Puerto Rico: Hurricane Maria Relief

From October to December 2018, RMF Puerto Rico continued distributing supplies received in previous shipments from Direct Relief, which included soap bars and body lotion, adult vitamins and supplements, children’s vitamins, pediatric OTC medicines, and prescription medicines. We received the thirteenth and fourteenth Direct Relief shipment on November 6, 2018 and began distributing these supplies in San Juan, Ciales, Vega Baja, Orocovis, Vega Alta, and Dorado. Together, the thirteenth and fourteenth shipments from Direct Relief were valued at $5,398.30.

Now fully mobilized, RMF Puerto Rico has been continually providing health outreaches throughout rural and urban areas most impacted by Hurricane Maria, focusing our efforts on inland towns where health services and support are most needed. Thanks in part to the donations received from Direct Relief, we were able to provide 890 free hygiene products, 400 skin care products, 360 adult supplements, 359 prescription medicines, 324 flu shots, 165 pediatric multivitamins, 144 pediatric OTC medications, 128 adult multivitamins, and 72 hydration solutions during October, November, and December of 2018. Many children, adults, and elderly people benefited from these outreaches.

On November 6, 2018, we received the thirteenth shipment from Direct Relief, containing adult multivitamins and mineral supplements, probiotics supplements, fiber supplements, children’s allergy medicine, and hygiene products including body lotion and soap bars. The contents of the shipment have been partially distributed at outreaches carried out in San Juan, Ciales, Vega Baja, Orocovis, Vega Alta, and Dorado. We continued to coordinate with different support organizations, such as churches and local leaders, and strategies were coordinated with the mayors of the municipalities for future events. The remaining supplies are being stored safely in our warehouse.

On November 6, 2018, we received the fourteenth shipment from Direct Relief, containing a variety of prescription medicines, including levothyroxine sodium 0.05 mg and 0.075 mg, haloperidol lactate 5 mg/1 mL, cefepime hydrochloride 2 gm, gabapentin 300 mg, cefazolin sodium 1 gm, and etodolac 300 mg. The shipment was valued at $3,783.90. These medicines were distributed to communities through outreaches in Vega Alta and Dorado. We continued to coordinate with different support organizations, such as churches and local leaders, and strategies were coordinated with the mayors of the municipalities for future events. The shipment was partially distributed, and remaining supplies are being stored safely in our warehouse to be distributed in other communities.