Port au Prince, 19 Jan. The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) has received a donation of medicines from the Queen Sofía Foundation of Spain, worth 600.000 Euros.

The shipment arrived yesterday at PROMESS – Haiti’s central medical storage facility, administered by WHO/PAHO – and will be used to treat people affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti last Tuesday.

The drugs were sent by the Spanish International Cooperation Agency (AECID). WHO/PAHO’s country representative in Haiti, Dr Henriette Chamouillet, said that sustained support from Spain during the past several years has been critical to meeting Haiti’s need for medicines, vaccines and blood products.

Since the beginning of the crisis, WHO/PAHO personnel have been working around the clock to fill orders received from hospitals and clinics as well as other U.N. agencies and nongovernmental organizations for medicines, bandages and blood necessary for treatment, surgeries and transfusions for the sick and wounded.

“That the store was prepared to meet the acute health needs of the Haitian people following the earthquake is in large part thanks to the ongoing support we have received from the Spanish Government, among other donors,” said Dr Chamouillet.

In addition to the donation from Spain, several other countries have sent medical supplies and blood since the earthquake occurred, including Bolivia and the Dominican Republic. More help is expected to arrive from other countries in the coming days.

For more information contact Isabel Lopez, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Donna Eberwine-Villagran, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .