AmeriCares to Send Additional Aid to Bolster Healthcare System in Turkmenistan

AmeriCares Foundation
Monday, 7 February 2000

65,000 Pounds of Aid to Arrive in Ashgabat on Wednesday, February 16, 2000

AmeriCares, the international disaster relief agency, announced today that it would airlift approximately 62,000 pounds of medical relief supplies to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on Tuesday, February 15. A planeload of antibiotics, analgesics, nutritional supplements, personal hygiene items, and hospital and surgical supplies will depart Eindhoven, Netherlands on February 15, arriving in Ashgabat on Tuesday, February 16. AmeriCares Vice President, Stephen Skakel, will work with the Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan to distribute the humanitarian supplies to hospitals, clinics, and other established healthcare facilities in and around Ashgabat.

Since 1995, AmeriCares has worked with the Ministry of Health in Turkmenistan to support the nation's developing healthcare system. This relief shipment will arrive in time for Turkmenistan's Flag Day on Wednesday, February 16. AmeriCares has delivered over $34,000,000 worth of supplies to this Central Asian country, including 60,000 pounds of relief items and vaccines in December, 1998 and two relief shipments in 1999.

Since its inception in 1982, AmeriCares has provided more than $2,000,000,000 in relief supplies to over 130 countries worldwide, including the United States. AmeriCares is the a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization that provides immediate response to emergency medical needs - and supports long-term healthcare programs - for all people around the world, irrespective of race, creed, or political persuasion.

For more information, or to contact AmeriCares Foundation, see their website at: www.americares.org