Emergency Situation in Haiti

The country of Haiti suffered a massive earthquake on January 12th. While Rx Response's operations are focused on US disasters, our hearts are with those in Haiti and their family and friends around the world. Relief efforts are underway but are complicated due to the devastation, poverty, and lack of resources and infrastructure. Many people want to help in whatever way they can, and with that in mind, Rx Response is posting some links to reputable aid and relief organizations that are accepting donations. These organizations are recommended by the State Department and others who can vouch for their reputation.

• The Red Cross: Individuals wishing to help may text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti; If you wish to designate an additional donation to the specific disaster in Haiti, you also can do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter.
• The Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad (AMHE)
• Center for International Disaster Information: On this site, the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) provides information and guidance in support of the international Haiti relief effort. Individuals, groups, corporations, NGOs, embassies, media and others from around the world can rely upon CIDI's resources and services in order to provide more effective international emergency assistance.
• Clinton Foundation
• HHS Medical Volunteer Registration Site: The United Nations and the Pan American Health Organization are currently working with the Haitian government to assess the immediate and long-term health and medical needs of Haiti. Once HHS receives the results of this assessment, they will have a better sense of the possibilities for volunteering. In the meantime, HHS has set up an email where medical professionals can send offers of volunteer medical care services. If you are interested in volunteering, please send an email to Haiti.volunteer@hhs.gov and include your name, clinical area, specialty skills, degrees, and language capabilities (in particular, whether you speak Haitian Creole or French and if so, your level of fluency). Your information will be logged and shared with USAID; you may be contacted if an opportunity becomes available that matches your skill set.
• Interaction: Interaction also lists a very robust list of organizations that have an established presence in the country. Each can be accessed through the following link:
• Mercy Corp
• Merlin USA: Merlin’s emergency response team is working with Haitians and other international agencies to meet the most urgent needs: water, sanitation, shelter, disease prevention and restoration of basic health services. Merlin is calling on the public to provide support in our relief efforts.
• USAID - Haiti Donations: Rather than donating through the CIDI website, donation offers can now be made on the new USAID Haiti website, which links to AidMatrix portal 133. Offers made on the CIDI website have been transferred to this site and do not need to be re-registered. On this site, potential donors can review the published needs to see if there are other needs they may be able to match. HHS is being careful to only provide resources at the request of the Haitian government based on their needs, so that we avoid the complications that can arise from donations that are not coordinated through the appropriate channels. USAID and the State Department are working with the Haitian government to determine their needs and coordinate resource donations with HHS and other federal agencies.

Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD) Product Donations Guidelines: The Haiti earthquake will inspire well-meaning individuals and organizations to send clothing, water, food and medicines to the organizations responding to this catastrophic disaster. It is understandable to assume that in the wake of a catastrophic disaster, any and all donations are needed! Though well intentioned, this sort of response is rarely helpful and often dangerous. This is especially true when applied to biopharmaceuticals and other medical products. Unused medicines and free samples are may not be stored, managed or shipped properly. Aid organizations do not have the time or resources to sort through shipments; as a result the products must be disposed of at great expense to avoid polluting the environment The WHO has developed guidelines for safe, equitable donations of biopharmaceuticals, described on this site.

Every citizen and health-related company has a part to play when disaster strikes.

In the event of a severe public health emergency or disaster, one of the many critical factors in preserving and protecting public health will be continued access to essential medicines – for treatment of injuries or illness caused by the event, as well as continued supply of medicines for patients.

Rx Response partners include the drug and biotechnology manufacturing and distribution industries as well as hospitals and community pharmacies.  Rx Response partners are committed to working together with local, state and federal emergency management and public health officials as well as volunteer organizations to help support the continued delivery of biopharmaceuticals and medicines to people who need them in the event of such an emergency, whether it is caused by a natural disaster, terrorist incident or another health emergency, such as a pandemic.

Rx Response provides a number of tools and resources designed to help communicate information and support the normal biopharmaceutical supply system.  These include:

• a downloadable medication card that helps individuals record their medical history;
• a resource list for personal preparedness guidelines in the event of a natural disaster or pandemic;
• and a pharmacy status reporting tool that helps state emergency management officials and the general public identify open pharmacies in their local area.

Resources on this site detail what constitutes an emergency, how the biopharmaceutical supply chain functions and how you can prepare for a severe public health emergency.  To find out more about Rx Response, navigate through the menu options at the top of the page, or send an email to contactus@rxresponse.org.

Rx Response Fall 2009 Newsletter Now Available Online!

Rx Response has just published its Fall 2009 Newsletter. The new brief highlights the latest efforts of the Rx Response Program to strengthen the resilience of the Biopharmaceutical Supply System in the United States. Topics in the brief include Rx Response's new partnership with the national 2-1-1 programs and information and referral services, an update on Rx Response's ongoing support to our public and private sector partners in response to the H1N1 pandemic, and other recent Rx Response efforts. To read the newsletter, click here.