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With the help of donors and partner organizations, AmeriCares helped save thousands of lives in 2008. From earthquakes in China to tornadoes in the American mid-west; from cyclones in Myanmar to hurricanes in Haiti, AmeriCares has delivered aid around the world, whenever and wherever it’s needed.
In 2008, AmeriCares delivered over $1 billion worth of medicines, medical supplies and aid to 87 countries through our Global Medical Assistance, Emergency Response and Medical Outreach Programs.
Highlights from 2008 include:
Responding to Emergencies and Natural DisastersIn May, when Cyclone Nargis ripped through Myanmar, AmeriCares was one of the first humanitarian groups to get relief workers and medicines on the ground. Days later, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake shook China’s Sichuan Province. AmeriCares sent an initial airlift of essential medicines and worked with local authorities to construct and equip two state-of-the-art field hospitals that continue to treat patients today.
Throughout the year, AmeriCares responded to 32 emergencies in 25 countries, including the United States, Mexico, Bangladesh and Haiti. Our deliveries including shipments of critical medicines and supplies, as well as water purification treatments, nutritional supplements and hygiene supplies.
Delivering Health and Hope to Survivors of ConflictAmeriCares continued to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan. To date, AmeriCares has completed 11 airlifts of lifesaving medicines and supplies, delivering more than two million courses of treatments for malaria, cholera, and deadly infections as well as supplies for wound care and equipment for medical tests.
In early 2008, AmeriCares also delivered disease-fighting medicines to camps of displaced persons in Kenya, where violent conflict followed after their elections. Most recently, we delivered water purification to refugees fleeing for safety in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Meeting Critical Health Needs World WideIn 2008, AmeriCares helped partner organizations and beneficiaries in 40 countries through our Global Medical Assistance Program. This included donated medicines and medical supplies valued at more than $780 million. AmeriCares fills health care resource gaps by supplying hospitals, clinics and community health programs with life-saving medicines and supplies on an ongoing basis.
AmeriCares also helped support health care initiatives, including breast cancer care in Cambodia, a child nutrition program in Vietnam, heart health programs in Central Asia and efforts to fight blinding trachoma in Africa. We also expanded our work within the United States by providing medicines to free clinics in 34 states, giving hope and well-being to hardworking families without health insurance.
However, the delivery of medical aid is not keeping pace with a health crisis made worse by natural disasters, widespread civil strife and the world wide food shortage.
Help AmeriCares save lives and restore health around the World »
Looking Forward to 2009
As world wide economic fears and long-running food shortages deepen, AmeriCares remains steadfast in our commitment to help people who are most in need. When times get tough, they are hardest on those who live on the margin. Most of the people AmeriCares serves survive on just a few dollars per day, with little resources left for food and shelter – let alone medical care. That’s why AmeriCares has a robust plan to provide a health care lifeline to those in crisis – whenever they need it, wherever they need it. Click here to read more about our plans for 2009.