Unprecedented Collaboration Between Global Links, UPMC, Hopital Albert Schweitzer Speeding Medical Response

In an unprecedented collaboration, Pittsburgh-based Global Links, in partnership with UPMC, Hopital Albert Schweitzer, local physicians and medical supply companies, is coordinating local Haiti relief efforts in the aftermath of last week’s earthquake.

Global Links is working with Hopital Albert Schweitzer staff as well as local physicians deploying with disaster relief agencies to procure donations of needed medical materials, medicines and equipment. In addition to providing donations of supplies and equipment from its own inventory, Global Links is fielding and directing solicitations to UPMC and their network of vendors.

Items most commonly needed by all medical personnel working in Haiti now range from sutures and crutches, antibiotics, bandages, surgical instrumentation, X-ray film, and more. Global Links is directing the collection, preparation, packing and shipping of these supplies.

“Because of the outstanding response from UPMC, its vendors, area doctors and aid agencies, we are coordinating an organized and swift response to the urgent need for medical supplies at Hopital Albert Schweitzer and other hospitals and clinics ,” says Global Links Executive Director Kathleen Hower. “With Global Links fielding donations and coordinating the collection and shipping of materials, we are able to act quickly and efficiently, eliminate duplication of effort, and ensure that the items collected meet the specific needs of doctors working on the frontlines of this horrific disaster.”

In recent days, nearly $50,000 of critically needed antibiotics and other medications donated by UPMC were prepared for shipment. Large quantities of surgical gloves, lab supplies, IV supplies and crutches donated by Global Links and UPMC were secured, and x-ray film and chemicals were donated by UPMC vendors Merry X-ray and Carestream.

Local first-responder physicans who secured transportations to Haiti were provided with key medical materials to hand-carry on their flights, including sutures, bandages, surgical instruments, gloves, casting materials, and more.

Materials destined for Hopital Albert Schweitzer are being staged and shipped to distinct locations from which volunteer physicians will fly them in to Haiti later this week. Large pallets of supplies are being shipped to these locations by FEDEX at no cost. Additionally, materials for local physicisans preparing for departure to other hospitals and clinics are being prepared by Global Links staff and volunteers on a daily basis.

“There are many many more unmet needs, and this is only the beginning of what will be a long-term response to this disaster,” says Hower.

Individuals interested in supporting Global Links’ relief efforts in Haiti can make a donation through PittsburghGives and more information is available from the Global Links website.