CASTRIES, St Lucia — The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Direct Relief have partnered to provide emergency medication supplies to OECS member States in the event of natural disasters. Ahead of the hurricane season, the agreement signed between the organisations is critical to enhance post-disaster response.
Director General of the OECS, Dr Didacus Jules, and officer in charge of the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (PPS), Abraham Weekes, met with Emergency Response Manager at Direct Relief, Daniel Hovey, to agree on the partnership which seeks to enhance post-disaster response in OECS member States ahead of the hurricane season.
Since its creation in 1948, the US based organisation has committed to improve the health and lives of populations in emergency situations regardless of politics, religion, or ability to pay. Thus, Direct Relief has been providing humanitarian aid to over 100 countries to support vulnerable populations, especially in the event of natural disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes.
“Through this MOU we commit to support the OECS member States in the event of a hurricane or other natural disasters. We will be able to immediately supply the affected countries with medicines that are identified by our local partners and sourced from our pharmaceutical donors in the US,” Emergency Response Manager at Direct Relief Daniel Hovey explained.
Direct Relief collaborated directly with the ministries of health in Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and Dominica after the passage of the hurricanes Irma and Maria in…
