity, Pfizer is working to ensure that individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location, can access the mental health support they require.”

“When Pfizer donated this medicine, it contributed significantly,” Aguilar said. “Women were suffering in particular” without it.

She explained that menopause and other women’s health concerns can affect depression and other mental health conditions. “This pill helps them with just that,” she said.

Aguilar explained that by the time ISSEMyM screens new patients for mental health symptoms, a general practitioner or other provider has already reported concerns or identified a potential need for mental health intervention through screening. At ISSEMyM, the goal is to identify how urgent the needs are – there are three tiers, the highest of which indicates that a patient is at imminent risk of self-harm – and develop an effective treatment plan.

When medicines aren’t available, that plan can be affected, Aguilar said.

“When there is no economic support for the purpose of medication…that leads to disengagement of treatment and care,” she said.

The post Amid a Crisis of Mental Health in Mexico, a Donation Fills Gaps in Care appeared first on Direct Relief.

Each center is awarded $225,000 to implement pharmacist-led comprehensive medication management programs for patients – many of whom are vulnerable to chronic disease. These initiatives focus on educating and counseling patients through team-based care, while also addressing Social Determinants of Health that impact patient outcomes.

Recipients of the 2025 BD Helping Build Healthy Communities Innovations in Care award are:

• Community Health and Social Services Center (Detroit, MI) will broaden its medication management service for individuals with Type 2 diabetes to include screening for peripheral artery disease and peripheral neuropathy. The program utilizes bilingual community health workers to support enhanced patient communication and engagement.
• Jane Pauley Community Health Center (Indianapolis, IN) will establish a contextualized care coordination model integrating clinical pharmacists and community health workers to address both clinical needs and social determinants, including nutrition insecurity, transportation, housing, and healthcare access.
• Family Health Matters Community Health Center (Anaheim, CA) will expand Spanish language-concordant CMM services and implement social determinants of health screening through clinical pharmacy visits. The program will address health literacy, access to healthy food, and social support through expanded group visits.
• Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems (Meadowview, VA) will expand existing clinical pharmacy workflows to include chronic kidney disease management, focusing on improved screening rates and evidence-based care optimization.

Since 2013, BD has partnered with Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers to support local community health centers in the U.S. that serve low-income and uninsured people and families. The partnership has supported 56 health centers in 20 states, with a total investment of $22.6 million in cash and product donations. More information on the BD Helping Build Healthy Communities Innovations in Care award can be found here.

The post BD, Direct Relief, and NACHC Award Four U.S. Community Health Centers for Innovation in Care appeared first on Direct Relief.

CF is a genetic disease that damages the lungs, digestive system, and other organs. Until the development in 2019 of Trikafta, a U.S.-manufactured drug that significantly improves health outcomes for people with CF, it often meant a life that was both short and difficult.

“I want a profession that sparks something in me, makes my eyes light up — but I haven’t found it just yet, the 23-year-old Yaroslava told Direct Relief in Oct. 2024. She is originally from the war-torn town of Нью-Йорк/New York in eastern Ukraine (a legacy name from the mid-1800s).

A former graphic design student, she also hopes to start a family someday. Now that she’s receiving Trikafta — that feels possible.

“Trikafta has given me the possibility to live for many more years,” said Yaroslava, who began taking the medicine in October 2023 through a CF pilot donation program led by Boston-based pharmaceutical company Vertex, Direct Relief, and three Ukrainian hospitals, including two of the country’s largest children’s hospitals. The program currently operates in 12 countries, including Ukraine, with plans to expand.

Since its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019, Trikafta has been widely praised for its impact. For Yaroslava, the treatment marked a turning point in a life shaped by loss. Her older brother died of CF at age 20, and as her own weight dropped to 40 kilograms in the months leading up to her 20th birthday, the same outcome seemed inevitable.

“When you are nearing the age when your brother died, you tell yourself how much you haven’t yet done,” recalled Yaroslava, who was first diagnosed with the disease 18 years ago. However, she did not succumb to it, even as life threw other calamities at her family, including losing her father to war and leaving their home for a safer area.

Like many with CF, she experienced persistent symptoms: thick mucus that clogged her lungs and digestive tract, causing frequent infections, breathing problems, and malnutrition. She completed her studies in 2021, but work was out of reach. Even short walks or trips to the store were overwhelming. “Life was gray,” she said.

But just three days after starting Trikafta, the choking sensation began to ease. Her energy returned. She gained weight. She could walk farther and breathe easier.

She credits the doctor who introduced her to the cystic fibrosis donation program and guided her through the careful selection process.

“I love that doctor; she saved my life,” she said.

Taking CF Treatment to a New Level in Ukraine

The CF donation program is one of several rare disease donation programs developed by Direct Relief in partnership with pharmaceutical donors.

“These programs provide eligible patients access to long-term, specialized therapies for rare diseases that otherwise have no viable treatment options,” said Ellen Cho, Senior Director of Specialty Programs at Direct Relief. “Many of these diseases are difficult to diagnose due to limited awareness or lack of access to necessary diagnostic testing.”

Direct Relief’s extensive experience in managing these types of programs, including shipping temperature-sensitive and cold-chain products, has ensured the safe delivery of lifesaving treatments to healthcare facilities in Ukraine and around the world, benefiting patients in need.

Since the early 2000s, the Clinical Centre of Children’s Healthcare in Lviv has become a reputed hub for treating CF with the available resources and knowledge. “It was a very tough time, we received the most serious patients [from across Ukraine] who were at a very difficult stage, all of them children,” said Dr. Roman Kizyma, the hospital’s director.

But the team prides itself on not losing a single patient to the disease in the past six years, added Dr. Lyudmila Bober, director of the CF center. The hospital has steadily built on its reputation, culminating in the provision in 2023 of the first supplies of Trikafta through Direct Relief. “This is a fantastic program, unbelievable help for Ukraine…” said Bober. To further the hospital’s work in this area, Direct Relief has issued a $200,000 grant for the expansion of the pulmonology department to include a dedicated cystic fibrosis center.

Some 470 kilometers (270 miles) to the east is the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Children’s Hospital in Kyiv – Ukraine’s largest pediatric hospital, known nationwide as simply Okhmatdyt. On July 8, 2024, Lyubov Mazurkevich and her nine-year-old daughter Veronika, who had started taking Trikafta just four days earlier, arrived at the hospital for an appointment at the department that treats CF and many other rare diseases, such as neuromuscular disorders and congenital immunodeficiency. Moments later, the hospital was struck by a missile, resulting in two deaths and at least 16 injuries.

“We were sitting on a bench when we heard the explosion and ran,” recalled Lyubov, a nurse who lives with her family in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin.

As with many recipients of Trikafta in Ukraine, the story of Veronika’s health is intertwined with war, which early on had displaced the family to western Ukraine, complicating efforts to manage the child’s condition. When it was safe, they returned to find their home badly damaged. But it was Veronika’s illness that still overshadowed their lives.

“I cried every day, became depressed, asked myself, ‘Why is this happening?’ Then I realized that there is only one way out – to fight,” said Lyubov. That determination led to her daughter’s acceptance into the program and they haven’t looked back since. Veronika, a vivacious, gifted painter and dancer, is now busily winning competition awards while her parents count their blessings: “We now mark July 4 (the day she began taking Trikafta) as a second birthday and we will celebrate it forever,” said Lyubov.

Restored Health Puts Even War into Perspective

The Trikafta donation program at Okhmatdyt includes both young and adult patients. The dramatic improvement in the children’s health and their swift return to almost all daily life activities is a huge turning point also for the parents. Most knew for years about the existence of Trikafta from their online research, but doubted that it would reach Ukraine, at least in wartime. Even so, patient advocates in the country continued to hope that the drug would become available. The announcement of the donation program in 2023 was welcome news during an exceptionally difficult time for Ukraine.

“The parents are crying when they get the medicine for the first time. The patients don’t always understand what is happening, but the parents say, ‘It was our task to live to this day’,” said Dr. Nataliia Samonenko, the head of Okhmatdyt’s orphan diseases department.. “One mother said she slept properly for the first time in 20 years because her child wasn’t coughing up in the night,” added Yulia Ostapyshyna, another member of the orphan diseases and gene therapy team.

The patients’ treatment and return to health can greatly help families carry on in the face of what is happening in Ukraine and help temper the tragedies of war. The Rudnytskyi family, consisting of father Mykola, mother Lyudmila, and sons Bohdan, 26, Yehor, 17, and Hleb, 10, is a case in point. Both boys live with CF, while their older brother is of sound health.

Unlike many, they were fortunate to all survive the war that swept through their hometown of Berdiansk in eastern Ukraine in early 2022. But they abandoned almost everything they owned – Mykola’s agricultural canning business and their home – to escape in March, packing their car with a few bags and their dog. Now they are starting again in Lviv.

Life is challenging, but they are rebuilding. Mykola opened another small business, and since receiving Trikafta in the summer, the boys regained their weight and no longer suffer from the previous acute breathlessness. While continuing daily inhalation and other procedures, both practice sports and lead active lives. A keen boxer, Yehor said he wants to become a dentist, his little brother chiming in, “Me too!”

“People ask us, ‘How can you live on after losing so much?’ But we now see that we have a future,” said Mykola, motioning to the boys. Cupping Hleb’s fingers in hers, Lyudmila said simply: “We now understand that true happiness fits into the palm of your hand.”

The post Transformative Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Offers Hope to Ukrainian Patients appeared first on Direct Relief.

“So many feel like there are mental health services provided that will fit an issue or provide a solution, but it’s just touching it,” said O’Dell, who works at the free clinic. “We’re just starting to provide a service that has not been there for clients who have just been neglected for a long time.”

The free clinic began offering counseling and therapy sessions to low-income and unhoused people at the start of the year, with funding from the Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care program, a partnership with Teva Pharmaceuticals, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, and Direct Relief. Eleven free and charitable clinics/pharmacies across Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas received support to expand mental health programming to patients.

In addition to expanded services for patients, St. Michael’s Medical Clinic also expanded counseling services after a partner non-profit opened a homeless shelter in February. The area has limited options for therapeutic support, and the places that are available have waitlists, said Nannette Mudiam, the clinic’s executive director. According to Mudiam, about 12% of the area’s population is uninsured.

Putting patients on a months-long waiting list for therapy is “really not a workable solution for any person struggling with mental illness,” she said.

The clinic, which has existed for nearly 50 years, has built a trusting relationship with the community. O’Dell said that news about the counseling services spread quickly as she sees patients at the clinic and the shelter. They hope to hire another counselor who is bilingual to support the cultural diversity of the area.

A Helping Hand in Dallas

Providing culturally competent care is making a difference in Dallas, too. Accessing care is a challenge in the state, with significant barriers including high numbers of people without insurance and fewer treatment options than other states.

To address the need, Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, a nonprofit in Dallas, Texas, has built a wraparound service program to support the predominantly Latino area of West Dallas over the last 80 years. Brother Bill’s provides food to nearly 200 individuals daily and operates a primary care clinic, among several other community-based resource programs. Three counselors offer bilingual counseling services to increase patient access to care.

Ivan Esquivel, clinic director, said providing culturally competent care also means breaking cultural barriers that prevent patients from seeking care, including generational cycles, taboo, and denial.

“Mental health among the Hispanic community is a very taboo thing, especially among men,” he said. “You grow up learning that if you’re a man, you don’t cry. You’re machismo, a lot of pride, and so being vulnerable and sharing how you feel mentally can be viewed in our community as a sign of weakness.”

Esquivel said that Brother Bill’s is also working to restore dignity to their neighbors and patients enduring mental and emotional stress from hardship, including food insecurity.

The nonprofit sees 150 patients a month, and there’s a waiting list for mental health care. They created a virtual space to help the community overcome cultural stigmas around mental health. Counselors use Facebook Live to discuss taboo topics and answer questions from the community in real-time to make people more comfortable and understand that they have community support.

“Too many times in life, when you have to use these services, you have to jump through so many hoops of application qualifications, and then once you get in the program, you’re treated like you’re taking a handout,” said Esquivel. “You’re almost feeling like less than, and so everything we do here, all the way from calling them neighbor to being seen as a patient, or getting food, is providing dignity to every single aspect.”

Beyond ‘Bootstraps’

Providing care in a way that makes people feel seen, heard, and cared for is a priority in Bryan, Texas, too.

Sherri Clement, a social worker at Health For All, said that the rural areas of Texas have a high demand for mental health services and not enough counselors to cover the need. Additionally, the area’s culture doesn’t have broad support for mental health, which discourages patients from seeking care.

“We tend to have an approach of ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ mentality,” Clement said. “Unfortunately, seeking mental health care services is seen as a negative thing, that it’s some sort of shortfall on a person…We know that’s not the case.”

The free clinic serves a diverse area, by culture, race, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Clinic leadership said they strive to create a welcoming and respectful environment for everyone, especially for those who are marginalized and underserved.

Clement said it’s an unnecessary barrier to care in an area that doesn’t have enough options for health care. She said that cost is the biggest barrier for patients who do want to seek care. According to Census data, nearly 23 percent of the city’s population lives below the poverty line, which is 1.5 times higher than the poverty rate for the state.

The health clinic works with patients who have experienced panic attacks and may experience anxiety and depression. They offer EMDR, one-on-one counseling, and behavioral health management services.

Clement said that patients are referred when they can no longer manage on their own, even with medication assistance. Some, she said, just want to know some coping mechanisms that they can implement into their daily life.

“There are a lot of people who are experiencing this,” she said. “The solution is a light at the end of the tunnel, so it gives them hope.”

The post Through Expanded Mental Health Services, Free Clinics Provide “a Light at the End of the Tunnel” appeared first on Direct Relief.

From 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., the Community Healthcare Network, or CHN, mobile clinic offers primary care, STI testing, HIV prevention, vaccinations, and gender-affirming services to patients, including those who identify as immigrants, asylum seekers, sex workers, and transgender patients—many of whom have no stable housing or access to traditional healthcare.

Staffed by a team of 45 and led by Dr. Freddy Molano, vice president of Infectious Diseases and LGBTQ Programs and Services, a 35-year vet at CHN, the goal is to deliver as much care as possible to the city’s most vulnerable, wherever they are and for whatever they need.

CHN operates 14 clinics across the city, but its mobile medical unit is central to the organization’s mission. The mobile unit can be found near subway stations, street corners, dance clubs, and even laundromats in Queens and beyond, particularly in places where healthcare is often out of reach.

Harvey Diaz, Director of ID/LGBTQ Programs at CHN, noted that many patients actively choose the mobile clinic over a brick-and-mortar facility due to the personalized care and accessibility it offers.

This strategy was critical to CHN’s ability to continue offering care during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the mobile unit operated program operated weekly, even as the city shut down and CHN lost three staff members and more than 50 patients.

Now, the needs have shifted but remain urgent. Molano estimates that 90% of CHN’s mobile unit patients are asylum seekers or recent immigrants. Many come with histories of trauma, including abuse, exploitation, and physical hardship from long journeys through Central America and the U.S. southern border.

Molano visited El Paso recently to better understand what his patients had endured. He described hundreds of people in one room, sleeping under metallic blankets at night, baking in heat during the day.

Once in New York, many of those same people were placed in shelters for 90 days, with no guaranteed access to healthcare. CHN’s mobile units fill the gap, often being the first point of contact for people who have gone months without seeing a doctor.

Molano tries to maximize the impact of the mobile unit, parking in spots that might not be obvious locations, like laundromats.

“Everyone needs to do laundry,” Molano said, describing one method of outreach. “They stay there so that no one takes their clothes. It’s a captive audience,” he said with a smile.

Molano’s team has also taken to making house calls, delivering care as well as other aid, such as food, which has become unaffordable for many in the Queens neighborhoods in which he makes his rounds. His staff also organized a community dinner during the holidays to make patients “feel like they belong somewhere,” he said.

Many of the mobile unit staff have similar lived experiences as the patients they treat, which builds trust.

“We’re not here to criticize or judge,” Molano said. “If you go little by little getting their confidence, not criticizing them for getting an STI, for example, and connecting them to care, that raises the confidence level for people to then seek care,” he said.

For many of CHN’s transgender patients, most of whom are in their 30s and 40s and newly arrived, gender-affirming care is a matter of survival. With help from a local foundation, CHN provides hormone therapy at low cost. The stakes are high. Molano said one patient died recently after receiving a deadly cocktail of counterfeit estrogen hormones.  

