Over the past seven days, Direct Relief has delivered 536 shipments of requested medical aid to 47 U.S. states and territories and 11 countries worldwide.

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