VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (JULY 21, 2011) - The international humanitarian organization Operation Blessing International (OBI) will deliver critical relief supplies to the new country of South Sudan starting next week. Bill Horan, president of the charity, made the announcement today.
Operation Blessing International has worked in Darfur and South Sudan for several years offering medical, educational and other relief efforts. Representatives from the charity were invited to the Celebration of Independence event in Juba earlier this month, where officials of the new South Sudan government requested that OBI donate certain medicines and supplies to be used for emergency medical relief for refugees in and around Juba.
OBI is responding by sending:
-750,000 doses of Mebendazole, a highly effective medication in the fight against internal parasites. Intestinal worms pose serious health problems in developing countries where food is hard to come by. In many cases, the parasites consume as much as 25 percent of the food that an infested person eats, thus depriving the body of nutrition. Young children are exceptionally at risk. Other results of worm infestation are a weakened immune system, chronic sickness, stunted growth, a reduced cognitive ability, headaches and stomach pains.
-Two complete World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Health Kits. Each kit, as designed by the WHO, includes all the components necessary to operate a field medical clinic for 10,000 people for 90 days. Each emergency kit contains ten identical boxes, each one meant for 1000 people, and each consisting of a basic and supplementary unit. The basic unit is intended for use by primary health care workers with limited training and located in remote areas. It contains non-injectable medications, medical supplies and some essential equipment, accompanied by simple treatment guidelines. The supplementary unit contains medication, renewable supplies and equipment needed by doctors working in first- or second-referral health facilities. Basic equipment in the kits includes a complete sterilization set and items to help provide for clean water at the health facility.
-In addition to the medical supplies, Operation Blessing's Israel office is sending a shipment of nonfood items such as tents, blankets, jerry cans, water purification tablets, sanitary packs, and soap.
-OBI is flying in a chlorine generator capable of producing enough sodium hypochlorite (food grade chlorine) to disinfect 360,000 gallons of water a day. This generator was requested by the teaching hospital in Juba, since potable water is a problem there. OBI currently uses similar generators in both Haiti and Mexico, providing clean drinking water to thousands of people daily.
OBI president Bill Horan and David Darg, director of international disaster relief and special projects for the charity, will travel to South Sudan next week to meet with government leaders to discuss future humanitarian relief efforts.
"South Sudan has turned an important new page in its history by becoming its own nation, however there is still a significant humanitarian need here that needs to be addressed," said Bill Horan. "Operation Blessing looks forward to working with the new government to continue offering assistance where it is needed."
About Operation Blessing International: Operation Blessing International (OBI) is one of the largest charities in America, providing strategic disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water and community development in 23 countries around the world on a daily basis. OBI was awarded Charity Navigator's coveted 4 star rating for sound fiscal management for the fifth year in a row (2009), a feat that only 4% of rated charities have ever achieved. In November 2010, Forbes named OBI as the 6th most efficient charity in America. Additionally, the Chronicle of Philanthropy currently ranks OBI as the 23rd largest charity and the 6th largest international charity. Founded in 1978, Operation Blessing International has touched the lives of more than 235 million people in more than 105 countries and 50 states, providing goods and services valued at over $2.7 billion to date.
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NOTE- The OBI team will have a BGAN satellite unit and can offer b-roll video from efforts in South Sudan. For interviews with Bill Horan or David Darg from Juba, please contact:
Chris Roslan DRC Inc. Public Relations (212) 966-4600 chris@drcpublicrelations.com