Facing an ongoing and shifting array of obstacles, from political to financial, Molano remains driven by his own past and a sense of justice. An immigrant and early HIV educator, he remembers being told women couldn’t get AIDS. “I knew that wasn’t true. The first patient I tested was a woman, and she was positive.” That courage of conviction, now applied more broadly to vulnerable communities, motivates his work today.

“I’ve been to too many funerals,” he said. “When I look at my team, when I see them cooking meals for patients or doing home visits, I know we’re doing the right thing… the most important thing is to continue to move forward. I owe it to my patients, and I believe it’s my obligation to fight for my community.”

For Molano, the mobile unit represents more than just a healthcare access point. He sees it as a front door to the city’s care system, and a show of dignity in action.

“We have an obligation to meet people with kindness,” he said.

CHN is a winner of this year’s Pfizer-supported Innovation Awards in Community Health: Addressing Infectious Disease in Underserved Communities.

The post NYC Mobile Clinic Meets Patients Where They Are appeared first on Direct Relief.

In the heart of Detroit, a city marked by resilience and struggle, a team of dedicated volunteers takes to the streets, providing critical medical care to those who need it most. The work is relentless, but for the people at Street Outreach Teams, every interaction is an opportunity to change a life.

Led by Stanley Stinson, a nurse whose own past was shaped by homelessness, this initiative — supported by The Pfizer Foundation and Direct Relief — is bridging the gap between essential health care services and the people who are often left behind. Street Outreach Teams’ work understands that every individual without a stable home has a story. They are people who deserve care, dignity, and the chance for a better future.

The Birth of Street Outreach Teams

For Stinson, this mission is deeply personal. “I grew up homeless,” he said. “So that directly affected me wanting to help other people.”

​His firsthand experience with life on the streets gave him unique insight into the struggles of accessing medical care. He saw how small barriers, such as missing a clinic appointment due to a lack of transportation, could lead to serious, even life-threatening consequences.

When he noticed that many people were unable to make it to health care facilities, he decided to take care to them. And, what started as a simple effort — distributing food and basic necessities like blankets — quickly evolved into a full-scale medical outreach program.

Today, the program treats infections, provides essential wound care, administers vaccines, and more, ensuring that people experiencing homelessness can receive help that might otherwise be out of reach.

Power of Volunteers

​Unlike traditional health care organizations, Street Outreach Teams operates with an all-volunteer staff, a model that fosters deep commitment and personal connection.

“Volunteers come out because they want to,” Stinson said. “They’re not doing it for a paycheck. They’re driven by passion and compassion, and it just attracts a different type of person.”

This approach helps enhance both the quality and consistency of care. Many of the people that the team serves have been let down by the system before. They’ve encountered health care providers who dismissed them, social services that failed them, and shelters that didn’t feel safe.

​But, seeing familiar faces week after week builds trust, an essential foundation for effective outreach, explained Stinson.

​“Our people are committed,” he said. “That helps the people that we’re serving because they’re not going to see a different face every time, and they don’t have to make a new relationship.”

Building Trust, One Visit at a Time

One of the biggest barriers to care is trust. Many experiencing homelessness have been dismissed or mistreated by health care systems, reinforcing a cycle of neglect.

Betsy, a pediatric nurse and long-time Street Outreach volunteer, echoes this sentiment.

“It doesn’t really take very much to make a big difference in people’s lives,” she said. “I think the consistency in being able to show up for people with tangible items, and especially for groups of people who are often overlooked,”

From the Streets to Stability

While medical care is their primary focus, Street Outreach Teams also help people navigate the complicated system of social services.

“We had one guy who didn’t have an ID, a birth certificate, anything,” Stinson said. Street Outreach brought in a housing specialist to the abandoned house, and she ordered his birth certificate on the spot.

“It arrived at her office because he had nowhere to send it,” said Stinson, adding that it allowed the unhoused man to apply for benefits and eventually find housing.

Betsy, who works alongside Stanley, recounts another remarkable case.

“We got a call that someone had been shot. We weren’t far, so we responded,” she said. The woman had a gunshot wound to the chest, but was stable.

Thanks to a resident physician on their team, they transported her to the hospital, where the trauma team was ready.

She survived.

Later, the woman got housed, got clean, and had a baby. Today, she’s doing great.

A Community Effort

The Pfizer Foundation and Direct Relief play a critical role in supporting this work.

“We couldn’t do what we do without them,” Stinson said. “The Pfizer Foundation helped us secure our vehicle — honestly, a dream come true.”

Direct Relief supplies many of the team’s medications, wound care supplies, and over-the-counter treatments.

“Trust is key in order to reach people facing the greatest barriers to care. Street Outreach Teams, thanks to their deep-rooted connections, have earned that trust, and Direct Relief is privileged to support their work,” said Katie Lewis, Direct Relief’s U.S. Regional Director of Programs.

“It’s amazing because we could never afford to provide vitamins or PPE (personal protective equipment) at the scale that we do without their help,” Stinson said.

Why It Matters

Despite the challenges, Stinson remains committed.

“Everybody has value,” he said. “It’s easy to turn your back on homelessness when it’s not affecting you. All these people are real people.”

Street Outreach Teams isn’t just about treating wounds or handing out food. It’s about restoring dignity, building trust and creating pathways toward stability. Each interaction, no matter how small, has the potential to change a life.

A Call to Action

As Detroit continues to evolve, addressing homelessness is key. Programs like Street Outreach prove that innovative, community-driven solutions can make a real difference. But, lasting change requires collective effort, such as volunteers, donors, policymakers and everyday citizens working together to ensure that no one is left behind.

By meeting people where they are, the team in Detroit is proving that even small acts of care can ripple outward, creating a stronger, more compassionate city — one person at a time.

The post Street Outreach Brings Health Care to Detroit’s Unhoused appeared first on Direct Relief.

Medications and supplies shipped this week included diabetes management medications, prenatal vitamins, rare disease therapies, and more.

Pfizer Foundation Video Features Delta Health Center

Direct Relief partnered with the Pfizer Foundation and Delta Health Center on a USA Today feature video and story that showcases the collaborative work in building healthier communities in the Mississippi Delta region.

Delta Health Center, located in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, is the first rural community health center in the United States. The center, established in 1965, aimed to improve the health of people who were impacted by severe poverty, environmental conditions, and lack of economic resources.

The health center to continues to fill key gaps in the community today, including for people who would have no other access to health care.

Read more here.

Direct Relief Featured at Academy Awards

Direct Relief was featured during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 97th Academy Awards, which supported Direct Relief’s Los Angeles wildfire relief response. The ceremony, which was telecast on Sunday, March 2, urged viewers, attendees, and industry partners to support multiple organizations providing aid to those impacted by the fires, including Direct Relief.

“This time of year, a lucky few get to publicly thank the Academy. Fewer still get to do it on behalf of millions. Direct Relief is honored to thank the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its support, which will help strengthen communities and aid wildfire-affected families,” said Dr. Byron Scott, CEO of Direct Relief.

Direct Relief continues to actively respond to the devastating fires by mobilizing critical medical aid, and providing financial assistance to community health centers serving displaced families and those in need of urgent medical care.

Field Medic Packs Equip First Responders in El Salvador

Field medic packs, filled with emergency essentials for triage care, recently arrived in El Salvador, where they will equip first responders and enhance emergency preparedness.

Last month, in coordination with NGO FUSAL and the Salvadoran American Humanitarian Foundation, Direct Relief provided 37 packs to first responders from the Salvadoran Red Cross, the Salvadoran Volunteer Stretcher Bearer Corps, the Rescue Command, and the Salvadoran Green Cross.

Earlier this year, a series of earthquakes rattled the country, the strongest of which measured a 6.2-magnitude temblor, but minimal damage was reported. The packs will ensure first responders are ready during future emergency responses.

Since 2008, Direct Relief has provided more than $219 million in medical aid to El Salvador.

Operational Snapshot

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 340 shipments containing 1.2 million doses of medication during the past month to organizations, including the following:

Around the World

Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 6.3 million defined daily doses of medication totaling 41,560 lbs., to countries including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2025, Direct Relief has delivered 5,961 shipments to 1,475 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 65 countries. These shipments included 69.3 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $414.1 million wholesale, totaling 1 million lbs.

News

Amgen and Amgen Foundation Donation Dollars on the Ground with Direct Relief in Wake of Southern California Fires – Amgen.com

NAU’s American Indian Nursing Program Expands With Direct Relief Grant to Tackle Critical Shortages in Native Communities – Native News Online

Direct Relief Is Prepared for a Busier 2025 – Pacific Coast Business Times

Cataract Surgery Brings Joy to Three Sisters – The Fiji Times

CIM Employees Convert Los Angeles-Area Soundstage into Fire-Victim Aid Station – CoStar

NAU’s American Indian Nursing Program Expands With Direct Relief Grant to Tackle Critical Shortages in Native Communities – Red Lake Nation News

The post Medical Aid Departs for 44 U.S. States and Territories, Plus Supporting Health in Mississippi’s Delta Region appeared first on Direct Relief.

“Every day uninsured patients face barriers to accessing basic mental health services they need,” said Carol Richardson, Sustainability and Health Equity Lead, Teva U.S. “This latest round of grant funding will enable clinics in more states to expand existing or develop innovative new behavioral health programs that meet the needs of their local patient populations”.

Over the first two years, Community Routes grantees demonstrated a significant impact across their communities reaching more than 63,000 beneficiaries. Clinics conducted 24,617 patient screenings for depression, anxiety, and adverse childhood experiences, helping identify and address previously unmet mental health needs. The program extended beyond direct patient care, with grantees training more than 2,800 community members, staff, and volunteers in mental health promotion and well-being. Additionally, clinics organized 131 community events to expand access to mental health education and services, strengthening their role as trusted healthcare resources.

Building on these achievements, this funding cycle prioritizes the creation and expansion of innovative care delivery models that integrate behavioral health services into existing clinical operations, with particular emphasis on evidence-based screening tools and treatment protocols for depression and anxiety.

“Mental health is an essential component of overall well-being, yet too many individuals in underserved communities struggle to access the care they need,” shared Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC President & CEO. “This program empowers clinics to bridge this gap by expanding behavioral health services and critical mental health support. By investing in these clinics, we are investing in the health and resilience of entire communities.”

The 2025 grant recipients include:

Alabama:

• Medical Outreach Ministries (Montgomery) – Leveraging academic partnerships through the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s psychiatry residency program to integrate mental health services into primary care.

• Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy (Mobile) – Implementing screening tools for depression and within pharmacy services and connecting patients to necessary resources.

• St. Michael’s Medical Clinic (Anniston) – Integrating mental health services with primary care and social support services to address the complex needs of uninsured and homeless populations.

Mississippi:

• Bethel Free Clinic, Inc. (Biloxi) – Enhancing mental health access for uninsured residents by integrating depression and anxiety screenings into patient care, referring those in need for further evaluation.

Texas:

• Brother Bill’s Helping Hand (Dallas) – Improving mental health access for predominantly Latino communities through integrated care, community-based outreach, and culturally competent services.

• Heal the City Free Clinic (Amarillo) – Implementing community-based stigma reduction programs to increase understanding of mental health conditions and encourage individuals to seek support.

• Health for All (Bryan) – Expanding trauma-informed mental health services access for underserved populations and delivering culturally sensitive services tailored to their diverse community’s needs.

• Ibn Sina Foundation (Houston) – Emphasizing equitable access by addressing the distinct mental health needs of multiple underserved populations.
  
• Mercy Clinic of Fort Worth – Integrating behavioral health services into routine care and establishing patient navigation systems for uninsured Spanish-speaking patients.

• The Agape Clinic (Dallas) – Developing comprehensive mental health support systems, including therapy, case management, and peer support, for the underserved patient population.

• Woven Health Clinic (Farmers Branch) – Integrating mental health services into primary care by offering screenings for depression and anxiety, connection to individual counseling, and treatment plans.

Selected programs emphasize sustainable integration of mental health services through:

• Implementation of standardized screening protocols
• Supporting the clinical workforce through partnerships
• Integration of behavioral health into primary care
• Extending cultural competency across the full continuum of patient care
• Social service referral networks

“Expanding mental health services in resource-limited settings has been a key focus of prior Community Routes funding, and this latest round will allow providers to reach even more people with critical services,” said Katie Lewis, Regional Director of U.S. Programs for Direct Relief. “These funds will allow clinics to build on successful approaches while exploring new strategies that fit the unique needs of the people and communities they serve.”

For a report on lessons learned from our Community Routes: Access to Mental Healthcare grantees, click here.

Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care—a partnership between Teva, Direct Relief, and the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC)— is a unique access program that is helping to advance health equity and quality care for underserved populations across the U.S.

Teva is providing commonly used medicines that treat depression and anxiety to 400+ clinics in 10 states, as well as $4 million in grant funding to support innovative behavioral health services through local free and charitable clinics, tailored to meet the needs of their communities. To read more, click here.

The post 2025 Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care Grants Awarded to Clinics in Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas, Funded by Teva Pharmaceuticals  appeared first on Direct Relief.

Pharmacists at CrossOver Healthcare Ministry were excited to participate in Direct Relief’s long-standing ReplenishRx program when a staffer asked them an unexpected question: “Do you have enough refrigerator space for all your patients?”

The answer: It’s complicated. CrossOver, a charitable pharmacy in Richmond, Virginia, provides its services — medical and dental visits, labs, social work, and Medicaid enrollment assistance, along with prescription medications — entirely through volunteer time and donations. Although they’ve been a Direct Relief partner for more than a decade, their facilities were too small for a long time to house all the medications, let alone the cold-chain medicines like insulin, that their patients needed.

Now, they were in a larger facility, but medical refrigeration was an ongoing challenge. Getting enough insulin for patients was, as CrossOver CEO Julie Bilodeau termed it, “chaos.” Insulin supplies were unpredictable and took up to 12 weeks to come in. “We were finding we had to switch people from one insulin to the other,” she explained.

For CrossOver’s pharmaceutical staff, this wasn’t ideal. The pharmacy offers medications to low-income, uninsured patients who have “a much higher incidence of chronic disease,” Bilodeau explained. “Helping patients manage diabetes is really critical for us.”

Joining the ReplenishRx program, which offers U.S. healthcare partners access to a wide range of prescription medications, including commonly requested medications for chronic diseases like diabetes, was a game-changer for them. But with about 1,000 patients with diabetes registered at the pharmacy, storing enough refrigerated insulin to meet each person’s need — consistently — was a challenge.

Direct Relief offered an additional, supportive donation: two pharmaceutical-grade refrigerators from healthcare company Sanofi, which collaborates with the organization. In total, Direct Relief was distributing 32 medical refrigerators, which maintain and monitor highly consistent temperatures to safeguard cold-chain medications and vaccines, to replenishment partners across the U.S.

“The refrigerators allowed us to join the program,” Bilodeau said. “Without [the donation], we would have had to delay and raise significant funds” to be able to store enough insulin to meet patient needs.

Amiyah Newsome, medications program manager at CrossOver, said the refrigerators have made it possible to offer patients who need insulin 90-day prescriptions rather than only being able to provide 30 days at a time — making it more likely patients will have access to and reliably take their medication. They’ve also made it possible for CrossOver to add about 25 new medications to its formulary — the list of prescription medicines available to patients.

Newsome recalled a recent patient with no insurance who was overdue to see a provider — and whose A1C levels, a measure of blood sugar used in diagnosing diabetes, were “not in a safe range.” The insulin he needed was available in CrossOver’s new medical refrigerators, and “he was able to get seen by the provider and get his prescription filled all in one day,” she said.

For Bilodeau, the access the ReplenishRx program provides — and the medical refrigerators that make participating possible — are key to the pharmacy’s mission: “Our mission really is to provide access to health care to people who, without CrossOver, would not be able to access care,” she explained.

But fulfilling that mission in the face of growing demand isn’t always easy. “We’re at capacity. We’re turning people away,” Bilodeau explained. “There’s a tremendous amount of need,” especially, she said, in Richmond, where many people who can’t afford to live in Washington, D.C., settle in the hope of finding an affordable place to live.

CrossOver staff have seen patients from about 150 countries, and Bilodeau said current patients speak between 30 and 40 languages. “That’s kind of built into our DNA: All are welcome,” she explained.

