NEW CANAAN, Conn., July 2, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- AmeriCares, the international disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, announced today that a relief team and 68,000 pounds of medicines and medical supplies will depart for Brazzaville, Congo on July 3, 2001.
Stephen Skakel, Vice President of Operations at AmeriCares, will head a team of 7 relief workers including Dr. Stephen Winter, the Chief of Pulmonology and Critical Care at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut and Janette Barber, the Supervising Producer of the Rosie O'Donnell show, to oversee the distribution of the relief materials. Medicines and medical supplies will be distributed to hospitals, clinics and social relief centers throughout the country.
"It is imperative that we do everything we can for the people of the Congo," said Robert C. Macauley, Founder and Chairman of AmeriCares. "AmeriCares is proud to be able to bring life-saving relief materials to the Congolese people."
Integral conflict between 1997 and today has left the republic of Congo's ailing health-care system in dire straights. Agricultural sectors have also been affected by the civil strife and are in desperate need of rehabilitation. Adding to this problem is the influx of refugees fleeing across the border from the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire. Escalated fighting has driven more than 8,000 refugees into the Republic of Congo causing serious nutritional and health consequences. Continued economic problems and a decaying infrastructure make aid to the Congo extremely difficult.
AmeriCares began sending relief to the Congo in May 1990 to assist a heavily overburdened health-care system and equip hospitals and clinics fighting the cholera epidemic.
AmeriCares is the nonprofit international disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs -- and supports long-term healthcare programs -- for people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion. Since its inception in 1982, AmeriCares has delivered more than $2.9 billion in aid to 137 nations worldwide. Please help us to continue our relief efforts by sending your cash donations to AmeriCares, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 or by calling AmeriCares at 1.800.486.HELP or logging onto www.americares.org.
To arrange for media interviews, please call Elizabeth Griffin at (203) 972-5552.
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CONTACT: AmeriCares, New Canaan
Elizabeth Griffin
(800) 486-HELP