Puerto Rico: Hurricane Maria Relief
Outreaches for Nursing Home Residents: Q2 2019
July 05, 2019
Marisol Espinosa
Summary of Activities
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.
Starting in April 2019, RMF Puerto Rico has also been focusing on providing vitamins and hygienic products for nursing home residents, most of whom are elderly and bedridden, at homes located in the town of Manatí.
Thanks in part to the donations received from Direct Relief during previous reporting periods, during this 3-month period we were able to provide:
- 879 free hygiene products
- 641 vitamins and supplements
- 1,300 OTC medicines
- 20 skincare products
- 48 pairs of earplugs
- 24 hydration solutions
- 160 diabetes medications
- 1 emergency medical backpack.
Beneficiaries included adults, children, and the elderly.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
April 11, 2019
4 Outreaches in Manati
Thanks to Direct Relief’s previous donations, RMF Puerto Rico team members were able to deliver hygiene products, vitamins, and skincare products to these nursing homes located in the town of Manati, Puerto Rico:
- Nazario Nursing Home
- Mama Luz Nursing Home
- Cristo La Rosa Del Milagro Nursing Home
- La Hacienda Nursing Home
April 15-16, 2019
La Trocha Community in Vega Baja
La Trocha is a community where homelessness and drug addiction are prevalent, and both problems have been exacerbated by the destruction of Hurricane Maria. Many underprivileged and drug-addicted community members received hygiene products, supplements, and hydration solutions on April 15.
PryMed Health Clinic
RMF Puerto Rico team members were able to deliver diabetes medications and an emergency medical backpack on April 16.
April 26-27, 2019
Pozas Community in Ciales
Thanks to Direct Relief’s previous donation, RMF Puerto Rico team members were able to deliver hygiene products, vitamins, skincare products, and OTC medications to this community on April 26.
Tetuán Community in Utuado
Utuado is Puerto Rico’s third-largest municipality, with over 35,336 residents living in its 24 wards. RMF Puerto Rico team members were able to distribute hygiene products, OTC medications, and vitamins in this community on April 27.
May 2, 2019
Barranquitas Outreach
Barranquitas was one of the towns most affected by Hurricane Maria, causing the loss of approximately 2,000 homes in the village. RMF Puerto Rico was able to deliver supplies to many elderly and adult participants from different communities of Barranquitas.
At this outreach, we provided:
- 48 hygiene products
- 80 OTC medicines
- 15 vitamins
June 2019
6 Outreaches Completed
In June, RMF Puerto Rico provided the following items at 6 different outreaches, 5 in Manati and 1 in Flordia, Puerto Rico:
- 335 free hygiene products
- 434 OTC medications
- 215 vitamins and supplements
- 12 bottles of sunblock
- 48 pairs of earplugs
- 24 hydration solutions
These outreaches and donations were carried out by RMF team member Marisol.
June 12, 2019
5 Outreaches in Manatí
Thanks to Direct Relief’s previous donations, RMF Puerto Rico team was able to deliver hygiene products, vitamins, and OTC medicines to these nursing homes in Manati:
- Ana Gabriel Nursing Home
- Bella Familia Nursing Home
- Misericordia Nursing Home
- Hanania Nursing Home
- Heroes de Vida Nursing Home
Outreach in Florida, Puerto Rico
RMF Puerto Rico was able to deliver hygiene products, OTC medicines, skin protection, ear protection, hydration solutions, and vitamins to many elderly people and adults.
Background
& Objectives
Background
On September 20, 2017, Category 4 Hurricane Maria hit the US territory of Puerto Rico. The winds, 155 miles per hour at landfall, completely wiped out the island’s power grid and phone towers. A flash flood emergency was declared in central Puerto Rico, and the island experienced record flooding.
Prior to the hurricane, Puerto Rico’s infrastructure was weak, and the storm left the small island crippled. Across the island, cities reported collapsed bridges and severe damage to roadways. On October 2, almost two weeks after the storm, 55% of people were still without access to drinking water, only 1 of 69 hospitals was fully operational, and 80% of the island’s crops had been destroyed. The full extent of the damage is still unclear, as most telephone and internet lines are still down. The damage has left many rural areas isolated, without access to communication or desperately needed supplies: food, water, shelter, and medical supplies.
Objectives
- To provide primary health care and essential supplies to unreached, hurricane-affected communities
- To form local partnerships and empower local health professionals, ensuring effective service provision to communities most in need
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More Reports on: Hurricane Maria Relief Archive
Country Page: Puerto Rico
Initiative Page: Hurricane Maria Relief
