FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following the devastating impact of last weekend’s 7.2 earthquake, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest non-profit public health organization focused on addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, is deploying a chartered plane, departing from Miami’s Opa Locka Airport tomorrow, THURSDAY, August 19th at 07:00 am ET, with critical medical supplies needed in Haiti to support the ongoing recovery efforts.
NOTE: All media interested in covering must contact Imara Canady at Imara.canady@ahf.org to gain access to the tarmac
WHAT: |
AHF charted flight to depart for Haiti with critical items in support of the recovery efforts in Haiti. |
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Note: Items being sent were identified as items critically needed by healthcare centers, hospitals and other medical facilities to address the time-sensitive medical needs of those impacted by the earthquake. |
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WHEN: |
TOMORROW – THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 |
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7:30 am (ET) Recovery Materials will be loaded on the plane |
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NOTE: Media must arrive promptly at 7:00 am (ET) |
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9:00 am Flight with recovery materials departs for Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
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Signature Flight Support (Opa Locka Executive Airport) |
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15001 NW 42nd Avenue |
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Opa Locka, FL 33054 |
Note: The plane will carry a large supply of immediate medical supplies, needed by medical staff in impacted communities in Haiti. Given the challenges in getting materials to the most impacted communities, upon arrival in Port-au-Prince, the materials will be divided, and taken into those harder-hit communities via smaller planes charted by AHF. Individuals within those impacted communities needing more severe medical care, will be taken back to Port-au-Prince to get their medical needs immediately addressed. |
NOTE: All media interested in covering must contact Imara Canady at Imara.canady@ahf.org to gain access to the tarmac
WHY: |
The cargo being deployed to Haiti is in response to recent directives to AHF’s southern bureau leadership by the organization's medical team, on-the-ground, in Haiti. Tomorrow’s plane will contain critical medical supplies needed to aid in the on-going immediate medical needs of healthcare centers and hospitals in directly impacted communities. |
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NOTE: |
AHF has charted a second flight that will carry the thousands of pounds of items needed by families, children and Haitians living with critical illnesses that have been collected by AHF from donations from across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, as well as from Jacksonville and other surrounding communities. Given the ongoing response to the community call for donations, the second flight departs Wednesday, August 25, 2021. |
Tomorrow’s deployment will include materials such as generators, water purification tablets, medical supplies, aspirin and other critical medications, that were identified as being immediately needed by healthcare centers and hospitals in the impacted communities. As the Haitian leadership continues to lead the recovery efforts and access the on-going needs of the country, AHF’s second deployment, scheduled for the early part of next week, will include materials needed for children and babies, whose families have lost everything, as well as needed materials by recovery teams to protect homes and other structures that were not completely destroyed by the earthquake.
“AHF has a strong record of proactively responding to the needs of individuals and communities in need. We are deeply saddened by the recent devastation to so many communities, as a result of the earthquake. Having supported many disaster relief efforts, we know that the road to rebuilding a community is a long journey. We remain committed to working to provide the critical resources that the Haitian people will continue to need as they work to recover from this disaster,” stated Michael Kahane, AHF Southern Bureau Chief.
Materials being sent on both deployments were gathered by AHF staff, individuals and organizations, from across Florida and in other southern regional communities. As a leading global public health and advocacy organization, AHF has a strong history of being in the forefront of responding to the critical needs of underserved communities. Most recently, AHF’s leadership in being a proactive, first-responder was also exhibited in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Haiti as a result of the devastating impact of Hurricanes Rita and Irma.
Given recent information from AHF’s medical team in Haiti, AHF is continuing to accept donations until Monday, August 23rd. The organization has an urgent need for tents to be donated, as many families have lost their homes or fear entry due to possible structural damage. All donations can be delivered to one of the following locations:
PRIMARY LOCATIONS for DONATION DROP OFF
AHF Southern Bureau Offices (Mon. – Fri. 9:00 am – 5:00 pm)
700 SE Third Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Out of the Closet Thrift Store – BISCAYNE Location (Mon. – Sun. 10:00 am – 7:00 pm)
2400 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33137
Out of the Closet Thrift Store – WILTON MANORS Location (Mon. – Sun. 10:00 am – 7:00 pm)
2097 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.5 million individuals in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare
