Abbott and its philanthropic foundation the Abbott Fund have committed to provide $1million in initial humanitarian aid in response to the earthquake in Haiti.This support includes grant funding and donations of critical pharmaceuticaland nutritional products to strengthen the ability of humanitarian aidorganizations to respond to immediate health needs in Haiti. This includes aninitial quantity of pharmaceutical and nutritional products that are alreadyin use in a hospital in Haiti. These relief efforts in Haiti build on Abbott’s existing philanthropicpartnerships to expand access to health care in the country. Since 2007,Abbott and the Abbott Fund have provided more than $34 million in grants andproduct donations to help address health needs in Haiti, including maternaland child health, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition. “The recent earthquake has had a devastating impact on Haiti’s limitedhealth care system, which was already facing significant challenges,” saidCatherine V. Babington, president, the Abbott Fund. “Building on our existingpartnerships with humanitarian organizations in Haiti, we are providingfunding and product donations to help address the immense and immediate healthneeds.” Initial support from the Abbott Fund for earthquake recovery effortsincludes $100,000 in grants to three of Abbott’s trusted humanitarian aidpartners: American Red Cross, Partners In Health and Catholic Medical MissionBoard. All of these organizations have an established presence in Haiti, andare already mobilizing relief efforts in the country. Abbott also is actively working with AmeriCares, Direct ReliefInternational and additional organizations to identify and distribute criticalnutritional and pharmaceutical products, such as antibiotics and rehydrationfluids, that will provide immediate relief for people affected by theearthquake in Haiti. Abbott will continue to work with key humanitarian aidpartners to assess ongoing needs and the state of the transportationinfrastructure to move forward with relief efforts. In addition, Abbott volunteers in the Dallas area will be supporting theefforts of the American Red Cross to respond to the disaster in Haiti.Through the American Red Cross program, “Ready When the Time Comes,” 35 Abbottvolunteers have received training over the past year, and are alreadyassisting with fundraising and other efforts in Dallas to support American RedCross relief programs on the ground in Haiti.
