Abbott provides $180,000 to support recent cholera outbreak in central Haiti

AbbottOct 28 2010

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and its philanthropic foundation the Abbott Fund are providing the following updates on relief efforts in Haiti:

Abbott Supports Relief Efforts for Cholera Outbreak

Abbott is providing $180,000 in support to help address the recent cholera outbreak in central Haiti.  This includes a $25,000 grant from the Abbott Fund to Partners In Health, and $155,000 in donated Abbott rehydration solutions and antibiotics.  Donated products are being distributed through trusted humanitarian partners AmeriCares, Catholic Medical Mission Board, Direct Relief International and Partners In Health.

Abbott will continue to work with partner organizations to assess and respond to ongoing relief needs and longer-term recovery efforts in Haiti.

Abbott's Broader Support for Earthquake Recovery Efforts

Abbott's new support is in addition to more than $6.1 million in grant funding and donations of critical diagnostic, nutritional and pharmaceutical products provided to humanitarian aid organizations in the weeks following the earthquake in January 2010.

This included $180,000 in grants from the Abbott Fund to four of Abbott's trusted partner organizations: American Red Cross, CARE, Catholic Medical Mission Board and Partners In Health.  Abbott also worked with AmeriCares, Direct Relief International, Heart to Heart International, MAP International, Partners In Health, Project HOPE and others to distribute more than $6 million in Abbott diagnostic, nutritional and pharmaceutical products.  Donated products include rehydration solutions, antibiotics, nutritional products and hand-held analyzers that provide portable diagnostic capabilities.

Background on Abbott's Longstanding Philanthropic Work in Haiti

Haiti relief efforts build on Abbott's existing philanthropic partnerships to expand access to health care in the country.  Since 2007, Abbott and the Abbott Fund have provided more than $34 million in grants and product donations to help address health needs in Haiti, including maternal and child health, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition.

Pre-Positioned Abbott Products Supported Early Relief Efforts

Abbott products were in use immediately following the earthquake in Haiti.  Last year, Abbott worked with Direct Relief International to strategically pre-position essential products in Haiti to prepare for potential natural disasters.  As a result of this work, several health centers in Haiti were able to provide an initial quantity of Abbott rehydration solutions, antibiotics and nutritional products to people in need following the earthquake.

Video of Abbott products being packed by Direct Relief International for use in Haiti is available at http://agendanyc.com/clients/abbott/preparedness.htm.  Filmed in mid-2009, this footage highlights ongoing efforts to pre-position aid.