To help people across the South Pacific nation of Fiji who have been impacted by Cyclone Daphne, Direct Relief is delivering specifically-requested medical aid to healthcare partners caring for persons injured and/or displaced by the severe weather.  It is reported that over 11,000 people are staying in evacuation centers while the government works to restore services to the areas affected by the cyclone.  A 15-day state of emergency has been declared in Fiji’s west coast areas, as more rains are expected to hit the country.

Over the past several days, Direct Relief has been in contact with the Ministry of Health and the Savusavu Community Foundation in Fiji, coordinating assistance to its network of healthcare partners across the island nation.  The emergency shipment from Direct Relief includes critically-needed medicines such as antibiotics and medications used to treat acute and chronic conditions. These medicines will help satisfy the demand until normal healthcare services and supply chains are restored.   According to the Fijian Head of Hospital Services, Dr. Meciusela Tuicaku, they plan to allocate the medicines to 8 hospitals, 40 health centers, and 16 nursing stations which are treating persons affected by the storms.

Air Pacific, Fiji’s national airline, generously donated the transportation of Direct Relief’s 16,000-pound shipment of medical aid to the main island of Viti Levu.  This shipment includes over $5.18 million (wholesale) in medical donations from Allergan, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Carlsbad Technology, Mylan Laboratories, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Watson Pharmaceuticals.

Direct Relief has been working with partners in Fiji since the early 1990s, and in the last 5 years the organization has sent over 37 shipments of medicines and medical supplies, valued at over $8 million (wholesale) to healthcare providers caring for the country’s most vulnerable people.