While cold-chain storage isn’t always a widely publicized need, Bilodeau said many nonprofit healthcare providers can’t afford to store all the refrigerated medications their patients need. While many clinics and charitable pharmacies rely primarily on volunteers and donations — all of CrossOver’s pharmacists are volunteers, for example, and the pharmacy relies on external medication donations to stock its shelves — meeting logistical needs often poses a unique challenge.

“A number of clinics are having trouble finding refrigerators like this,” Bilodeau said.

During the past two years, Direct Relief has provided CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, a partner since 2011, with more than $738,000 in medication support, including insulin and other chronic disease medications.

The post Two Medical Refrigerators Bolster Health Care for Uninsured Patients at a Virginia Charitable Pharmacy appeared first on Direct Relief.

With a commitment of $4.3 million in funding support from Eli Lilly and Company, Direct Relief will purchase and install approximately 600 medical-grade refrigerators or other cold storage systems to hundreds of healthcare facilities in resource-limited settings in LMICs throughout Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and Asia.

Building on the success of the project’s first phase, where 151 refrigerators were installed by Direct Relief across 82 clinics in 18 countries with support from Lilly, this expansion will help address the significant need for additional storage capacity in resource-limited settings. This ensures that temperature-sensitive medicines including donated medicines, can reach patients in resource-limited settings where access to refrigeration remains a critical barrier.

The Importance of Cold Chain in Healthcare

Cold chain—transporting and storing medicines at specific temperatures—is essential for preserving the effectiveness of many treatments, including biologics and other temperature-sensitive medicines. Insulin, for instance, an essential medicine for people living with diabetes, requires refrigeration at a constant 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. The World Health Organization’s Global Diabetes Compact has called on improvements, including expanding cold storage, to ensure medicines are available to those who need them most.

“Lilly’s commitment to health equity goes beyond our own medicines. We use our resources and expertise in key disease areas to drive sustainable solutions to some of the world’s toughest health challenges,” said Cynthia Cardona, Lilly’s Vice President of Social Impact. “Lilly is proud to continue supporting Direct Relief’s cold-chain efforts in LMICs, following the successful completion of the first phase. Through Direct Relief’s expertise and Lilly’s support, we aim to contribute to expanding access to essential medicines in resource-limited settings in LMICs.”

Lilly’s support for Direct Relief’s cold chain initiative is part of the Lilly 30×30 initiative, which aims to improve access to quality healthcare for 30 million people living in resource-limited settings annually by 2030. This effort builds on Lilly’s long history of advancing equitable access to diabetes care and medicines.

“Direct Relief is privileged to receive support from Lilly yet again, expanding cold storage to even more health providers, giving them the opportunity to safely store essential medications,” said Kelsey Grodzovsky, Director of Programs for Direct Relief. “Building refrigeration capacity is key to increasing medication access in low- and middle-income countries around the world, and this infrastructure will allow more patients to receive critical therapies.”

Through this program, Lilly and Direct Relief are reaffirming their shared commitment to expanding access to temperature-sensitive medicines, ensuring that patients in low- and middle-income countries can receive the care they need to live healthy lives.

The post Building on First Year Success, Direct Relief, Lilly Expand Cold Chain Storage Effort appeared first on Direct Relief.

This latest round of funding and support—totaling more than $8 million—is made possible through the generous support of the AbbVie Foundation, Eli Lilly and Company, and MacKenzie Scott. Since its launch in 2021, the Fund has provided more than $59 million to 182 organizations addressing the root causes of health inequities in their communities.

“The organizations receiving support from the Fund for Health Equity are on the frontlines of addressing the systemic barriers that impact health outcomes,” said Dr. Byron Scott, Direct Relief’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity. “We are proud to continue supporting their work and grateful for their tireless efforts to ensure more equitable access to care.”

The AbbVie Foundation committed $10 million over five years to the Fund for Health Equity in 2020.  Since then, the AbbVie Foundation distributed grants to thirty organizations, and this year, the Foundation is awarding $1.73 million in grants to 10 additional organizations through the Fund.

“The AbbVie Foundation empowers our partners to drive meaningful change in their communities so that everyone can live their healthiest life,” said Claudia Carravetta, President, AbbVie Foundation, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Global Philanthropy, AbbVie. “We are grateful for our longstanding partnership with Direct Relief and honored to support the 2025 Fund for Health Equity grant recipients whose work is critical in addressing health disparities in communities across the United States.”

Lilly also supported the Fund with a $5 million commitment in early 2021, as part of the Lilly 30×30 effort which aims to improve access to quality health care for 30 million people living in resource-limited settings annually by 2030.

With the support from Lilly’s commitment, Direct Relief has been able to distribute a portion of its Health Equity Fund to 12 awardees across the U.S. since 2021 and an additional four new awardees in 2025.

“Lilly is proud to contribute to Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity in support of Direct Relief’s charitable work to eliminate health disparities and improve access to quality healthcare in resource-limited communities across the United States. We are encouraged by the impact of Lilly’s contributions to the Fund and look forward to the continued impact that will be made by the community-based organizations supported by the Fund,” said Cynthia Cardona, Lilly’s Vice President of Social Impact.

The Fund for Health Equity continues to grow, supporting a broad range of community-based organizations addressing issues such as chronic disease management, maternal and child health, mental health services, and culturally competent care.

The awardees were selected by the Fund for Health Equity’s Advisory Council, which includes:

• Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th U.S. Surgeon General and Founder of Bayou Clinic, Inc. (Co-Chair)

• Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Direct Relief CEO (Co-Chair)

• Martha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President and CEO of the National Black Nurses Association

• Jane Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health

• Gail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Since its inception, the Fund for Health Equity has provided vital resources to organizations working to expand healthcare access, strengthen community health programs, and reduce disparities in care. The latest group of recipients joins a growing network of changemakers committed to building a more just and equitable healthcare system for all.

Full list of 2025 awardees:

• Alaska Native Birthworkers Community, Anchorage, AK
• Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, AK
• Alternative Structures International, Waianae, HI
• Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Inc., Hackensack, NJ
• Brownsville Community Health Center, Brownsville, TX
• Center for Black Women’s Wellness, Atlanta, GA
• Center for Indigenous Midwifery, Olympia, WA
• Centro San Vicente, El Paso, TX
• Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition, Chicago, IL
• Commonsense Childbirth, Winter Garden, FL
• Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment Inc, Gallup, NM
• Consuelo Foundation, Honolulu, HI
• Cornell Scott Hill Health Corporation, New Haven, CT
• CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, Richmond, VA
• Darkness to Light, Mount Pleasant, SC
• Downtown Jimmie Hale Mission, Birmingham, AL
• Hispanic Community Services, Inc. (El Centro Hispano en Arkansas), Jonesboro, AR
• Friends of Refugees, Clarkston, GA
• Good Neighbor Health Clinic, Inc., White River Junction, VT
• Growing Gardens, Portland, OR
• Health Brigade, Richmond, VA
• Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
• El Centro Hispano, Inc, Durham, NC
• Illinois Unidos, Chicago, IL
• Indigenous Peoples Task Force, Minneapolis, MN
• Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Honolulu, HI
• La Familia Counseling Center, Inc., Sacramento, CA
• Latin American Youth Center Inc, Washington, D.C.
• Mamas Kitchen, San Diego, CA
• Miami Beach Community Health Center, Inc., Miami, FL
• Moab Free Clinic, Moab, UT
• Mobile Health Clinics Association, St. Louis, MO
• NC MedAssist, Charlotte, NC
• New Horizon Community Care dba New Horizon Youth Homes Inc, Chandler, AZ
• Northern Arizona University FDN Inc on behalf of the School of Nursing, Flagstaff, AZ
• OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc., Omaha, NE
• Open Source Wellness, El Cerrito, CA
• Opportunity Center for the Homeless, El Paso, TX
• Oregon Health and Science University Foundation, Portland, OR
• Puentes de Salud, Philadelphia, PA
• Seattle Indian Health Board, Seattle, WA
• Shepherd’s Hope, Winter Garden, FL
• SisterLove, Inc., Atlanta, GA
• Snake River Community Clinic, Lewiston, ID
• Tepeyac Community Health Center, Denver, CO
• Ubi Caritas Health Ministries, Beaumont, TX
• West Virginia Health Right, Inc., Charleston, WV
• YES Housing, Inc., Albuquerque, NM
• Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA San Antonio), San Antonio, TX
• Youth Development, Inc. (YDI), Albuquerque, NM

The post Direct Relief Announces Latest Round of Fund for Health Equity Grant Recipients appeared first on Direct Relief.

The community of El Paso, Texas, is one such place, where people enter the United States from Mexico, seeking asylum and opportunity. It’s also a place where human need is high, with food, shelter, and health services in demand among those in the community and recent arrivals.

Stepping into that gap is the Health Outreach Prevention and Education, or HOPE+, a collaborative program, run by The University of Texas, El Paso, College of Health Sciences, Department of Social Work and College of Nursing. The program includes 85 organizations that provide a variety of services, including healthcare, food, housing referrals for people who are unhoused, access to public health department programs, community health workers support for navigating services, and more. The organization also hosts health fairs to connect vulnerable populations to vital care while addressing health disparities in El Paso County.

In 2024, the program reached over 1,600 people, offering on-site services and referrals to safety-net services that can improve their health. The program also involves university students training in health fields so they can gain experience with patients.

“We’re adding a dimension of humility and exposure so that the next generation of professionals are better equipped to refer to the individual who is marginalized as an individual who is worthy of dignity and respect,” said Moya.

A $200,000 grant from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, made possible with support from the AbbVie Foundation, allowed the University of Texas at El Paso School of Social Work to expand the HOPE health fairs to unsheltered and uninsured people across El Paso and beyond.

Since 2021, Direct Relief, through its Fund for Health Equity, has granted more than $50 million to 163 organizations across the U.S.

This video was directed, produced, and edited by Oliver Riley-Smith Cinematography.

The post Health and Hope at the U.S.-Mexico Border appeared first on Direct Relief.

“In the United States, while 93% of Teva’s inhaler medicines are generic products with access at lower prices – particularly for insured patients – there still remain uninsured patients who cannot access affordable generic inhalers,” said Chris Fox, Executive Vice President, U.S. Commercial at Teva. “The aim of this program is to help address an unmet need in underserved communities nationwide, enhancing patient access to safe and affordable medicines delivered via inhalers, including both maintenance and rescue inhalers.”

Teva will make two inhaler products available through this program: generic versions of the AirDuo®RespiClick® (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol xinafoate maintenance inhaler) and ProAir® HFA (albuterol sulfate rescue inhaler). Teva will donate the inhalers to Direct Relief for distribution by request to free & charitable clinics, to then be dispensed to uninsured patients served by these clinics.

“Direct Relief is deeply grateful to Teva for this critical donation which will connect patients with respiratory treatments they otherwise would not have access to,” said Katie Lewis, Regional Director, U.S. Programs for Direct Relief. “Free and charitable clinics offer quality care for underserved communities, and this donation will allow them to reach even more patients with these medications.”

The program will continue for a minimum of three years to ensure reliable and continuous supply to these patients. In addition to donating the inhalers, Teva will make a cash donation to Direct Relief to cover the costs of administering this program.

Direct Relief, Teva’s long-time partner on access to medicines programs in the U.S. and around the world, is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides medical resources to resource-poor communities. It operates the largest charitable medicine program in the United States. Through its network, Direct Relief supports the dispensing of high-quality, no-cost medicines to low-income, uninsured patients at the point of care, thereby facilitating patient access to necessary medicines.

The post Teva Announces New Patient Access Program with Direct Relief to Provide Access to Inhalers for Uninsured Patients appeared first on Direct Relief.

Direct Relief’s Response to California Wildfires

Direct Relief is headquartered approximately 45 miles north of the fire, and is deploying staff and resources to assist residents, emergency responders, and firefighters battling the blaze. Direct Relief is in the process of delivering 3M-donated N95 respirators to help people at risk from wildfire smoke, essential hygeine items for evacuees in shelters, and emergency medical supplies to support first responders and healthcare professionals in the affected area.

Direct Relief is in frequent contact with state and local organizations to gauge needs and offer support, including to the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Primary Care Association, and California Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Offers have also been made to local safety clinics and partners to provide assistance as needs arise, and the organization stands ready to make more masks available to residents should air quality deteriorate further.

Support for Healthcare Facilities in Emergencies

As part of Direct Relief’s commitment to enhancing resilience in the face of natural disasters, the organization’s Power for Health initiative has equipped healthcare facilities across California with solar and battery storage systems. This initiative ensures that health centers and free clinics can continue operating during power outages, allowing them to provide uninterrupted care to vulnerable populations during wildfire events and other emergencies. Direct Relief’s recent projects include installations at community health centers in Santa Maria and Simi Valley, strengthening critical healthcare infrastructure when it is most needed.

Wildfire Response Expertise

Direct Relief has a long history of responding to wildfires in California, from the devastating Camp Fire to recent fires across the state. Through partnerships with local agencies and healthcare facilities, the organization has provided personal protective equipment, medical supplies, and financial support to aid communities impacted by wildfires. Direct Relief remains ready to respond to the ongoing Mountain Fire and to continue supporting impacted communities.

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The award winners were revealed during the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Solves Conference on October 29, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The Annual Citizens Awards recognize the most innovative and impactful initiatives that leverage a company’s talent, resources, and expertise to improve communities.

The company was honored for the “Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care” program, which helps uninsured patients access healthcare for anxiety and depression, and is a partnership between Direct Relief, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

“Access to holistic, culturally-appropriate mental health care is critically important, often to a lifesaving extent,” said Katie Lewis, Director of U.S. Programs for Direct Relief. “Direct Relief is privileged to work with Teva and NAFC to increase that access to care, and this program is a wonderful example of partnerships that make a positive impact on people’s lives. This recognition shines a bright light on the essential work free and charitable clinics do every day in service of their patients.”

The program provides access to a portfolio of donated medicines for anxiety and depression, valued at over $17 million; Teva has committed $2 million of grant funding over two years to free and charitable clinics that care for uninsured patients.

The program was launched in June 2022, following which the pilot states of Florida, New Jersey, and California received product donations and subsequently grant funding to selected clinics.

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In Wayne County, Michigan, hard-to-reach populations like the unhoused and immigrant families have concerns greater than the future of their own health. Finding a safe space to sleep at night, access to food, and ensuring loved ones are safe in their home countries take priority over scheduled doctor appointments for tests that cost money.

Two organizations are focused on meeting those populations with trust.

Street Outreach Teams, a free and charitable mobile clinic, serves the “rough unhoused,” or those who sleep on the street and don’t access social services. Their patients don’t have reliable transportation, phones for calls, or personal identification.

Another Michigan-based organization, C-ASSIST, is a free and charitable clinic in Garden City, Michigan, which serves a targeted population of immigrants from the Middle East, who often encounter language barriers and experience a lack of trust in institutions.

Both organizations were among 19 groups chosen for the 2023 Innovation Awards in Community Health, funded by the Pfizer Foundation with support from Direct Relief. That grant funding supports innovative approaches to infectious disease treatment, with a focus on vaccine education and delivery.

“We don’t get out of the car empty-handed”

While vaccines for common communicable and infectious diseases are free and available, volunteers and community medical professionals at the free clinics say they must prioritize building trust through basic needs and consistency with patients first.

“If they’re hungry and thirsty and don’t have a safe place to stay, they really don’t care about a flu vaccine, that’s the least of their concerns,” said Stanley Stinson of Street Outreach Teams. “So if we can meet their basic needs, then we can kind of move them up that scale to where they might think about their health a little bit more.”

Stinson is the president and a volunteer registered nurse of the free mobile clinic. Every Tuesday, a team of volunteers meets patients where they are to provide free medical care.

Some of their patients are sex workers and those who have been trafficked. Stinson said there are high rates of influenza, Covid-19, and sexually transmitted infections like syphilis and HIV. While the organization has the capacity to test and begin initial treatments for these diseases, Stinson said the group’s target population is “vaccine hesitant.” To build a rapport, Street Outreach Teams works with a consistent volunteer base, asks questions, and offers basic necessities.

“When we go out there, we don’t get out of the car empty-handed,” he said. “We go out with food, we have harm reduction supplies, we have condoms for sex workers, and we get out and we have things that benefit them, that they want, that they may or may not have access to otherwise.”

