- Support Will Provide Critical Basic Needs and Essential Infrastructure; Action Against Hunger, AmeriCares and Direct Relief to Receive Portion of Allen's $100 Million Commitment
SEATTLE, Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Philanthropist Paul G. Allen today announced new grants to provide immediate humanitarian relief to address basic human needs that are being threatened by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Beginning today, these grants will enable aid organizations to provide food, supplies and prevention kits and rebuild local treatment centers in Ebola-stricken areas.
Last month, Mr. Allen announced he is increasing his commitment to fight Ebola to at least $100 million. With these latest grants, more than half of Mr. Allen's $100 million pledge has now been committed to projects dedicated to preventing, containing, treating and addressing the effects of Ebola.
Mr. Allen's new commitments to humanitarian efforts are:
Mr. Allen's support will ensure protection of medical professionals in the field through the provision of medicines, preventive supplies, and personal protective equipment, provide transportation of medical supplies from healthcare supply manufacturers to Africa, and assist in the setup of an end-to-end coordinated procurement and supply distribution system to guarantee efficient distribution of medical supplies to limit the spread of Ebola. Supplies will be distributed to four partner organizations working in 47 primary health and Ebola treatment centers in Liberia and Sierra Leone. These supplies will also support the work of 800 community health workers in 500 villages in both countries and allow them to do their jobs safely without fear of catching the disease.
To date, more than half of Mr. Allen's $100 million pledge has been allocated to the fight against Ebola. These funds have enabled:
Supporting Quotes:
"The effects of Ebola extend well beyond those infected," said Mr. Allen. "The side effect is depriving people of basic human needs. These grants will enable the people of West Africa to quickly receive essential care and supplies they need to get through this crisis."
"Action Against Hunger is working closely with health and aid agencies in Sierra Leone and Liberia to stop the spread of Ebola," said Andrea Tamburini, CEO of Action Against Hunger. "Support from Mr. Allen ensures the lifesaving work of educating communities about the virus, improving water conditions in health facilities, training community health workers on how to detect and refer suspected Ebola patients, and building the capacity to respond will continue."
"The best way to halt the epidemic is to support frontline health workers in West Africa, and Mr. Allen has taken a real leadership role in that regard," said AmeriCares President and CEO Michael J. Nyenhuis. "With the foundation's support AmeriCares will make lasting change in health care delivery and restore confidence for patients and health workers."
"Direct Relief's longstanding partners in Liberia and Sierra Leone are working heroically to combat Ebola while maintaining essential health services for everything and everyone else," said Thomas Tighe, CEO of Direct Relief. "This support from Mr. Allen is essential to Direct Relief's collaborative efforts to meet the vastly expanded, urgent need for critical supplies necessary to contain and treat those sickened by the virus – and address its shattering ripple effects on the broader health system."
Mr. Allen's Contributions to Date:
From the early days of the outbreak, Mr. Allen and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation have focused on finding, funding and coordinating strategic solutions that address the most critical needs and can be deployed quickly. Mr. Allen has also created TackleEbola.com to provide an easy way for individuals to contribute to specific organizations and fund critical response needs. To date, Mr. Allen has committed funding towards implementing the following solutions:
For more information, visit www.tackleebola.com and follow @TackleEbola and @PaulGAllen on Twitter or Facebook.
Press Contacts:
Alexa RudinVulcan Inc. 206-342-2230 alexar@vulcan.com
Dana LengkeekBurson-Marsteller 415-994-4008 dana.lengkeek@bm.com