Direct Relief International and Johnson & Johnson Join to Provide $10 Million in Requested Medical Aid to Afghanistan
Direct Relief International and Johnson & Johnson Join to Provide $10 Million in Requested Medical Aid to Afghanistan - Contribution by J&J largest to single country in Direct Relief’s 54-year history
Johnson & Johnson commits $10 Million in medical product contributions to Afghanistan through Direct Relief International - a California-based non-profit international medical releif organization. This is the largest single product contribution received by Direct Releif for a single country in its 54-year history.
For Immediate Release CONTACT: Chris Davis 805/962-5792
Los Angeles, June 5, 2002--Direct Relief International today announced that Johnson & Johnson has committed $10 million in medical product contributions in response to urgent needs in Afghanistan. This commitment is the largest single product contribution that the California-based charity has received for a single country in its 54-year history.
The materials will be delivered in quarterly disbursements from Johnson & Johnson’s production facilities in South Asia, and the first delivery – valued at more than $2.5 million wholesale – has been released.
“We are deeply thankful for Johnson & Johnson’s unprecedented commitment to help us address the severe human needs in Afghanistan,” said Direct Relief International President and CEO Thomas Tighe. “Their extraordinary response to our request has been innovative, extensive, and efficient.”
The first shipment of pharmaceutical products, including anti-fungal and anti-parasitic medicines, sutures, and basic consumer products such as soaps, shampoos, and bandages will be provided to two “Mother and Child” Health Clinics and the Kart-e-Seh Hospital in Kabul as well as the Aryen Medical Clinic in Peshawar, Pakistan which serves Afghan refugee populations. These facilities are operated by Hope Worldwide, another U.S.-based nonprofit organization. The Afghan Institute for Learning, which provides health services to Afghan women in Afghanistan and in refugee sites in Pakistan, will also receive needed product support.
Additional shipments will be allocated among these and other facilities that have been established or reestablished in recent months. Direct Relief has provided more than 17 tons of medical material assistance valued at more than $2.7 million wholesale to facilities Afghanistan and Pakistan in the last 9 months.
Tighe noted the leadership of senior Johnson & Johnson officials, who were both personally involved in approving Direct Relief’s request and offered delivery and distribution strategies to reduce costs. “They asked how they could help us assist people in Afghanistan and provided everything we asked for, and more,” said Tighe.
“It is a wonderful example of leadership, and shows how private people, businesses, and organizations can and do engage on their own initiative in a complex humanitarian crisis,” Tighe said.
Additionally, last month Direct Relief International and Johnson & Johnson teamed to provide a disaster module via air to Red Cross/Red Crescent ambulance teams working in West Bank/Gaza. The module includes a large assortment of sutures, bandages, splinting devices, children's and adult Tylenol. Direct Relief International has arranged this assistance in partnership with American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), which has worked in West Bank/Gaza for many years.