Betsy Mott, also a volunteer registered nurse with Street Outreach Teams, said by asking questions they learn what patients are comfortable with and how to better offer information. Mott said that it can be difficult to track vaccine schedules with their patients, but if a person chooses to participate, she is glad to be able to provide a preventative safety measure.

“I think that’s why the preventative thing, in terms of vaccines, is so great,” she said. “Because you can’t always guarantee what someone’s going to do once we leave them, and having something that can provide protection against anything is wonderful, because we know that there’s only so much that we can do.”

Mott said that many of the diseases are transferred through open wounds that are difficult for patients to keep clean and dressed due to their lifestyle. Mott said that blood-borne pathogens are easily spread. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, many patients were afraid, given they were more susceptible and had fewer options than most for testing, quarantine, and treatment. She said she does the best that she can to help patients in the moment she has with them.

 “I absolutely believe that everyone deserves access to regular, safe, and equitable care…” she said. “Oftentimes people with these kinds of backgrounds don’t get treated fairly within the healthcare system and there’s lots of reasons why people might not want to go to a traditional healthcare setting.”

Prioritizing Health and Prevention

Zeina Berry worked with patients during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, too. Berry, who is chief operating officer at C-ASSIST, said that their patients were vaccine-hesitant and thought Covid was being politicized. C-ASSIST had to ground their work in educational outreach to help patients understand vaccines were available to them and safe and effective. Since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, C-ASSIST has re-focused vaccination efforts on influenza, hepatitis, pneumonia, and human papillomavirus.

“The situation, for a lot of them, they’re coming from war zones where their preventative health concerns are the least of their concerns,” she said. “A lot of them are missing vaccinations and a lot of them don’t have trust in their government back home and they’re bringing that mistrust over here.”

During Covid-19, Berry said the clinic used costly, yet effective measures to reach the community. They ran television ads and printed all materials in multiple languages. They hired and worked with volunteers that were part of the community, and showed up to local businesses, grocery stores, and schools to talk to people.

Most patients had questions. They worried about the cost, if they’d have to take time off of work to receive care, and the potential side effects.

Berry said this is when linguistic and cultural competency wins the day.  

“I am a very strong believer, that if you want to build trust with the community, whether that’s a community of color, whether it’s a minority, you have to train somebody from within that they trust, that speaks their language, that looks like them, and that understands their culture,” she said.

The post For Hard-to-Reach Patients in Michigan, Trust is Key appeared first on Direct Relief.

“Their family cannot afford to buy their insulin, and very often we have witnessed them come to the hospital in a coma,” said Dr. Harold Previl, CEO of Hôpital Sacré Coeur, the largest private hospital in northern Haiti. “In a country where people are struggling for food, they are bearing a disease whose treatment [must be continued] for their entire lives.”

A child in Haiti diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 10 has a life expectancy of 13 more years, compared to 57 more years of life for a similar child in the United States, according to a study in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. Many die before even learning they have the disease; 35,000 young people around the world died at the onset of Type 1 diabetes in 2021 without being diagnosed, according to the T1D Index.

Insulin isn’t manufactured in Haiti, leaving Haitians who need it entirely dependent on imported medicine. (All people with Type 1 diabetes and an estimated 7.5% to 15.5% of those with Type 2 diabetes require insulin.) Years of severe political instability and civil disorder have stretched Haiti’s already-fragile medical supply chains to the point of snapping.

Violence Disrupts Medicine Imports and Distribution

Haiti’s primary international airport and seaport in the capital Port-au-Prince were shut down for nearly three months earlier this year by heavily armed gangs. The land border with neighboring Dominican Republic has been periodically closed, and with gangs controlling the capital’s streets, local distribution of medicine ranges between very dangerous and impossible.

“With air and sea ports closed amid mounting violence in Haiti, access to critically needed supplies came to a sudden halt – including medicines, food, and basic necessities,” said Genevieve Bitter, Senior Director of Program Operations at Direct Relief. “For months, the only source for medicine was local vendors within Haiti.”

Successfully delivering insulin and other cold-chain medicines is especially challenging. Cold-chain medicines must be kept within a specific temperature range from the moment of manufacturing until the time they are administered to the patient. If the temperature goes above the required range for long enough, the medicine is considered potentially unsafe for patients and must be destroyed.

Getting access to insulin and other medicine under these circumstances has required creativity and persistence. Hôpital Sacré Coeur has never completely run out of insulin. “We never let that happen,” Dr. Previl said. “We look everywhere, we have to knock at the doors of everyone, and if we have to purchase it, we purchase it.”

Testing New Delivery Channels

Direct Relief is testing new transportation channels, successfully delivering two shipments of insulin in recent months into northern Haiti, which has been less disrupted by violence. The deliveries have been made possible by working with the Haiti Health Network, or HHN, a collaborative group of healthcare providers and support organizations who meet regularly to discuss current needs, share knowledge, and coordinate resources.

In July, Direct Relief and HHN flew a test shipment of insulin, donated by Eli Lilly and Company, on a small plane from Miami into the northern Haiti airport of Cap-Haitien, where it was delivered to healthcare providers including Hôpital Sacré Coeur. An earlier test shipment of insulin made it through in May, days before heavily armed men set fire to Cap-Haitien’s customs office.

HHN’s support for the insulin deliveries was driven by what it heard in monthly meetings of its members. “For a number of meetings in a row we heard first-hand crisis stories from HHN members about children in diabetic comas, patients dying needlessly from the lack of available insulin, and the stress that searching for insulin was having on healthcare providers and families,” said Rachel Bernard, Haiti country director for the Dalton Foundation, which helped launch the Haiti Health Network and continues to support its activities. “We couldn’t listen to these stories over and over and not do something to help.”

Direct Relief is working on a third test delivery of cold-chain medicines and large pharmaceutical refrigeration units, with the hopes that it can restart regular shipments of insulin to Haiti with its global diabetes partner Life for a Child, said Kelsey Grodzovsky, Direct Relief’s Director of Global Programs. The shipment is intended for La Fondation Haïtienne de Diabète et de Maladies Cardiovasculaires, or FHADIMAC, whose clinics provide care to thousands of Haitians with diabetes.

The third delivery will be sent through the Port-au-Prince airport. Because it isn’t feasible to ship large volumes of aid into the northern airport in Cap-Haitien and transport it by road to Port-au-Prince in south-central Haiti, increasing the volume of medical aid to the country will depend on being able to reliably ship through the Port-au-Prince airport, Grodzovsky said.

Beyond Security: Long-Term Challenges in Getting Medical Aid to Haiti

While Haiti’s need for donated medical supplies is high – it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and little medicine is domestically manufactured – bureaucratic hurdles have long made it a very difficult country to get medicine into. The challenges predate the security breakdown of the past three years.

The process of getting medicine through customs can be difficult and unpredictable. Shipments have gotten stuck in customs for months. Licenses to import medicine expire every three months, and renewing those licenses can take six months.

“Many businesses reported difficult and slow customs clearance processes, resulting in long waits for imported products to become available,” said the U.S. State Department in a 2024 report. And customs clearance is only the first challenge. “The proliferation of gangs in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and persistent roadblocks put in place by the gangs along the main north and south access routes to the capital create major challenges for goods to freely circulate in the country.”

The post Amid Haiti Turmoil, Direct Relief and Partners Test New Pathways for Insulin Donations appeared first on Direct Relief.

Nutrition education begins as soon as a patient with diabetes begins working with pharmacy staff. Learning to manage blood sugar is essential, as are setting and working toward lifestyle and nutritional goals. Staff follow a detailed protocol of monitoring, follow-up, and assessment. Through interactive demonstrations in the pharmacy’s teaching kitchen, dieticians teach healthy cooking skills. 
  
Pantry4Health began with a focus on donated fresh foods, but Curington quickly learned that produce was too risky — it went bad quickly, it was time-consuming, people weren’t familiar with the offerings. Now, the program teaches pharmacy patients to cook healthy foods using shelf-stable ingredients available in its food pantry. Dieticians and dietetics interns develop easy recipes based on the current offerings and bundle them together. Seasonings are bought in bulk, combined, and measured out for each bundle.  
  
New recipes and bundles are offered monthly. Staff constantly incorporate in feedback. For example, one patient, experiencing homelessness and with nowhere to cook, inspired a recipe for no-bake peanut butter balls with walnuts, oats, and cinnamon. Can openers are available in the pantry because many people don’t own one. 
 
“The meal I was taught today will help me so much because it is a vegetarian meal, and I am diabetic,” said one patient who received nutrition education through Pantry4Health. “I am moving soon, and this will be the first meal I am making for my family at our new home. It was delicious!” 

Sometimes inspiration is born of necessity. A beloved Hawaiian tuna rice bowl recipe began when canned tuna sat unwanted on food pantry shelves. Realizing that “we’ve gotta move this tuna,” Curington recalled, recipe developers combined it with coconut flakes and pineapple. Despair over canned salmon was resolved when a receptionist who grew up in the South taught other staff members to make a salmon croquette. Chickpeas and couscous weren’t popular — “no one knew what to do with them” — until a Mediterranean bowl recipe. 
  
The Transformative Innovation Award has also been a jumping-off point for new partnerships, including with the University of Cincinnati. St. Vincent de Paul now offers internships to dietetics students who want to focus on caring for vulnerable communities. “We didn’t have a program that would attract them” before this, Curington said. “When a nonprofit gives us funding, we brag about it a lot, it builds credibility, and it really helps bring more resources in.” 
  
Offering free medication and chronic disease management — there is no cash register at any of St. Vincent de Paul’s three pharmacy locations — means thinking strategically about long-term goals. Curington doesn’t want to build up a patient roster or even have permanent patients. “If I just keep collecting people, I won’t be able to [work with] new patients,” he said. The end goal is to “help people transition out of the safety net. No one wants to live in the net.” 

It’s a complex process that involves helping patients apply for insurance, learn to exercise and manage medical conditions — even to get them off medication if possible — and design a plan to maintain their health and well-being. 
  
That often takes six months to a year, but patients who need longer-term support to implement a plan receive it. Curington knows inflation, housing shortages, and the shifting public insurance landscape stack the deck against people who are already vulnerable. Someone who seeks out St. Vincent de Paul because they can’t pay rent and still afford medicine needs immediate support, but they also need a partner who can help them build stability over time. 
  
St. Vincent de Paul’s goal is to be that partner, Curington explained. Volunteers and interns are there because they want their neighbors to thrive.  
  
“Our love for our town, our love for our community, we’re blending that into our mission,” he said. 

The post For Patients with Diabetes, Growing Health and Self-Sufficiency One Meal at a Time appeared first on Direct Relief.

The grants, awarded to the Southern Birth Justice Network and the University of Florida Mobile Outreach Clinic, were made possible by a generous donation from the CVS Health Foundation, the independent, philanthropic arm of CVS Health.

“Direct Relief is privileged to support these organizations that work tirelessly to support their communities every day, and that will now be able to expand their services to even more patients,” said Dr. Byron Scott, Direct Relief COO and Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity. “We are deeply grateful to the CVS Health Foundation and their leadership, which acts as a powerful force multiplier, allowing more of this essential work to take place for people who need it most.”

The Southern Birth Justice Network based in Miami, Florida, works to expand access to midwifery and doula care for Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, low-income, and other marginalized communities. The organization established the National Black Midwives Alliance, a professional group that represents Black midwives across the U.S., in 2018.

Direct Relief’s grant will support the National Black Midwives Alliance in establishing itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and in implementing programs connected to midwives’ and doulas’ work across the country.

In north central Florida, the University of Florida Mobile Outreach Clinic offers primary care to all patients regardless of location, health insurance, immigration status, or income — the only such service in the area.

The grant from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity will help to establish a new perinatal mobile health clinic, providing clinical services to rural women who are at high risk of poor birth outcomes, many of whom are ineligible for public insurance. The clinic will also offer mental health, pregnancy, postpartum, and lactation support for patients. Training lay community members to become perinatal community health workers, lactation counselors, and doulas will be another focus.

In particular, the purchase of a mobile medical unit and ultrasound machines, and the hiring and training of community members from underrepresented groups in the area, will be funded by the grant.

Since the start of the Fund in 2021, more than $50 million has been provided to support 163 organizations across the U.S.

The awardees were selected by the Fund for Health Equity’s Advisory Council, which includes the following members:

• Co-Chair Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th US Surgeon General of the United States, Founder Bayou Clinic, Inc.
• Co-Chair Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Direct Relief COO
• Martha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President and CEO President of the National Black Nurses Association, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Jane Delgado, Ph.D., MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health
• Gail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

The post Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity Awards $1.3 Million to Organizations Focused on Maternal Health appeared first on Direct Relief.

Direct Relief initially developed its emergency medical backpack program in 2009 to equip volunteer Medical Reserve Corps members in California with a standardized set of supplies. Each ruggedized pack contains medicine, supplies, and equipment to meet a variety of disaster-related medical issues, including infection control, diagnostics, trauma care, and personal protection.

Fifteen years later, and with continuous financial and logistical support from FedEx, 13,000 of the packs have helped people in more than 61 countries and 50 U.S. states and territories. The packs are among Direct Relief’s most requested products by health providers around the world.

The packs were carried by first responders after last year’s Maui wildfire, delivered to rescue workers in Turkey and Syria after the 2023 earthquake, and deployed widely to medics caring for people injured in the war in Ukraine. They helped care for people injured in Haiti by 2010’s earthquake and in Mexico by 2023’s Hurricane Otis, and for those displaced by the wildfires sweeping Western forests year after year.

Despite the name, they aren’t only useful for emergencies. The backpacks have equipped primary caregivers in settings as broad-reaching as street medicine care in Santa Barbara and mobile clinic outposts in rural Puerto Rico.

“Backpack-Based Medicine”

Each week, teams of volunteers equipped with Direct Relief’s backpacks walk Santa Barbara’s streets, cleaning and treating wounds, offering antibiotics, and treating skin and foot problems for people living on the street. Santa Barbara Street Medicine provided free medical care to nearly 9,000 people last year. The group runs 16 outreach missions a week, two of them at night.

“We are backpack-based medicine,” says the organization’s co-founder and executive director Marguerite (Maggie) Sanchez. “We do not operate in a building at all, everything we do is out of the backpack. It’s basically our most important tool besides our volunteers.”

FedEx, whose collaboration with Direct Relief began more than two decades ago, was the original sponsor of the backpacks initiative in 2009 and has helped fund the program ever since as it has grown substantially. The packs are just one part of the generous support FedEx provides to help Direct Relief fulfill its mission. FedEx delivers all donated medicines sent by Direct Relief to Federally Qualified Health Centers, which are the central strands of the U.S. healthcare safety net. FedEx has also airlifted huge quantities of medicine and supplies into disaster areas around the globe.

“FedEx has been the catalyst behind so many of our emergency preparedness efforts, both in the U.S. and around the world,” said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief’s President and CEO. “The backpack they initially invested in, specifically for California’s medical volunteers, has now become the most requested item for disasters globally.”

“We’ve formed a powerful collaboration that delivers critical aid exactly where and when it’s needed most,” said April Britt, Director, of FedEx Global Citizenship. “The long-term collaboration between Direct Relief and FedEx is forged in the shared desire to help communities struck by disaster.”

Most recently, emergency medical backpacks were dispatched to the Caribbean to support first responders in Grenada and Jamaica after Hurricane Beryl. Many more will likely be requested this year during what are shaping up to be especially active hurricane and wildfire seasons.

Validated to Meet the Highest Standards

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) originated as a national program to improve community preparedness in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sep. 11, 2001. County-level MRC units are made up of local volunteer medical and health professionals who may include physicians, nurses, veterinarians, dentists, social workers, pharmacists, chaplains, paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), health educators, and others.

MRC volunteers are responsible for equipping themselves. “We thought, they’re volunteers, they shouldn’t have to purchase their own supplies, let’s see what we can do,” recounts Heather Bennett, Direct Relief’s Chief of Staff. The organization in 2009 initially donated 100 backpacks to Santa Barbara County’s MRC, and the program grew from there.

“Then we realized that this type of backpack is useful for more than just MRC volunteers, so we started deploying them after disasters to people who were doing the immediate search and rescue, and to doctors and providers that were treating patients in evacuation centers,” Bennett says.

The State of California’s Emergency Medical Services Authority has formally adopted the packs as standard equipment. In 2012, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General recognized Direct Relief and FedEx with its National Partnership Award.

