By Angela Garcia | Project Leader
Since late October, Global Links has been working with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), MEDICC and Cuban health officials to determine what assistance we could provide based on hurricane damage assessments. PAHO is the regional arm of the World Health Organization, and as such has representation in every country in this hemisphere and its sole purpose is to support public health. Disaster recovery efforts in Cuba are focused on rehabilitating the health sector. Thanks to generous donations received through Global Giving,Global Links will be loading the first two tractor-trailer shipments of medical aid destined for Santiago, Cuba next week. We will be including hospital linens, anti-bacterial soap, basic medical, and infection control supplies.
PAHO reports that approximately 226,000 homes were damaged and at least 17,000 destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, which caused 11 deaths and affected 3 million people. 746 health facilities were damaged in the eastern region. The province of Santiago de Cuba is the most affected, with 369 damaged health facilities.
18 hospitals in Santiago de Cuba are damaged and are partially functioning.There is severe damage in the Psychiatric Hospital, which had to be evacuated; in the Pediatric Hospital, and Siboney Primary Health Center.
Donations are still needed to support Global Links' next shipments of medical furnishings, equipment, and medical books to replace those damaged by the storm, along with additional essential supplies to enable the medical staff to provide care for their patients. The hospitals affected by the hurricane serve over one million people. Thank you for helping them to recover.
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