MONROVIA, September 21 (LINA) - Direct Relief, a United States-based organization, has donated the biggest private consignment of medical supplies to date to the Government of Liberia to fight the Ebola disease.

The 200 pallets of medical goods arrived at the Robert International Airport (RIA) on Sunday.

The Director of International Programs &Emergency Preparedness and Response of Direct Relief, Andrew MacCalla, said the supplies will be given to five institutions for distribution to the needy.

MacCalla named the institutions as the National Drug Service (NDS), Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with CHAI and Last Mile Health, Africare, Christian Aid Ministries and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

He said 29 pallets will go to NDS, 69 to MOH, CHAI and Last Mile Health, 55 pallets to Africare, 43 to Christian Aid Ministries and 4 to CDC.

He said the donation will serve as a great collaboration between Direct Relief, Africare, Christian Aid Ministries, CDC, and the Ministry of Health/Government of Liberia.

He indicated that Africare and Christian Aid will coordinate the distribution of supplies to the areas of need, adding, “We know from working extensively with the Last Mile Health team over the years, and now with the CHAI team, that there is great collaboration in making sure that the supplies go where they can be most useful.”

MacCalla said Direct Relief is grateful for its support to the Government of Liberia carry out its work in the fight against the outbreak of Ebola and hope this will gather more attention to the needs on the ground.

Receiving the items, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf thanked the US-based group for the gesture, pointing out, “This sizable donation will make a very huge impact in the fight against the Ebola virus disease and Liberia’s health sector as a whole.”

In related development, President Sirleaf earlier Sunday dedicated a 150-bed Island Clinic Ebola Treatment Unit on the Bushrod Island.

The ETU will be the single largest Ebola treatment facility to be operated in Liberia.
LINAPSN/PTK