The post Direct Relief, FedEx Mark 15 Years of Supplying Emergency Medical Backpacks for Global Disasters and Health Crises appeared first on Direct Relief.

“It’s being able to provide a safe place for clients to share their stories, without judgment, without added stress,” she said. “You’re creating a safety net and [they know] that there’s someone who’s interested in walking this path with them.”
 
Moreno didn’t always plan on being a bereavement therapist. She went to college expecting to become a private investigator. But then she took a psychology class, and fell in love. She also saw a high need for mental health services in her Latino community, and was concerned about the stigma she saw community members holding toward psychology and mental health care.
 
“I thought, ‘Maybe if I look like them and talk like them, I can help them,’” she recalled. “I felt a yearning and a calling for that.”

Santa Barbara County is famous for its natural beauty and elaborate mansions, but the area is rife with inequity and income disparities, particularly in the northern part of the county, which has historically had little in the way of affordable health care.
 
That changed in 2022, when physician Ahmad Nooristani saw the extraordinary need for medical services in north Santa Barbara County, and founded Savie Clinic in the city of Lompoc, to provide free health care for uninsured patients.
 
Savie’s leaders first became aware of the urgent need for bereavement therapy in their community when a young patient died suddenly from an illness last year. As Savie’s staff worked to organize support for the boy’s family, they began to hear other stories of patients losing family members suddenly, whether from murder, suicide, car accidents, or natural causes.
 
“Hearing more of these stories made my hope to partner with Hospice increase,” said former Savie executive director Eryn Shugart, who is now a grant writer, in an email to Direct Relief.

Shugart said Moreno was a natural choice to provide the expanded services: “She is bilingual and bicultural, and 90% of our patients speak Spanish only. She is also an excellent and experienced clinician.”
 
For Moreno, it was an opportunity to bring an essential treatment to an underserved population.
“I was excited because I know that north county doesn’t get a lot of services,” she explained. “We don’t turn anyone away.”
 
But the care itself is familiar. “The subject is the same. It’s death and dying,” Moreno said. “This is what grief looks like…They’re brave enough to come in and fall apart, and then pull themselves together again.”

In Moreno’s experience, many members of Santa Barbara County’s Spanish-speaking population need mental health care, but they’re afraid of reaching out, and aware of the stigma. Part of her work is helping her patients understand and process the fear they’re feeling. “Whatever emotions you’re feeling, it’s normal,” she tells patients.
 
Ultimately, Moreno’s goal is to give the people who seek her help the tools they need to work through grief, trauma, and other emotional pain in their lives.
 
“They’re going to learn coping skills,” she said. “So when they get triggered, or they feel like the world is falling apart, they’re going to draw on their coping skills.”

The post In a Wealthy County, Uninsured Patients Struggle with Grief and Trauma. This Therapist Helps Them Heal. appeared first on Direct Relief.

• Hurricane Beryl: After clearing a devastating path through the Caribbean, Beryl struck Texas Monday morning as a Category 1 storm, flooding streets and cutting off power for 1.5 million residents.
• Western Wildfires: A series of fast-burning wildfires ignited across California over the 4th of July weekend, as the state withered under record-breaking heat.

Direct Relief’s Response to Hurricane Beryl

Texas Hurricane Relief

• Direct Relief has pre-positioned medical supplies in the path of the storm. The supplies, which include more than 200 medical items and supplies to support care for up to 100 people for 72 hours, are staged at healthcare facilities in Texas and throughout the Gulf, ensuring immediate availability post-storm.
• Direct Relief is preparing to deliver an initial ten shipments of requested medical aid to health facilities in communities affected by Beryl.
• Direct Relief has offered additional medical resources to the Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC), the Texas Association of Charitable Clinics (TXACC), and other local partners.
• Direct Relief is in close contact with healthcare organizations and emergency responders in Texas to address medical needs that arise.

Caribbean Hurricane Relief

• Direct Relief has dispatched medical packs to St. Vincent and Grenada from its stockpile in St. Lucia.
• Twenty medical tents and patient beds are bound for Grenada and St. Vincent from Direct Relief’s logistics hub in Puerto Rico.
• Direct Relief is preparing a substantial delivery of acute care medications to Jamaica in response to a request from the Ministry of Health.
• Direct Relief is collaborating with Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to supply oral rehydration salts (ORS), medical-grade refrigerators, and other crucial supplies to St. Vincent, addressing urgent healthcare needs.

Assessing Beryl’s Impact and Post-Storm Needs

• Across Jamaica and Grenada, the storm has resulted in significant power outages, disrupting healthcare services.
• Several hospitals and health facilities were damaged by the storm, and much of the population is cut off from essential services due to damaged roads and other infrastructure.
• Direct Relief is working with local and regional health agencies to restore medical services and supply essential medicines.
• Direct Relief continues to monitor Beryl’s impact to assess health and emergency needs on the ground and is prepared to respond as needed.

Wildfires Impacting California

Twenty wildfires are burning across California, stretching emergency resources, forcing thousands to evacuate, and blanketing much of the state in a fog of smoke.

These include:

• The Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County: Burning in a rugged area of Santa Barbara County, about fifty miles north of Direct Relief’s headquarters, the Lake Fire has scorched 20,320 acres to become the largest wildfire of the season. As of Monday morning, the fire was 8% contained.
• The Thompson Fire in Butte County: Over 13,000 residents were under evacuation orders over the July 4th weekend due to a wildfire in Butte County, California, which was more than 80% contained as of July 7. The Thompson Fire, which broke out on the morning of July 2, burned over 3,700 acres near the City of Oroville.
• The Royal Fire in Tahoe National Forest: Burning in remote and difficult to reach location, the Royal Fire spans 168 acres and was 0% contained as of Monday morning, according to Cal Fire.

Direct Relief’s Response to California Wildfires

• Direct Relief is in contact with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to offer support and has extended offers of medical aid to community health centers, clinics, and other healthcare providers within fifty miles of the fires.
• The organization is also in touch with national, state, and regional health centers, as well as free and charitable clinic associations.
• Direct Relief maintains a stockpile of medications ready for rapid deployment, including emergency medical packs and wildfire kits.
• In partnership with 3M, Direct Relief is making N95 respirators available to those affected by wildfire smoke, including individuals with chronic conditions and others most at risk during extreme heat and wildfire events. On Monday, Direct Relief provided more than one thousand N95 masks to the Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Management. More masks are available for residents should air quality deteriorate further.
• To avoid the consequences of power loss to healthcare providers and patients, Direct Relief has worked to equip healthcare facilities in communities at high fire risk with resilient power systems, including battery backups and solar panels, ensuring continuous care.

The post Hurricane Beryl and California Wildfires: Direct Relief Mobilizes Aid for Dual Crises appeared first on Direct Relief.

A leader in providing medical humanitarian aid to those in need, Direct Relief is ranked fifth on the Forbes List of Top 100 Charities and earned a renewed four-star rating from Charity Navigator in 2024, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, for the 13th consecutive year.

“Direct Relief is excited to welcome these accomplished individuals to its board,” said Mark Linehan, Direct Relief’s Board Chair. “The expertise that each brings will strengthen and further the organization’s mission of mobilizing essential medical and other resources across the U.S. and around the world.”

The new directors are:

Henrietta Holsman Fore recently served as the seventh Executive Director of UNICEF. Prior to taking up this appointment, she served as both the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance in the U.S. State Department. From 2005 to 2007, Ms. Fore served as Under Secretary of State for Management, the Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Department of State. Prior to that, she was the 37th Director of the United States Mint, a position she held from 2001 to 2005.  Currently Ms. Fore serves as the Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Holsman International, a manufacturing and investment company.

Heitham Hassoun, MD, serves as the Chief Executive of International at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, California. In this role, he leads the institution’s international patient services as well as global strategy and operations. He joined Cedars-Sinai in 2018 as vice president and medical director of International. He is a highly regarded clinician and healthcare leader with a wealth of experience in global partnerships, international patient services, health system development, and academic medicine.  Dr. Hassoun shepherded Cedars-Sinai’s first global affiliation as well as several academic and strategic collaborations in China, Ecuador, Indonesia, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. He also has overseen the expansion of Cedars-Sinai’s regional offices in multiple countries, including China, Mexico, and Singapore. In addition to leading International, Dr. Hassoun is a professor of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai and maintains a clinical practice in vascular and endovascular surgery. Prior to Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Hassoun served as global medical director at Johns Hopkins Medicine and as an associate professor in the Department of Surgery at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Perry Siatis is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, where he is responsible for Legal and the Office of Ethics and Compliance. He is credited with negotiating highly successful global business deals, navigating complex government policy, and providing strategic legal guidance for multiple billion-dollar brands. Mr. Siatis began his career by practicing commercial and intellectual property (IP) litigation at DLA Piper LLP. He joined Abbott in 2005 as Counsel and progressed to Division Counsel, IP Litigation, and later became Divisional Vice President and Section Head, IP Strategy. In January 2013, Mr. Siatis joined AbbVie where he served as Vice President, Biologic Strategic Development and Legal Regulatory. He also served as the Senior Vice President of Legal Transactions and R&D/Alliance Management and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. In 2020, he led the legal strategy for the acquisition of Allergan, one of the largest acquisitions in pharmaceutical history.

The Direct Relief Board of Directors may serve up to three three-year terms.

A full list of Direct Relief’s Board and leadership is available here.

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

To overcome these and other barriers, safety net providers across the U.S. are thinking outside the box. In some cases, they’re thinking outside the physical walls entirely. During a recent event at Direct Relief headquarters, several of these innovative clinics, each funded by Teva, had an opportunity to share insights and learn from one another. 

On May 20 and 21, Direct Relief, Teva, and the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics hosted the Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care Learning Summit. 

Teva has funded 11 clinics aimed at advancing health equity by increasing access to care for uninsured patients suffering from depression and anxiety in California, Florida, and New Jersey. This learning summit celebrated the extraordinary and often groundbreaking work of these clinics and their staff. 

The event consisted of panel discussions and workshops, where executives, therapists, program operators, and other clinic staff members explored effective strategies for treating their communities.

Topics for discussion included cultural and language barriers, mobile mental health services, approaches to screening, catering to specific demographics, and community outreach. 

Eryn Shugert, Executive Director at Savie Health in Lompoc, California, discussed a clinic program focused on immigrant women who are coping with the trauma of losing a loved one back home. 

For patients experiencing homelessness, Talbot House Ministries in Lakeland, Florida takes a holistic approach to mental health, said Maria Cruz, the clinic’s Executive Director. 

Teaching mental health concepts and tools to community members, so they can teach their friends and neighbors in turn, has been an indispensable tool for the University of Florida Mobile Outreach in Gainesville, Florida, said Dr. Carol Lewis, a clinical psychologist. 

Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care was awarded the 2023 Global Generics and Biosimilars Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative of the Year. 

Clinics at the summit included:

Florida

• University of Florida Mobile Outreach in Gainesville, Florida 
• Grace Medical Home in Orlando, Florida 
• Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland, Inc., in Lakeland, Florida  

New Jersey

• Cape Volunteers in Medicine in Cape May Court House, New Jersey  
• Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Inc., in Hackensack, New Jersey  
• Parker Family Health Center in Red Bank, New Jersey  

California

• Samaritan House in San Mateo, California – Samaritan House in San Mateo, California  
• Symba Center in Apple Valley, California 
• Westminster Free Clinic in Thousand Oaks, California 
• Lestonnac Free Clinic in Orange, California  
• Savie Health in Lompoc, California  

The post On Improving Mental Health, Clinic Staff Have Wisdom to Share  appeared first on Direct Relief.

• SILVER | Branded Content General-Fitness, Health & Wellness
• SILVER | Branded Content General-Social Impact
• SILVER | Branded Content General-Pharmaceutical
• BRONZE | Branded Content General-Corporate Image
• BRONZE | Branded Content General-People’s Telly

The Telly Awards, judged by industry leaders and creative professionals, celebrate outstanding video and television productions. This year’s competition attracted over 13,000 entries from 50 countries.

Addressing a National Crisis

The opioid crisis continues to be a devastating public health emergency in the United States. Over 150 deaths occur daily due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, with overdose deaths quadrupling in the past decade.

“The opioid crisis is a public health crisis,” said Caroline Roan, Senior Vice President of Global Health and Social Impact at Pfizer Inc. “As part of our commitment to advancing breakthroughs that change patients’ lives, we’re proud to partner with Direct Relief to make Pfizer-donated opioid overdose reversal medication available at no cost to qualified U.S. nonprofit healthcare providers and local public health departments on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic.”

Direct Relief supports around 1,500 community health centers and clinics nationwide to ensure life-saving medications reach those who need them most. Since 2017, over 2.6 million doses of opioid-reversing medication have been delivered by Direct Relief through its initiative with Pfizer.

“These medications are crucial for treating substance use disorders,” said Katie Lewis, Regional Director of U.S. Programs at Direct Relief. “Providing them consistently has been transformative.”

The post Direct Relief and Pfizer’s Opioid Crisis Video Wins Five Telly Awards  appeared first on Direct Relief.

As part of the joint initiative, 3M has pledged to meet Direct Relief’s entire forecasted annual need for N95 filtering facepiece respirators with a donation of 5 million units. These respirators will be utilized in Direct Relief’s global humanitarian response efforts, providing essential protection to individuals in affected regions.

N95 respirators approved by NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) can be used to help protect individuals within disaster-stricken areas. They help mitigate particulate smoke exposure during wildfires and offer assistance amid clean-up activities after floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Consequently, N95s constitute a cornerstone of Direct Relief’s disaster response framework.

Serving as the Official Respiratory Protection Sponsor, 3M’s N95s will be pre-stocked and strategically positioned to expedite relief operations to impacted communities, minimizing transit time. They will feature prominently within Direct Relief’s strategic emergency stockpile (SES), encompassing wildfire kits, emergency medical backpacks, hurricane preparedness packs, cholera kits, and an extensive network of U.S. safety net clinics.

This significant new partnership between 3M and Direct Relief emerged out of an over 20-year relationship with 3M products and cash supporting Direct Relief’s global relief, recovery, and resilience efforts including responding to various emergencies worldwide, including the Turkey earthquake, Ukraine conflict, Mozambique floods, Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, and hurricanes and severe weather events across the US. 

“Direct Relief is deeply thankful and privileged to work with 3M on this historic donation that will protect frontline health and emergency responders during disasters,” said Thomas Tighe, CEO and President of Direct Relief. “During disasters that are ongoing, 3M has led by example, stepping up to help protect first responders, health workers, and those at risk, and is once again providing high-quality protective equipment for people enduring fires, earthquakes, and other disasters and crises.” 

This initiative reinforces 3M’s unwavering dedication to supporting communities in need and builds on its long-term commitment to humanitarian relief efforts. Since 2016, 3M has contributed nearly 10 million N95 respirators and other requested products to Direct Relief for individuals in the United States and more than 80 countries. 

“3M is proud to continue our partnership with Direct Relief to expand access to critical protective equipment for natural disaster preparedness,” said Chris Goralski, president of 3M Safety and Industrial. “Access to N95 respirators can make a real difference in the health and safety of first responders and others providing care and support during crises. We will work together with Direct Relief to ensure these essential supplies reach the communities that need them most.”

The post 3M Named Official Respiratory Protection Sponsor for Direct Relief, Pledges 5 Million N95 Respirators Ahead of Hurricane, Wildfire Season  appeared first on Direct Relief.

The shipments contained 13.4 million defined daily doses of medication and supplies, including insulin, prenatal vitamins, oral rehydration tablets, and more.

Strengthening Cold Chain Capacity for Free Clinics

Recently, several pharmaceutical-grade refrigeration systems donated by Sanofi were delivered by Direct Relief to multiple clinics across the U.S., including Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy in Alabama and Welvista in South Carolina.

These fridges have expanded capacity at these sites, allowing for more storage of temperature-sensitive medications, like vaccines and insulin. The systems were donated and placed as part of Direct Relief’s ReplenishRx program, which works to provide free and charitable clinics with medications and supplies at no cost.

Supporting Care for Women in Malawi

This week, Dr. Anne Alaniz, a gynecological oncologist and founder of Pothawira International, spoke about her work in Malawi and her plans to build a new surgical center that will expand care for women in the region.

