Abbott Responds to Devastating Earthquake in Peru
On August 15, 2007, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit Peru, 90 miles south of Lima, causing over 400 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Abbott responded quickly, working closely with relief partners Direct Relief International and AmeriCares, to provide critical nutritional and pharmaceutical products to those in affected areas. To date, a total of approximately $469,000 in product has been donated.
An AmeriCares airlift en route to Peru delivered antibiotics and nutritional products such as our Pedialyte to their in-country partner, VIDA, who distributed this within Pisco and Ica, the two most affected areas.
Abbott relief partner Direct Relief International airlifted antibiotics to Peru on August 16. The shipment was sent to their long-standing partner the Archdiocese of Lima, which is working with the Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil (INDECI) the primary coordinating agency for the government’s relief efforts.
For each disaster, Abbott works closely with leading international relief organizations that are on the front lines to identify the products that are most needed, the appropriate quantity and formulation. These relief partners, expert at working on the ground directly with disaster victims, convey their specific requests for the assistance that would be most beneficial.
Abbott is a member of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD), a non-profit organization dedicated to developing, disseminating, and adhering to high standards for the donation of medical products. This organization, whose membership includes companies and relief agencies, adheres to World Health Organization Guidelines for Drug Donations. Abbott also maintains corporate standards within our donation program that oftentimes exceed the high standards adhered to by PQMD.
In 2006, Abbott donated almost $4 million worth of products to victims of disasters and provided $76 million worth of product in support of ongoing humanitarian assistance in 98 countries.
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