Northwest Medical Teams has packed a Seattle-bound
tractor trailer with 11,000 pounds of donated medical supplies destined
for war-torn Azerbaijan, one of the former republics of the United Soviet
Socialist Republic (USSR). Border conflicts with neighboring Armenia continue
to take a toll on the people of the region.
The medical products are valued at $269,000.
Seattle-based Boeing will provide free air freight for the shipment (scheduled
to depart Monday, December 4).
"We're pleased to have Boeing as our partner to reach out with support for these suffering people," says Bill Essig, Director of International Programs for Northwest Medical Teams. "Boeing has partnered with us on prior missions, but this is our first time to reach the people of Azerbaijan together." Essig spent a summer in Azerbaijan in 1997. He says the most common medical problems are childhood diseases, respiratory problems and malnutrition, brought on by lack of proper nutrition and poor living conditions.
Once on the ground in Azerbaijan, the donated supplies will be distributed by International Relief & Development (IRD). "Having a well-respected and competent partner in the country is one of our primary criteria for shipping donated medical supplies," Essig explains. "This group serves hundreds of thousands of displaced people, distributing much-needed medicines and medical supplies."
In the past year, Northwest Medical Teams has shipped more than $30 million of donated goods to help relieve the suffering of people in under-developed countries. These products come from across the U.S., but primarily from Pacific Northwest-based companies.