Direct Relief has supported Pothawira International with more than $5 million in oncology medications, midwife kits, which contain 50 essential items to facilitate safe births, and other requested medical aid. Pothawira, which translates to “Safe Haven,” includes an outpatient clinic, which sees 200 patients a day and a birthing center, which is expected to exceed 500 deliveries in 2024.

A new surgical center, which will include four operating rooms, will enable safe cesarean deliveries, laparoscopic surgeries, radiology services, and more for women who need cancer treatments or are experiencing birth complications. Pothawira also operates an orphanage, primary school, and sustainability farm to support community needs.

Dr. Alaniz, originally from Malawi and who moved to the U.S. at 16, now practices medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital between her medical missions in Malawi. She spoke to a gathering of about 120 people in Montecito, California, this week to raise awareness about Pothawira International and Direct Relief’s Maternal and Child Health Programs in advance of Mother’s Day.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Alaniz and Pothawira International.

Direct Relief Hosts Health Fair in Puerto Rico

Direct Relief and La Fondita de Jesús, a nonprofit focused on services to unhoused people and other vulnerable populations, hosted a health fair on April 23 in Rio Piedra, Puerto Rico. The fair offered health services, personal care kits filled with hygiene items for attendees, and more.

Direct Relief Chief Pharmacy Officer Honored

Direct Relief’s Chief Pharmacy Officer Alycia Clark, PharmD, has been selected among the “Top 50 Women in Business” by the Pacific Coast Business Times.

The Business Times honors 50 of the region’s top women leaders in a number of sectors, including finance, professional services, health care, technology, and nonprofits. Clark was selected for her outstanding contributions to public health and emergency response.

Read the full selection article here.

Operational Snapshot

WORLDWIDE

Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped more than 13 million defined daily doses of medication outside the U.S.

Countries that received medical aid over the past week included:

UNITED STATES

Included in this week’s shipments were deliveries of oral rehydration salts in response to the outbreak of dengue fever in Puerto Rico. The organization is monitoring the outbreak and will continue to respond as requested.

Direct Relief delivered 510 shipments containing over four tons of medications during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 7,666 shipments to 1,573 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 67 countries.

These shipments contained 121.6 million defined daily doses of medication totaling 2.4 million lbs.

The post Supporting Street Medicine in Puerto Rico, Women’s Health in Malawi, and More appeared first on Direct Relief.

Of the donation, 12,000 doses were transported to the Centro Nacional de Capacitación y Adiestramiento, or CENCAD, of the Red Cross located in Toluca, State of Mexico. Another 2,500 vaccines will be administered in the Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad of Ixtapaluca and via a vaccination campaign in the municipalities of Lerma and Huixquilucan.

The State of Mexico has recorded the second-largest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country, only below Mexico City, and the state with the largest number of deaths caused by Covid-19.

“Direct Relief is deeply thankful for the privilege to work with Pfizer Mexico on this important donation, which will benefit those in need in Mexico,” said Eduardo Mendoza, National Director of Direct Relief in Mexico. “With this donation, Direct Relief hopes to have an impact on health and health equality for the Mexican people.”

“Access is the cornerstone of healthy ecosystems, that is why we are thrilled to make this alliance with Direct Relief, which will allow us to get to a sector of the vulnerable population that needs better access paths to the treatment and vaccines that they need,” said Constanza Losada, President and General Director of Pfizer Mexico.

The post Thousands of Covid-19 Vaccines Reach Patients in Mexico appeared first on Direct Relief.

The shipments contained 15.5 million defined daily doses of medication and supplies, including cardiovascular medicines, insulin, trauma response essentials, nutritional products, and more.

Supplies for Young People with Type 1 Diabetes Arrive in Djibouti

This week, Centre du Jeune Diabétique de Djibouti, a Direct Relief NGO partner in Djibouti, received 120,000 insulin pen needles. These needles allow the children who are patients of the clinic to reuse insulin pens, a tool for insulin injection that was also donated by Direct Relief (in coordination with Australian NGO Life for A Child) and has been shown to improve outcomes in diabetes management over the previously used method of insulin injection via vial and syringe.

Since 2021, Direct Relief has provided insulin, insulin pens, and insulin pen needles, among other supplies, for around 500 children and young people with Type 1 diabetes in Djibouti. A solar-powered refrigerator was also recently donated to Centre du Jeune Diabétique, equipping their facility with reliable cold storage space for insulin.

Learn more about Direct Relief’s support for those living with diabetes here.

Cambodian Ministry of Health Receives Large Vitamin Shipment

Direct Relief shipped over 64,000 bottles of a micronutrient formulation of 15 vitamins and minerals known as UNIMMAPS MMS, which are proven to have a positive impact on maternal and child health, to Cambodia, where they were received by longtime Direct Relief partner Hope Worldwide and passed on to the Cambodian Ministry of Health.

Hope Worldwide is a U.S.-based organization that operates Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital, a large nonprofit hospital in the Kampot region of southern Cambodia with a special focus on maternal and pediatric care. This region is among the lowest income in the country, and access to prenatal health services remains challenging, and the hospital does not have the logistical infrastructure to support other health facilities. For this reason, Hope Worldwide requested that Direct Relief consider the opportunity to donate critically needed prenatal vitamins directly to the Ministry of Health for distribution around the country to women who are at risk of maternal malnutrition.

Since 2009, Direct Relief has shipped over 43 million defined daily doses of requested medicines to partner organizations in Cambodia and is continuing to investigate ways to increase support to health-focused organizations in the country.

Increasing Medical Capacity in Honduras

Direct Relief and Ruth Paz Foundation unveiled a new medical distribution center in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, at an event on April 4, and the facility will support distribution across Honduras, connecting communities in need with medical aid. Ruth Paz Foundation operates a pediatric hospital in San Pedro Sula, as well as clinic sites and health brigade outreach efforts to bring health care to people in need.

Direct Relief has supported the Ruth Paz Foundation with $34.2 million in medical aid since 2013, in addition to financial support.

Ruth Paz Foundation was able to purchase and modify the facility with a $780,000 grant from Direct Relief, and will eliminate some of the logistical and warehousing barriers faced by nonprofits in the country receiving medical aid.

The warehouse will be a national distribution center for medications and supplies and will provide “a vital support point for the effective distribution of medical donations and supplies to vulnerable communities in an efficient, transparent and rapid manner,” the organization said in a statement.

Direct Relief staff attended the inauguration, including Thomas Tighe, President and CEO, Erick Molina, Senior Manager for Latin America, Ellen Cho, Director of Special Programs, and Jonathan Mangotich, Manager of Corporate Engagement.

operational Snapshot

WORLDWIDE

Over the last week, Direct Relief shipped more than 14.5 million defined daily doses of medication outside the U.S.

Countries that received medical aid over the past week included:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 323 shipments containing over five tons of medications during the past seven days to organizations, including the following:

YEAR TO DATE

Since January 1, 2024, Direct Relief has delivered 6,137 shipments to 1,402 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 58 countries.

These shipments contained 103.3 million defined daily doses of medication totaling 2 million lbs.

In the News

Four Medical Institutions of Kherson Region Received 16 Energy Storage Systems from Benefactors – Ukrinform

Recibe Cruz Roja Mexicana 12 Mil Vacunas Contra Covid-19 de Pfizer y Direct Relief – Diario Amanecery

Fundación Ruth Paz y Direct Relief Inauguran Centro de Distribución de Medicinas – Iconos Mag

Cruz Roja Mexicana Recibe Donación de 12 Mil Vacunas Contra Covid-19 – El Universal

Cruz Roja Recibe Vacunas Contra COVID que Aplicarán Gratuitamente – El Valle

2024: Donations Urgently Needed for Sudan – Charity Watch

The post Medical Aid Arrives in 11 Countries, Humanitarian Aid Warehouse Opens in Honduras, and More appeared first on Direct Relief.

“Every day, our medical facilities are subjected to targeted attacks by Russia,” said Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine. “Each such attack endangers the lives of patients. Ensuring uninterrupted medical care under any conditions and being prepared for different scenarios is our main task in the realities of war.”

Attacks on the power grid in the winter of 2022-23 destroyed 61% of Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity and left around 12 million people without power, according to the UNDP.

Without electrical power, hospitals can’t pump oxygen to keep patients breathing, warm newborn babies in incubators, diagnose injuries with X-rays, or track patient care through electronic medical records.

“We are working to ensure that hospitals are equipped with everything they need and can continue to operate in the event of emergency power outages or complete blackouts,” Liashko said. “In particular, Ukrainian medical institutions are now provided with more than 10,000 generators for uninterrupted power supply. They have also begun to equip medical facilities with alternative and environmentally friendly sources of electricity, including solar panels. The initial 300 [electricity] storage systems received from Direct Relief will strengthen medical institutions in 20 regions of Ukraine. I am grateful to our international partners for this assistance.”

The war has inflicted an estimated $7.5 billion of direct damage on the electrical power sector, and has cost the sector $32 billion in lost revenue, according to the World Bank’s newly published damage and needs assessment.

The World Bank estimates it will cost $40.4 billion to rebuild Ukraine’s power sector over 10 years, using “a build back better approach with policies that align its energy model with the EU energy policy and move toward a decarbonized economy.” Of the $40.4 billion, $1.75 billion has been received.

“Ukraine has been using the [battery storage systems] since the first months of the full-scale war,” said Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development at Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation. “The systems provide backup power to hospitals, schools, emergency services and other critical infrastructure facilities. Thanks to our cooperation with Direct Relief, this year Ukraine will receive 2,000 devices as part of the Power for Health project. We continue to work on technological solutions for our country.”

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, was hit hard and relentlessly by artillery and air strikes in the opening stages of the full-scale war that began on February 24, 2022, and attacks have continued periodically over the past two years. The Kharkiv Regional Hospital serves the whole of the heavily war-damaged northeastern Kharkiv region, including its large population of internally displaced persons.

“But we never stopped working,” said Kostiantyn Loboiko, acting director of the hospital, which has 830 beds (including 130 in the maternity ward) and a staff of 2,000, including 550 doctors. “We also had births in the cellar, where we had some basic equipment.”

The greatest damage to the hospital to date occurred during three waves of missile strikes on the city on Dec. 29, which killed three people and injured 13. Around 90 of the hospital’s windows were blown out by a nearby impact, but only one person was injured at the site. “It was a miracle,” said Loboiko. 

The hospital has been developing its capacity to function autonomously since Russia first seized Crimea and supported a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine in 2014. This meant equipping the hospital with generators and its own well to ensure a water supply.

Now it is further building its resilience by adding batteries for storing electricity, purchased and donated by the Polish Government and Direct Relief, in coordination with Kharkiv-based Charity Fund Yevhen Pyvovarov. The hospital also plans to install solar panels to ensure the units work more efficiently in all seasons.

So far, eight units have been delivered to the Kharkiv hospital, with another two to four units to be added. The hospital has allocated four of those units to essential units like the emergency department, including surgery, traumatological and maternity units, and the cardiological center.

“If the Russians want to harm us, there will be a moment when the light flickers” as the batteries cut in, “and then work will continue,” said Loboiko.

In the town of Derhachi, five miles northwest of Kharkiv, two energy storage systems donated by the Polish government were installed last November at the local 100-bed hospital. These will give a further layer of energy security to the hospital, which like the Kharkiv Regional Hospital also uses generators in emergencies. “Now we can be sure that all operations will go ahead and that no patients are lost because of power outages,” said head surgeon Oleg Donchak.

Direct Relief’s battery donations to Ukraine fall at the intersection of two important programs. Direct Relief’s Power for Health initiative seeks to bring clean, renewable backup power to health facilities to ensure they can deliver critical healthcare services during power outages. The initiative has provided energy solutions for 41 healthcare facilities in California, Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina, benefiting 1.3 million low-income patients. These projects have created an estimated $4.3 million in annual cost savings for the participating health facilities. Direct Relief has sponsored more than 100 power resiliency projects in 10 countries.

The donations are also part of Direct Relief’s extensive humanitarian medical aid program to the people of Ukraine since the start of the war in February 2022, the largest aid response in the organization’s 75-year history. Direct Relief has donated and delivered more than 1,900 tons of medical aid, with a wholesale value of $1.1 billion, to support the efforts of health workers and community organizations. The organization has also provided more than $42 million in financial assistance to groups offering essential health services, including rehabilitation services for war-injured people, psychosocial and mental health services, support of emergency, specialized, and primary care, and support for making health care mobile as people continue to move throughout the country.

“This expansive philanthropic support from Direct Relief has been possible only because of the generous contributions from of thousands of individuals, businesses, and organizations concerned about the welfare of Ukrainian people and wishing to support humanitarian health efforts,” said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. “We are committed to continuing our support as expansively as we can and as resources permit.”

Ukraine and its partners have worked since the start of the war to make the country’s energy system more resilient.

“Over the spring and summer, power utilities – aided by significant grants, loans and investment from a wide range of governments, multilateral donors and the private sector – undertook the biggest energy infrastructure repair and maintenance campaign in the country’s history,” according to a January report published by the International Energy Agency. “The Ukrainian government also strengthened its air defence systems and invested in passive defence measures such as engineering fortifications to further protect energy infrastructure.”

Still, attacks on the electricity grid continue. “Tens of thousands of people were without power after a barrage of two dozen Russian drones damaged energy infrastructure in the centre of the country,” AFP reported on Feb. 2. At least 79 missiles and drones have hit residential areas of Kharkiv since Dec. 29.

The post Direct Relief Donates More Than 2,000 Battery Systems to Ukrainian Hospitals Amid Energy Grid Attacks appeared first on Direct Relief.

“This latest round of more than $7 million in grants, made possible by generous support from MacKenzie Scott, the AbbVie Foundation, and Eli Lilly and Company, is the most recent infusion of funding for organizations deeply committed in eliminating health disparities and improving healthcare quality in their communities,” said Dr. Byron Scott, Direct Relief COO and Co-Chair of the Fund for Health Equity. “Direct Relief is proud to support and grateful for the work they do every day.”

The AbbVie Foundation committed $10 million over five years to the Fund for Health Equity in 2020.  Since then, the AbbVie Foundation distributed grants to twenty organizations, and this year, the foundation is awarding $1.6 million in grants to 10 organizations, including: Central City Concern, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, Family Health Centers of San Diego, Food Well Alliance, Kee Cha-E-Nar Corporation, Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, Minority Behavior Health Group, National Black Nurses Association, University of Texas – El Paso, and Vecinos, Inc.

“The AbbVie Foundation is proud to support the 2024 Fund for Health Equity grant recipients and we’re grateful for their work addressing health disparities in historically marginalized communities across the United States,” said Claudia Carravetta, President, AbbVie Foundation; Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Global Philanthropy, AbbVie. “We believe meaningful change begins with communities, and we look forward to listening and learning from all our grant partners who are identifying innovative solutions that further advance health equity.”

Lilly also supported the Fund with a $5 million commitment in early 2021 as part of its Racial Justice Commitment, a robust endeavor to deliver resources like education, health care, economic stability, and jobs within the communities where it operates. Direct Relief distributed a portion of this initial funding to eight awardees across the U.S. since 2021.

This year, $880,000 from Lilly’s commitment will be split between four new awardees: Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Cheyenne River Youth Project, GirlTREK, Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center.

“Lilly’s commitment to social impact goes back nearly 150 years and we remain committed to eliminating disparities that prevent people from living the healthiest life possible today,” said Cynthia Cardona, Head of Social Impact at Lilly. “We sincerely appreciate Direct Relief’s efforts to identify and contribute to worthy organizations that are working to create real change in their local communities around the U.S.”

Since the start of the Fund in 2021, more than $50 million has been provided to support 160 organizations across the U.S.

The awardees were selected by the Fund for Health Equity’s Advisory Council, which includes the following members:

• Co-Chair Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th US Surgeon General of the United States, Founder Bayou Clinic, Inc.
• Co-Chair Byron Scott, MD, MBA, Direct Relief COO
• Martha Dawson, DNP, MSN, RN, FACHE, President and CEO President of the National Black Nurses Association, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Jane Delgado, Ph.D., MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health
• Gail Small, JD, Head Chief Woman, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Full list of 2024 Awardees:

• Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership, Birmingham, AL
• Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Inc., San Francisco, CA
• Camarena Health, Madera, CA
• Central City Concern, Inc., Portland, OR
• Centro Hispano de East Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
• Cheyenne River Youth Project, Inc., Eagle Butte, SD
• Children’s Village, Birmingham, AL
• Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Denver, CO
• DuPage Health Coalition, Carol Stream, IL
• East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc., New York, NY
• Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, Inc., Worcester, MA
• Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc., San Diego, CA
• Family Reach Foundation, Boston, MA
• Food Well Alliance, Inc., Atlanta, GA
• GirlTREK Incorporated, Washington, DC
• Health Outreach Prevention Education, Inc. (HOPE), Tulsa, OK
• Hispanic Health Coalition, Inc., Houston, TX
• Kee Cha-E-Nar Corporation, Klamath, CA
• La Plazita, Inc. DBA La Plazita Institute, Albuquerque, NM
• Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic, Inc., Dallas, TX
• Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, Montebello, CA
• Minority Behavioral Health Group, Akron, OH
• Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System, Erie, PA
• National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Inc., Lexington, KY
• National Black Nurses Association, Silver Spring, MD
• Native Action, Inc., Lame Deer, MT
• REACH, Las Vegas, NV
• Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA
• Shared Harvest Foundation, Inc., Culver City, CA
• Tell Every Amazing Lady about Ovarian Cancer (T.E.A.L.®), Brooklyn, NY
• The Concilio, Dallas, TX
• The Night Ministry, Chicago, IL
• The Texas International Institute of Health Profession DBA VCare Clinics, Houston, TX
• University of Texas Foundation/University of Texas
• Vecinos, Inc., Cullowhee, NC
• Vida Senior Centers, Washington, D.C.
• Vincent Chin Institute/Asian Health Services, Oakland, CA
• Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, Aloha, OR

The post Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity Awards $7 Million to 38 Organizations Across the U.S. appeared first on Direct Relief.

The population has braced for more of the same as the mercury fell to the current level of around 27 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 Celsius).

The recent holiday season in Ukraine was also overshadowed by massive Russian missile and drone attacks on cities across the country. But almost two years into the war, Direct Relief’s local partners are redoubling efforts to bring quality healthcare to the population despite power interruptions and missile attacks.

“We went through a complete blackout, we were cut off when the biggest mobile operator was hacked, but we only became stronger and more resilient,” said Yuliia Dmitrova, head of the TAPS foundation in Dnipro, one of the country’s hardest hit cities.

As well as distributing medicines to hospitals and providing dental and other services, the organization will again this year hold healing retreats for the children and widows of those lost to the fighting.

Among Direct Relief’s core partners and other NGOs receiving support, 2023 produced a broad springboard of initiatives with long-term application: prosthetics production, fitting and rehabilitation; psychosocial services for war-affected citizens; mobile health clinics for children in rural communities, and many more initiatives that will be carried over into 2024.

This was in addition to supplying medical products. Last August marked $1 billion of these delivered since the war’s start in February 2022 through Direct Relief’s partners to the people of Ukraine in the largest humanitarian aid response in the organization’s 75-year history.

Now totaling more than $1.1 billion, these resources have been invaluable in supporting the country’s healthcare system in the darkest times.

There Will Be Light – and Operations

“We know that this winter will be worse than the last,” said Katya, a specialist working with a DR-supported psychological care project in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha. “The other night, we were attacked with 70 drones, and Russia will have elections,” she said after the first big attack in late November and referring to President Vladimir Putin’s predicted fifth-term victory in March. “We are getting ready.”’

Among other measures, Ukrainian technicians have been fitting health facilities with Tesla Powerwalls donated in Summer 2023 by the Polish government and delivered with logistical support from Direct Relief and its Kharkiv-based partner Charity Fund Yevhen Pyvovarov.

The 508 units – rechargeable 14 kWh lithium-ion batteries that can provide power during peak times, power outages, and at night – will work in several regions along the 620-mile (almost 1000-km) frontline. Direct Relief is now working with the Ukrainian government on further steps to keep hospitals and clinics running.

Smaller civil society initiatives also aim to fill gaps in Ukraine’s preparations this winter. One is a project by Mission Kharkiv, an NGO that primarily distributes cancer medicines for Direct Relief, to provide first aid training and blast-proof medical kits for thousands of workers at the country’s power plants.

Most had no such training during decades on the job, so a 90-minute course recently delivered to workers at a plant in the eastern city of Kharkiv was entirely new for them. Realistically, they may retain only 50% of the skills demonstrated, said trainer Darya, a lawyer at a Ukrainian bank, but this can still make a difference in a crisis.

Darya decided to qualify as a first aid trainer so she could make a personal contribution to the war effort in her spare time: “I wanted to help people in Kharkiv to learn to do things like apply a tourniquet and be able to save lives.”

There is palpable fatigue among people you meet on the streets these days, but the spirit of volunteering is still strong across Ukraine. This was apparent on the International Volunteer Day on December 5. In Kyiv, more than 5,000 people visited an exhibition venue for diverse talks, awards and displays by dozens of NGOs from all fields of activity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky separately honored this contingent of society as “another strength of ours, our guard of those who care, our army of active Ukrainians.”

No one is slacking off – there is simply too much to lose after the trials and gains of recent months.

“Despite ongoing challenges, the humanitarian sector in Ukraine remains resilient and demonstrating unwavering commitment,” said Anton Gulidin, an advisor to Ukraine’s ombudsman for human rights and the head of NGO Friends of Ukraine Foundation, which had a stand at the event. “The sector continues to innovate, develop new projects and sustain its momentum.

The next morning, on the ‘new’ St. Nicholas’ Day – Ukraine last year moved its Christmas holidays to Western dates in a permanent break with the Russian Orthodox church – a blue-clad Ukrainian Santa visited young patients at the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital in Kyiv.

The day brought surprises for children and adults alike: “I checked my mail and received good news [about] our project for mobile pediatric services for children,” said Marina Makarenko, the head of Direct Relief’s partner Charity Fund Modern Village and Town, or CFMVT. She had stopped by the event at the hospital to add some donated gifts to the pile.

The mobile clinic project, implemented last year by CFMVT together with Okhmatdyt, is being further funded by Direct Relief starting in January, ensuring that expert medical care reaches children in rural communities across a wider area of Ukraine – regardless of the weather.

The post Amid Freezing Temperatures, Ukrainian NGOs Double Down on Humanitarian Projects for 2024 appeared first on Direct Relief.

The shipments contained 10.3 million defined daily doses of medication and supplies, including insulin, vaccines, emergency hygiene kits, and personal care products.

Hurricane Otis response continues

In response to Hurricane Otis, shipments of Sanofi insulin and hexavalent vaccine products donated by Direct Relief were delivered to impacted regions in Mexico. The shipment of vaccines was received by the Guerrero Ministry of Health at Hospital Raymundo Abarca Alarcón in Chilpancingo. The donated shipment of insulin was received by Federación Mexicana de Diabetes at Hospital Naval in Acapulco.

midwives address health needs in morocco

Since the devastating magnitude 6.8 earthquake that shook Morocco in September, AMSF (L’Asociation Marocaine de Sages femmes or the Moroccan Midwives Association) has been hard at work providing healthcare to women in the localities affected by the quake.

With grant funding from Direct Relief, the non-profit has launched a health caravan, essentially a clinic on wheels, that is providing sexual and reproductive health care and psychological support. Their team is also now able to undertake a preparedness and recovery training in reproductive health via a distance learning module provided by the Women’s Refugee Commission.

OPERATIONAL SNAPSHOT

WORLDWIDE

This week, Direct Relief shipped 9.2 million defined daily doses of medication outside the U.S.

Countries that received medical aid over the past week included:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 503 shipments containing over 10 tons of medications over the past week to organizations, including the following:

YEAR-TO-DATE (GLOBAL)

Since January 1, 2023, Direct Relief has delivered 21,600 shipments to 2,568 healthcare providers in 55 U.S. states and territories and 88 countries.

These shipments contained 549.2 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $2 billion (wholesale), totaling 6.2 million lbs.

IN THE NEWS

Last-minute distribution helps provide toys, hygiene kits, blankets to 100+ Santa Maria families – KSBY

‘The Bell’ Symphony for Cello and Orchestra to support Direct Relief efforts in Ukraine – The Strad

Nourishing Brands: How Liquid IV Became A Billion Dollar Hydra – The Marketing Sage

AbbVie spends $350M to bolster healthcare, education; ‘We look forward to the impact we will make in the decades to come’ – Chicago Tribune

America’s Top 100 Charities – Forbes Magazine

The post Disaster Relief Efforts Continue in Mexico and Morocco appeared first on Direct Relief.

One free clinic located in the epicenter of the opioid crisis has gone above and beyond to save lives and connect those with substance use disorder to lifesaving resources, including opioid-overdose-reversing naloxone.

This video, produced by Pfizer and Direct Relief, highlights the efforts of Milan Puskar Health Right, a free clinic that offers harm reduction services in Morgantown, West Virginia.

The state has the highest opioid overdose death rate in the U.S., according to 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To address demand, the clinic has expanded to offer comprehensive harm reduction services, including the distribution of naloxone to those with substance use disorders and their families.

Over the past five years, more than 2.6 million doses of naloxone have been provided at no charge to organizations in all 50 U.S. states and three territories.

The post Responding to the Opioid Crisis in West Virginia appeared first on Direct Relief.

Each year, before storm season begins on June 1, Direct Relief assembles and stages large caches of emergency medical supplies and collaborates with national health care and emergency response authorities in countries located in storm-prone regions.

Prior to the 2023 hurricane season, Direct Relief strategically placed emergency medical supplies in every Southeastern and Gulf Coast state of the United States, from Virginia to Texas, along with several locations throughout the Caribbean and Central America.

These hurricane preparedness packs contain the most commonly required medical supplies during and after a disaster, including trauma supplies, wound care supplies, and antibiotics. Additionally, they also contain medications for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, respiratory problems, psychological issues, and gastrointestinal problems.

This season, Direct Relief responded to the health needs that arose after three major storms, namely Hurricane Hilary, Hurricane Idalia, and Hurricane Otis. Direct Relief is currently continuing its response to these storms.

Hurricane Hilary

Hurricane Hilary formed on August 16, off the western coast of Mexico, and quickly grew into a Category 4 storm. It later weakened into a tropical storm before making landfall in Baja California. This was the first tropical storm to enter California since 1997. It continued to cause flooding as it moved across the southwestern United States and eventually dissipated over the Rocky Mountains.

Direct Relief took proactive measures before Hurricane Hilary made landfall by communicating with state and local organizations in Mexico to identify potential medical needs. Prior to the storm, Direct Relief supplied 18 emergency medical backpacks to the State of Baja, California, to equip first responders with medical essentials for triage care outside of clinic walls.

After the hurricane, Direct Relief sent additional medical support to the State of Baja California Sur, including ten emergency medical backpacks and an emergency health kit containing essential medicines and supplies usually requested after disasters.

These supplies were sent to Fundacion Astra in Baja California Sur, a non-profit organization that provides acute and preventive health services to vulnerable populations such as mothers and children, at-risk youth, injured and chronically ill people, and older adults.

Direct Relief was established as a Civil Association in Mexico in 2014 and has been an authorized donee since 2015. It is the only humanitarian wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals in Mexico that fully complies with COFEPRIS regulations. This means Direct Relief can receive and process donated goods, and it’s well-positioned to respond to both immediate public health requirements and long-term healthcare service needs in underserved communities.

Hurricane Idalia

Hurricane Idalia began as a tropical depression in the Caribbean and eventually made landfall at Keaton Beach on Florida’s northern gulf coast, specifically in the Big Bend region, on August 30. This was the first major hurricane on record to hit this part of the Big Bend, and it caused significant damage to trees and structures across multiple counties. The hurricane brought winds of up to 125 mph and a storm surge of seven to 12 feet.

In preparation for Hurricane Idalia, Direct Relief had positioned 14 hurricane preparedness modules across Florida. Each module contained enough medical supplies to treat 100 patients for various conditions such as trauma injuries and chronic illnesses for a 72-hour period. The caches were strategically placed in secure locations near vulnerable areas, with seven of them located within the path of Hurricane Idalia.

After the storm, Direct Relief coordinated with the Florida Association of Community Health Centers and the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics to provide more than one ton of requested medications and medical supplies, including insulin, wound care items, vitamins, and antibiotics, to healthcare facilities in these associations’ networks across Florida.

In North Miami, Mercy Mobile Clinic Provides Care Amid Chaos

One organization that provided crucial care in the aftermath of the hurricane was the North Miami Beach Medical Center. The center has been offering on-site medical assistance to victims of disasters since 2004 through its mobile health unit, which was purchased with the help of Direct Relief. When Hurricane Idalia struck their community in August, the center immediately sprang into action, providing healthcare services to the injured and those who had lost their medications and medical supplies in the storm, within the shelter setting.

People staying at the shelter reported multiple medical needs, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, asthma and Parkinson’s disease. There were also those with injuries, including people experiencing homelessness, older adults and young children, who were treated. Two medical team members also went to those living in damaged homes to help and encourage them to come out to the shelter.

During the storm, some people with behavioral health conditions lost access to their required treatments. The Mercy Mobile team provided prescriptions and arranged for medications to be delivered to the shelter.

In the subsequent days, clinic staff treated approximately 150 patients.

Hurricane Otis

Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm—the strongest hurricane to hit Mexico’s Pacific Coast in recorded history—made landfall in Acapulco, Mexico, on Oct. 25, 2023, killing dozens with more still missing.

Property damage from the storm is also extensive. Otis damaged 80% of the hotel infrastructure and 96% of businesses in a city that lives mostly from tourism. More than a month after the storm, business owners and employees are still clearing debris and rubble from the streets.

Direct Relief and FedEx collaborated to pre-position three emergency health kits in Chilpancingo Guerrero, Mexico ahead of Hurricane Otis. Additionally, Direct Relief provided 53 field medic packs, containing medical essentials for providing care outside of clinic walls to health providers on the ground.

After the storm, Direct Relief immediately pledged $200,000 to support medical care providers on the ground. The organization also dispatched additional supplies to assist first responders in search and rescue operations and to help healthcare professionals in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Among the groups that received support from Direct Relief was Medical Impact, which was granted an emergency operating fund of $25,000. The group sent 12 doctors to Acapulco to provide medical aid in the affected area. The medical providers were equipped with field medic packs and an emergency health kit from Direct Relief, which included essential medical supplies commonly requested during disaster situations.

During the first week of November, Direct Relief coordinated the delivery of 20,000 liters of diesel to power the backup generators at Acapulco’s general hospital. The hospital was running out of fuel and required the generators to keep functioning. To help prevent the spread of disease, Direct Relief also delivered 100,000 units of hand sanitizer to the regional ministry of health. These units were then distributed to affected communities. Direct Relief is continuing to receive requests and assess needs, and more donations are forthcoming.

The post The 2023 Hurricane Season: A Recap appeared first on Direct Relief.

In 2023, Direct Relief once again demonstrated the effectiveness of its flexible approach across all of its programmatic priorities. The organization sustained and expanded existing programs while also responding to humanitarian emergencies globally. The organization’s continuing response to the war in Ukraine – now exceeding $1 billion in humanitarian assistance – remains the largest mobilization of medical resources in Direct Relief’s history.

Direct Relief’s longstanding approach of supporting locally run facilities providing essential health services to underserved communities has enabled the organization to distribute more medicine and supplies, and strengthen fragile health systems in more places than ever before in its 75-year history. This report provides an overview of how Direct Relief has leveraged contributions from generous individuals, companies, and foundations to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty and emergencies in 2023.

2023 AID TRACKER
Unaudited totals through November 1, 2023

• $1,779,114,181 in medical assistance
• $51,300,000 in financial assistance
• 458,049,778 Defined Daily Doses of medicine
• 5,537,556 pounds of medicine and supplies
• 17,975 deliveries
• 2,371 healthcare providers supported
• 87 countries

Thank you for being part of Direct Relief

EMERGENCY RESPONSE ON A GLOBAL SCALE

Responding to humanitarian crises requires rapid mobilization of the right kind of assistance to the right partners at the right time. Direct Relief responds to emergencies using state-of-the-art data tools and guidance from its extensive global network of vetted partners. The result is swift and always tailored to specific requests from local front-line health workers. Coordination with other organizations and public agencies ensures the most efficient and precise use of resources.

The Right Products: Turkey/Syria Earthquake

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria left 100,000 people injured and destroyed hospitals and health clinics. Within 48 hours, Direct Relief began shipping requested supplies to help establish temporary medical facilities.

