Global NGO Project HOPE Delivers Vaccine to Philippines, Crucial Health Needs Persist Post-Typhoon

Project HOPE is delivering 100,000 doses of donated vaccine that will protect against pneumococcal infections in the Philippines, still recovering from Typhoon Haiyan.
Posted: February 25, 2014

Millwood, VA, February 25, 2014

The global NGO Project HOPE announced it will be delivering 100,000 doses of donated vaccine that will protect against pneumococcal infections in the Philippines, still recovering from Typhoon Haiyan.

Project HOPE’s Philippine Country Representative Dr. Nasaruddin Sheldon in a ceremonial turnover of the vaccines against pneumonia to DOH Secretary Hon. Enrique T. Ona. Witnessing the event were MSD’s Jacques Cholat, Vice President for Regional Marketing of Global Commercial Vaccines and DOH Undersecretary Janette Garin.

The PNEUMOVAX® 23 vaccine was donated by Merck and Co., Inc, known as MSD outside the US and Canada and is typically used to immunize adults ages 50 and older and individuals between the ages of 2 and 49 with chronic illnesses.

“The health of communities devastated by Typhoon Haiyan is still at risk of developing illnesses because the health infrastructure of many areas was severely compromised when the storm hit over two months ago.  The vaccine is an important preventive measure, as certain pneumococcal bacteria are becoming more resistant to common antibiotics, thus harder and more costly to treat,” said John P. Howe III, M.D., President and CEO of Project HOPE.

Project HOPE, a global health education and humanitarian assistance organization, has been deploying medical volunteers to the remote Panay Island in the Western Visayas region and the Camotes Islands in the Philippines.  HOPE volunteers have provided care to over, 5,550 people, and performed over 400 surgeries. Project HOPE has also shipped over $16.1 million in donated medicines, generators, First Aid kits, and surgical equipment.

Project HOPE has played a crucial role in saving lives in regions hit by natural disasters over much of the last decade, in Haiti, Indonesia, Japan, China and other parts of Southeast Asia.

About Project HOPE

Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems with the mission of helping people to help themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world’s first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now provides medical training and health education, as well as conducts humanitarian assistance programs in more than 35 countries. Follow us on Twitter at projecthopeorg.