IOCC and MTI Deliver Critical Medical Aid to Suffering Haitians

IOCC and MTI Deliver Critical Medical Aid to Suffering Haitians

January 21, 2010

Baltimore, MD - International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has responded to the urgent need for medical supplies and basic medications to treat the injured and sick in Haiti with a shipment of critically-needed medicines and hospital supplies expected to assist over 45,000 Haitians.

The assistance, delivered today to King's Hospital in Port-au-Prince, is worth more than $1.2 million and was provided by IOCC's long standing partner, Medical Teams International (MTI). The supplies will help to meet some of the urgent demand for antibiotics, anesthesia medications for surgery and pain medications.

"It has been a heart-rending week of loss and suffering for the people of Haiti," said IOCC Executive Director and CEO, Constantine M. Triantafilou. "We pray that the shipment of these medicines will help stem the further loss of life from injuries and will provide comfort to the suffering."

Providing medical supplies and medical care remains one of the highest priorities in Haiti where people's lives are now threatened because there is not enough surgical or trauma care.

Last weekend, IOCC participated in an airlift that included water purification and sanitation equipment for 10,000 people and 500 family tents. IOCC, the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and member of the ACT Alliance, is continuing to work with partners to identify unmet needs for emergency aid that will sustain survivors of the January 12 earthquake.

You can help the victims of disasters around the world, like the Haiti Earthquake, by making a financial gift to the IOCC International Emergency Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support to help those in need. To make a gift, please visit www.iocc.org, call toll free at 1-877-803-IOCC (4622), or mail a check or money order payable to IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225.

Media: Contact Amal Morcos at 410-243-9820 or (cell) 443-823-3489.