In its continuing response to the disaster, Direct Relief has delivered $92 million (wholesale) in material assistance, including:

• 63 million defined daily doses of vital medications
• 945 Direct Relief Emergency Medical Backpacks to equip first responders
• 3,680 Direct Relief Hygiene Kits for 18,400 displaced persons
• Prefabricated temporary housing for medical workers

Medicine and Money to Maui

The West Maui Wildfire destroyed the town of Lahaina, disproportionately affecting residents who are low-income, elderly or very young, pregnant, or who have chronic medical conditions. People with chronic conditions may face acute medical crises if they evacuate without their medications. Wildfires generate airborne particulates that can worsen respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

Direct Relief responded within 24 hours with a commitment of $500,000 in cash assistance to maintain health services. The first emergency shipments of requested medical essentials, including asthma inhalers, diabetes medicines, antibiotics, pain relief, wound care products, and cardiovascular medications, followed within days.

Data and Emergency Preparedness

When responding to natural disasters, displacements, and disease outbreaks, time is of the essence. Early detection and early response lead to better outcomes. Direct Relief can quickly provide the right assistance to the right places at the right times by linking real-time disaster data with information about community-level vulnerability, hazards, and losses.

Each year, Direct Relief leverages data analysis to pre-position materials needed to rapidly respond to hurricanes and efficiently mobilize in response to wildfires. Direct Relief monitors population movement, tracks disaster effects, and remains responsive to evolving circumstances in the affected areas.

STRENGTHENING HEALTH SYSTEMS

Direct Relief works to improve the health of people living in high-need areas by strengthening fragile health systems and increasing access to quality health care. The organization’s medical assistance programs equip health professionals who serve vulnerable populations, and increase access to medicine for patients who would otherwise go without.

Broadening Access to Cold Chain Medicines

Increasingly, new vaccines and medications for cancer, genetic diseases, diabetes, and other medical conditions require consistent cold temperatures (cold chain medicines) from the point of manufacture until dispensed to a patient. Communities that lack the infrastructure, power, and systems required to handle such medications properly, often go without these therapies.

Direct Relief improves cold chain infrastructure by providing cash grants, donations of refrigeration equipment, and expertise. In 2023, the organization delivered pharmaceutical-grade cold storage equipment to 113 healthcare facilities in low-resource communities.

With this support, health workers can store and administer important temperature-sensitive medicines for a range of conditions.

In 2023, Direct Relief delivered:

• 67 shipments of cancer treatments to 35 healthcare facilities in 24 countries
• Insulin to manage diabetes for 40,332 children with Type 1 diabetes in 32 countries
• Critical rare disease therapies to treat more than 600 patients in 17 countries

Increasing Access to Resilient Power

Modern healthcare relies on continuous power. Increasingly, record-setting emergencies result in extended power shut-offs. With healthcare systems’ growing dependence on power to provide treatment and maintain patient records, thousands of patients go without care when the power goes out.

Direct Relief’s Power for Health initiative promotes health equity by providing site-specific, reliable power to nonprofit community clinics and health centers serving the most vulnerable communities throughout the U.S. The initiative has already launched projects to provide energy solutions for 41 healthcare facilities in California, Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina, benefitting 1.3 million low-income patients. These projects have created an estimated $4.3 million in annual cost savings for the participating health facilities.

GETTING PATIENTS THE CARE THEY NEED

Cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes have become responsible for the highest shares of death and disability globally. Cancer alone has become the leading cause of death worldwide, and approximately 70 percent of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Direct Relief has responded by increasing its delivery of medical products and financial assistance to bolster the treatment of these conditions.

Delivering Lifesaving Medications to Children with Cancer

Direct Relief is the principal logistics provider for Global HOPE, a collaborative initiative to improve the survival rates of children with cancer and blood disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa to bring them in line with those of wealthy countries. Currently, only 10 to 20 percent of these children survive the disease.

Since 2019, Global HOPE has treated 13,000 children and trained more than 5,600 healthcare professionals in cancer care protocols.

Expanding Access to Cancer Care for Children in Mexico

In Mexico, specialized pediatric cancer care is available only in large cities. For low-income families who live in remote rural areas, the cost of transportation puts cancer care out of reach. Direct Relief and Casa de la Amistad, or CDLA, ensure that hundreds of children from the country’s most resource-poor areas have access to cancer treatment in urban centers. In 2023, Direct Relief and CDLA facilitated cancer treatment of 650 children.

Improving Care for Mothers and Babies

Complications arising from pregnancy are significant causes of death and disability among mothers and babies in low-resource communities. Access to a trained, equipped midwife is one of the most effective ways to ensure healthy pregnancies and safe births.

This year, Direct Relief extended the range of resources available to midwives and health workers to provide care for mothers and babies in medically vulnerable communities. The organization began distribution of its newly-developed Perinatal Health Kit, designed to treat the most common causes of death and disability during and after pregnancy. In 2023, Direct Relief’s Perinatal Health Kits were delivered to maternal healthcare facilities in Bangladesh, Malawi, and Somaliland to support care for 3,750 mothers and babies.

Up to 25% of pregnant women and newborns at partner facilities are estimated to experience the conditions addressed by the Perinatal Health Kit. The amount of supplies provided in 2023 sufficiently equipped midwives and health workers to address all identified cases.

The post Direct Relief: 2023 Impact Report appeared first on Direct Relief.

The shipments contained 7.8 million defined daily doses of medication, including insulin, cardiovascular medications, antibiotics, chronic disease medications, PPE, and more.

Assessing Needs after Nepal Earthquake

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake shook northwestern Nepal on Friday night. At least 69 people have been reported dead, with the number expected to rise this weekend. Direct Relief is reaching out to non-profit partner organization Mountain Heart Nepal to assess medical needs.

Responding to Hurricane Otis in Acapulco

A week after Hurricane Otis, a powerful Category 5 storm, made landfall in Acapulco, Mexico, at least 58 people are still missing, according to the Mexican government. So far, 46 people have been confirmed dead. Hurricane Otis is the strongest hurricane to hit Mexico’s Pacific Coast in recorded history, recording winds of up to 165 mph.

With assistance from FedEx, Direct Relief pre-positioned three emergency health kits in Chilpancingo Guerrero, Mexico, and 53 field medic packs, filled with medical essentials needed for care outside of clinic walls, with health providers on the ground, prior to Hurricane Otis’s landfall.

Since then, additional supplies have been sent to the affected region to aid first responders in their search and rescue efforts and to support the work of other healthcare staff in the wake of the hurricane.

In addition, Medical Impact, an organization that Direct Relief supported last week with a $25,000 emergency operating grant, deployed 12 doctors to Acapulco this week to provide medical care in the area. Field medic packs and an emergency health kit, which contains medical essentials commonly requested after disasters, are outfitting the medical providers during their trip.

Direct Relief will continue to respond to Hurricane Otis throughout the coming days.

Responding to the Highland Fire in California 

Fueled by Santa Ana winds, the Highland Fire erupted earlier this week in Southern California and grew to cover nearly 2,500 acres. While the fire is now 50 percent contained, the less than 25 percent containment two days ago prompted evacuation orders and warnings in parts of Aguanga, Riverside County, located around 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 75 miles northeast of San Diego.

In response to the wildfire, Direct Relief has dispatched an emergency wildfire health kit shipment, which includes respiratory medications, eye drops, chronic disease medications, first aid supplies, and PPE, including N-95 masks to protect against inhalation of fine particulate matter from ash and smoke. The kit will be delivered to Health Center Partners, the regional primary care association for Riverside County, to begin assisting patients in impacted areas.

Direct Relief will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves and provide updates as they become available.

Keiki Health Fair in Maui Supported by Direct Relief

The Keiki Health Fair for Lahaina residents in Ka’anapali, Maui, took place last week, when over 2,500 people attended to receive physicals, vaccinations (RSV, flu, COVID, and TDAP), and to have lost medical records recreated. The fair was designed to provide services and support to residents, in addition to healthcare, and local groups provided free haircuts, nail salon services, and face painting for children.

Direct Relief staff were present and helped at the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies table. This maternal and child health-focused nonprofit provides social services, clinical care, and behavioral health services across Maui, O’ahu and the Big Island, and they have been providing care to those affected by the fires since the disaster in August.

People received flu shots, and women could receive ultrasounds out of the mobile clinic (ultrasound devices, flu shots, and a vaccine fridge were donated by Direct Relief). Two pregnant women who had not received any prenatal care thus far received their first ultrasounds and were connected with Malama I Ke Ola Health Center to schedule prenatal appointments.

Last Friday, over 2,000 Lahaina residents returned to their homes for the first time after the fire. This zone was one of the most devastated and one of the largest to be opened at one time; almost every home was completely destroyed. About 1,000 kits of protective equipment donated by Direct Relief are being distributed daily.

About 20 of the 84 total zones have now been opened for reentry, and while the reentry schedule is partially determined by how quickly the Environmental Protection Agency can work, the Department of Health anticipates the reentry phase to last at least through the end of December.

Direct Relief Strengthens Disaster Response in the Philippines

The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), the country’s leading private-sector-led non-profit organization, recently held its annual Cluster Connect Conference (CCC). During the event, Direct Relief’s Ledrolen Manriquez, who is based in the Philippines, and PDRF signed an open Letter of Partnership, as a commitment to collaborate towards accountable, transparent, and inclusive strategies in responding to emergencies.

The two organizations are also committed to leveraging each other’s expertise, resources, and networks to enable effective disaster management and to foster resilient communities in the Philippines. Since 2010, Direct Relief has provided over 20.8 million doses of medicines to a network of 58 healthcare providers in the archipelago nation.

According to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes the Philippines and the nine other countries that sit on or near the “Ring of Fire,” the zone around the Pacific Ocean that is known for natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, this zone is the most natural disaster-prone region in the world. More than 50 percent of global disaster mortalities occurred in the region during the period of 2004 to 2014.

“We cannot do it alone. We need to ensure not only a whole-of-nation approach, but a whole-of-society approach to address the needs of Filipinos affected by disasters,” the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian shared at the meeting.

OPERATIONAL SNAPSHOT

WORLDWIDE

This week, Direct Relief shipped 7.1 million defined daily doses of medication outside the U.S.

Countries that received medical aid over the past week included:

UNITED STATES

Direct Relief delivered 641 shipments containing more than 12.1 tons of medications over the past week to organizations, including the following:

YEAR-TO-DATE (GLOBAL)

Since January 1, 2023, Direct Relief has delivered 18,200 shipments to 2,377 healthcare providers in 55 U.S. states and territories and 86 countries.

These shipments contained 459.5 million defined daily doses of medication valued at $1.8 billion (wholesale), totaling 5.6 million lbs.

in the news

Eugenio Derbez & ‘Acapulco’ Producers Send Donation & Messages Of Support Following Hurricane Otis Devastation In Mexico – Deadline

The scale of Hurricane Otis’ damage to Acapulco is coming into focus – The World

Direct Relief and FedEx Team Up To Respond to Dengue Outbreak in Mexico – Yahoo Finance

Disaster medics warn of infectious disease outbreaks in Hurricane Otis aftermath – Courthouse News Service

Direct Relief Reaffirms Commitment to Puerto Rico’s First Responders – BNN

Better Business Bureau: Donating for Relief Efforts – Quad-City Times

The post Assessing Needs after Nepal Earthquake, Response to Hurricane Otis Continues, and Mothers Receive Care in Maui appeared first on Direct Relief.

The second round of funding to the clinics in Florida, New Jersey, and California underscores the commitment by Teva and its partners to expand access to mental health resources. The grants will support further expansion of the clinics’ innovative behavioral health services that are tailored to meet the cultural and language needs of patients in their local communities, including screening and services focused on trauma-informed care, training, continued community outreach and partnership development, new delivery sites, and continued trust-building among their patients and communities.

“Teva’s continued support for mental health across the U.S. builds on the past year’s success, connecting even more patients with quality care,” said Thomas Tighe, CEO and President of Direct Relief. “Over the past year, free clinics serving the most vulnerable patients were able to use these resources as a force multiplier for good. Direct Relief is privileged to work with these clinics, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, and Teva, on this initiative that is again helping so many.”

“We know that a third of adults in the U.S. show symptoms of anxiety, depression or both – and more than 5.5 million adults with a mental illness are uninsured,” said Sven Dethlefs, PhD, Executive Vice President, North America Commercial at Teva. “Through this partnership, we are able to help address the rising need for community-based mental health care for uninsured and underserved populations.”

Nicole Lamoureux, President and CEO of NAFC said, “It is imperative that we continue to prioritize investment into mental health and behavioral programs. The funding from Community Routes provides these indispensable and trailblazing clinics with the momentum they need to create and expand mental health programs that can address the needs of their local communities.”

By the Numbers

Through the Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care program, Teva is providing funds and a broad portfolio of generic medicines to help advance health equity and quality care for underserved populations experiencing depression and anxiety. Within the program’s first six months, the 11 grant recipients reached over 22,000 patients within underserved communities, supporting individuals already facing other challenges, including food insecurity, low literacy, homelessness, and disabilities.

Program impact includes the facilitation of more than 7,300 anxiety, depression and adverse childhood experiences, or ACE screenings, over 400 staff/volunteer and community member trainings, and nearly 20 community events across New Jersey, California, and Florida.

“Without the grant funding, there would be no access to therapy services. In a post-Covid world, there has never been more need for mental health services, both therapy and medication. We are making a difference because of the grant,” said Greg Speed, Counselor at Cape Volunteers in Medicine in Cape May Court House, New Jersey.

Visit TevaUSA.com to learn more about the Community Routes program, including a video highlighting the many voices behind the grassroots-focused program.

The 2023 grantee clinic recipients to receive continued funding through Community Routes are outlined below with an overview of their recent focus and impact made in their local communities to-date.

FLORIDA

• University of Florida Mobile Outreach in Gainesville, Florida – Create and disseminate evidence-informed, easily accessible mental health wellness curriculum and training to underserved populations via trusted community members through a mobile outreach model.
• Grace Medical Home in Orlando, Florida – Expand an existing program that proactively identifies trauma and offers individualized interventions through an integrated, whole-person, multi-disciplinary approach to improve health outcomes.
• • Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland, Inc., in Lakeland, Florida – Support medication reconciliation services provided through the pharmacy, outreach and event coordination, and outreach to homeless encampments to connect with clinical services and referrals for mental health care, patient transportation, and education.

NEW JERSEY

• Cape Volunteers in Medicine in Cape May Court House, New Jersey – Improve mental and behavioral health access and treatment among at-risk populations by expanding depression and anxiety screenings. Funding also supports community events and outreach to identify community members’ mental and physical needs.
• Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Inc., in Hackensack, New Jersey – Increase capacity and fill a much-needed gap in care for Spanish-speaking patients with depression and anxiety through the support of a bilingual mental health practitioner and telehealth services to help reduce stigma and barriers to care.
• Parker Family Health Center in Red Bank, New Jersey – Support a collaboration with the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, which allows for a bilingual therapist to offer weekly counseling and the creation of mental health education to be shared at live community events, virtually and digitally.

CALIFORNIA

• Samaritan House in San Mateo, California – Support implementation of best practices in treating depression, anxiety, and trauma, as well as working with geriatric and immigrant populations. The creation of a student-led trainee program to expand group and individual services and the adoption of psychoeducational books, in native languages, to help promote awareness and reduce stigma.

• Symba Center in Apple Valley, California – Expand partnership with local behavioral health services organization to remove barriers and support successful, trauma-informed, mental and behavioral health care at a homeless shelter site.
• Westminster Free Clinic in Thousand Oaks, California – Offer a range of culturally and linguistically competent mental health services, including individual and peer support, and a training program that empowers parents to identify the early signs of mental health issues.
• Lestonnac Free Clinic in Orange, California – Establish protocols and formalize behavioral health program under a Behavioral Health Program Manager to provide care through a trauma-informed lens and create a mentorship program for behavioral health interns from local colleges and universities.
• Savie Health in Lompoc, California – Create a screening protocol for social determinants of health, depression, and anxiety and provide culturally sensitive resources and referrals to help patients overcome barriers to mental health care.

The post More Support for Mental Health Care Reaches Clinics in California, Florida, and New Jersey appeared first on Direct Relief.