Pharmacists, funds needed for Haiti relief efforts
Whether it’s time or money, earthquake victims can use your
help.
Note: Within 72 hours of APhA's call to
action, more than 2500 pharmacist communications regarding
offers to help refugees of the Haitian earthquake were
received. Because of this overwhelmingly positive
response from the pharmacy community, the organizers have asked that
individuals be patient given the situation in Haiti and the need to
rebuild systems in that country. This will be a long term effort and the
names of volunteers will be shared with organizations seeking
pharmacists’ assistance. If you would like to have your name added
to the list (and have not done so already) you can submit your
information via the Haiti Relief Volunteer Response
form. If you are a member of a local disaster
assistance team let your team know of your interest as well. Those
wishing to help the people of Haiti at this time should also consider
donating to the American Red Cross or one of the other relief agencies
responding to the crisis.Pharmacists are needed (2-week stints
are preferred but may not be required) at aid centers being set up
in the Dominican Republic and Haiti that will serve refugees and victims
of this week’s earthquake in Haiti. For those unable to commit
that amount of time away from home, financial contributions to
organizations such as the Red Cross are an excellent means of
immediately helping those affected by this disaster.
The Dominican Republic, the second largest Caribbean nation after
Cuba, shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. American relief
efforts within Haiti are being coordinated by the U.S. Departments of
State and Health and Human Services. Many of those displaced by the
earthquakes are fleeing to the Dominican Republic, and teams of health
professionals are arriving to provide acute care to earthquake victims
and maintenance medications to refugees fleeing the disaster in Haiti
and its capital, Port-Au-Prince.
The United Nations is coordinating the relief efforts. JetBlue
and Spirit Airline are transporting teams of health professionals from
New York City and other U.S. airports. Pharmacists and physicians are
already on the ground in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. More
pharmacists will be needed to assist the relief efforts, which are
expected to last 6 to 9 months or longer.
The organization representing the United Nations in coordinating the
identification and placement of pharmacists and physicians was
overwhelmed by the response received from pharmacists and asked for
APhA’s assistance in coordinating the information from
pharmacists. APhA has compiled a database with the information submitted
by volunteers and has created an online form to streamline the
submission by new volunteers. The information collected will be made
available to organizations such as the UN and HHS, which are seeking to
place volunteers in the relief efforts.
Those interested in volunteering for the relief effort (who have not
done so already) should fill out the Haiti
Relief Volunteer Response form.
The relief coordinators ask pharmacist volunteers to be patient as
the infrastructure for placing additional volunteers is being developed.
The goal of the organizers is to maximize resources and safeguard the
assets (address the safety of human and material resources).
Pharmacists wishing to contribute financially to the relief effort
have several options:
- To contribute $10 to the American Red Cross using your cell phone,
text HAITI to 90999.
- Access the American Red
Cross or InterAction websites
and make donations there.
Individuals or companies with goods (pharmaceuticals or
medical supplies) or services (transportation, storage) to donate should
access the Center
for International Disaster Information website and/or contact
federal officials at cip@hhs.gov.
Consider providing that information to alerts@rxresponse.org as
well. Do not use the Centers for International Disaster site if you wish
to volunteer your service (instead, complete the Haiti
Relief Volunteer Response form).
Click here for the
latest information on Haiti relief efforts from HHS.
Related resources on pharmacist.com
L. Michael Posey, BPharm (mposey)
Posted January
16, 2010, 5:00 p.m.; updated January 25, 2010
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