Tsunami earthquake relief
In the first week of January 2005 International Health Partners was asked by the UK industry associations to coordinate their donations of aid to tsunami affected countries. With the destruction of the local infrastructure the logistics of delivering medical aid have become a major problem; IHP has been acting as the intermediary between the needs of the emergency medical teams and potential donors in the UK.
Liaising
closely with the WHO teams (both 'in-country' and in Geneva),
the local Ministries of Health, DfID and London-based High Commissions
and Embassies, IHP has been communicating the current medical
requirements directly to the manufacturers.
Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development, said: “I greatly welcome this initiative from the UK's pharmaceutical and medical supplies industries. These medicines and supplies will help the medical teams on the ground and, by having International Health Partners liaising closely with these teams, we can ensure that what is needed gets delivered.”
IHP stands behind the Disasters Emergency Committee (which coordinates the efforts of the largest UK NGOs) and its members and will seek to support, wherever appropriate, the coordinated efforts of all the relevant aid agencies.
Aid to Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Since
the beginning of January IHP has arranged for almost 100 pallets of medicines
and medical supplies, valued at over £3.5m, to be sent to the Maldives
and Sri Lanka. All these donations have been agreed with the WHO and Ministry
of Health teams in both countries.
Responding on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government, High Commissioner Faisz Mustapha said: “These industry donations of antibiotics, pain killers, vitamins, and antiseptics will save many lives. Such a coordinated and timely airlift of precisely the medical supplies we require has only been possible because IHP acts as a ‘one stop shop’ for UK industry donations.”
High Commissioner Hassan Sobir, speaking on behalf of the Government of the Maldives, commented: “The tsunami has destroyed a large number of the hospitals and clinics in our small country. This donation of medical supplies will go a long way to re-supply and equip these centres. Heartfelt thanks go to British industry and IHP from our people.”
Dr Kan Tun, WHO Representative to Sri Lanka noted: "the donations were supplied to meet specific identified needs of essential medicines and medical supplies. It is vital that quality, in-date medicines are provided when disasters hit and pressing humanitarian situations persist. We were pleased to work with the Ministry of Health and to assist International Health Partners as they undertook their audit on the ground, to determine how donated medicines and supplies can be best used".
Shipments to South East Asia have truly been a partnership venture. Donations have been received from two charitable trusts, Actelion Pharmaceuticals UK, a Sri Lankan business and World Jewish Relief to cover part of the handling and transportation costs. ADS Insurance Services, Durbin, Speed International and Sri Lankan Airlines have either donated their services or offered deeply discounted rates.
IHP undertook full on-site audits of the donations to the Maldives and Sri Lanka in March 2005. These have been reviewed and agreed with the WHO and submitted to partner donors and the Department for International Development. Copies are available on request to appropriate interested bodies or individuals.
IHP's shipments to date - the most recent
listed first - have been:
a shipment of £700 000 of medical supplies and medicines
25 pallets shipped to Sri Lanka on 11 March 2005.
The donations were provided by:
- Smith & Nephew (22 pallets of medical supplies)
- Athelone [Kent Pharmaceuticals] (2 pallets of amoxicillin; cloxacillin)
- Niche Generics (ciprofloxacin)
Shipment of £1.4m of medicines to Sri Lanka;
22 pallets on 19 February 2005
Garth Cooper (volunteer); Helen Da Costa (volunteer)
and Carsten Hennings (Director, IHP)
The donations were provided by:
- Pliva Pharma (16 pallets of ciprofloxacin)
- UCB/Celltech (4 pallets of salbutamol, beclomethasone, betamethasone, prednisolone)
- Merck Sharp Dohme (famotidine) Winthrop/Sanofi Avensis (ibuprofen)
- Physique Management (dressings)
Shipment to Sri Lanka on 29 January 2005 of 4
pallets of Zoton from Wyeth.
Working - two volunteers Stephen Stordy and Tom Rothwell
The second shipment of 43 pallets shipped to
Sri Lanka on 24 January 2005
The donations were provided by:
- Lilly - injectible antibiotics (32 large brown pallets)
- Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals - Advil and Centrum (7 pallets - black shrink wrap - in the centre)
- IVAX - tramadol, paracetamol and various antibiotics (4 pallets)
A donation of medical supplies from Medex Medical valued at £75,000 was shipped to the Maldives.
The first shipment sent to Sri Lanka 15 January
2005
Ruth Dunnett, Anthony Dunnett, Rohan Dias (Speed International
Shipping Agent), Carsten Hennings (Director, IHP)
The donations were provided by:
-
Genus - injectible antibiotics (tall brown box on right)
-
Keyline Brands - antiseptic hand wash (black shrink wrapped middle and left)
-
CD Medical - wound cleaner (black shrink wrapped right)
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(UK) Ltd: The Fold, Beech Hill, Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 6JR
Company Registered No: 5044723 Registered Charity
No: 1105455 © International Health
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This site was updated on 09.05.08