U.S. provides $800,000 worth of medical supplies for Palestinian patients
RAMALLAH, WEST BANK – Patients in the West Bank and Gaza will be receiving a total of $800,000 worth of dialysis supplies and medicine from the United States government as part of a $10 million pledge made by Secretary Condoleezza Rice last week to help meet the health needs of the Palestinian people.
The first shipment, worth more than $275,000, will leave Ramallah on May 17 for hospitals throughout the West Bank and Gaza. This shipment will give priority to medicine and supplies needed to treat patients with kidney failure. US Consul General Jake Walles and USAID Deputy Director R. David Harden will preside over a ceremony to send the trucks on their way.
The medical supplies, which include intravenous tubing for patients, iron supplements to treat the common side effect of anemia, and essential solutions used in the dialysis machines, were selected by CARE after a review of hospital needs. This work is being conducted as part of CARE's Emergency Medical Assistance Program (EMAP), a two year project supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
CARE's Emergency Program will provide shipments of additional supplies over the next two weeks for a total amount of $800,000. Additional assistance pursuant to Dr. Rice's pledge will be implemented through CARE and a supplementary grant to UNICEF.
USAID has partnered with CARE in health sector activities since 1997. Since 1993, the American people have provided Palestinians with more than $1.7 billion in economic assistance.
The event with the Consul General and the USAID Deputy Director will take place on Wednesday, May 17 at 1030 at the CARE Warehouses in Ramallah. Journalists interested in attending can meet near Top Car on Al-Bireh main road. Transportation will be provided. For more information, please contact Manal Alami at 054-7508001 or Ala'a Daas at 059-9279891.
Country: United States of America
Subject: Assistance
Publication Date: 16/05/2006