More relief shipments to Ebola-wracked Africa

One million product items, including masks, gowns, biohazard bags and shoe covers have been provided by Cardinal Health for use in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where current estimates are that as many as 1.4 million residents in the two countries might ultimately be affected. The donation, being handled in multiple shipments, is managed by Americares, Inc. (Stamford CT), which works with many US healthcare products manufacturers to provide emergency relief in the developing world following natural disasters and epidemics like the current Ebola crisis.

“As a company with concerns for the health and well-being of people around the world, we’re proud to be able to support international relief efforts in this way,” said Mike Duffy, president, Medical Products at Cardinal Health, in a statement, “and we’re glad to have a long-standing affiliation with organizations like AmeriCares that are able to quickly deploy products to the places they’re needed most.”

Another Big Three US wholesaler, McKesson, made a comparable relief contribution to World Vision, a Pittsburgh charitable organization, in mid-September, and a group of healthcare providers and manufacturers organized one in mid-August with Direct Relief. There have been press reports that relief contributions like these are being held up at airports and loading docks. An Americares spokesperson notes that the organization has representatives in place in Liberia and Sierra Leone to oversee distribution, and works with in-country relief organizations there to ensure the shipments get delivered.