Medicines to the Most Needy

06 Jul Medicines to the Most Needy

As we mentioned in previous newsletters, we decided to use the remaining donated funds for hurricane relief to assist as many as possible with much needed medications, especially because we haven’t been able to conduct our usual village medical clinics.  We spent $25,000 and because we got the wholesale price, it is equivalent to around $40,000 dollars in basic medications.  We selected five clinics in communities in which we are working to be the recipients of the gift.  It’s hard to express in words how much the donations were appreciated.  One of the clinics had a pharmacy with only a few dozen items on the shelves.  We estimate that the donations per clinic will serve approximately 1000 patients.  The economic impact of the pandemic plus the hurricanes has strained the already struggling public health sector.  Most of the government funds for the past year have been directed at treating COVID, meaning the clinics are receiving hardly any support.  One clinic director told me with tears in her eyes how sad she feels when a patient comes for a consult and needs a medication desperately, but the only thing she can do is write a prescription for them to purchase in a public pharmacy.  She knows these individuals will likely not fill the prescription due to lack of funds to do so.  People are doing without some of the most basic medications like high blood pressure and diabetes drugs because they simply can’t afford to purchase them, and the clinics are not receiving supplies from the government.  It was our pleasure and privilege to deliver these medications on behalf of those of you who generously donated to the cause.  We realize we are so blessed to be stewards of your generosity, and we sincerely thank you for giving.