AmeriCares Helps Diabetics In Uzbekistan

NEW CANAAN — AmeriCares, the international disaster relief agency, announced that it is sending over 7,500 pounds of insulin and syringes to address the needs of Uzbekistan’s 22,000 diabetics.

 AmeriCares is able to provide this comprehensive donation through donations from Eli Lilly of Indianapolis, Indiana, and BD (Becton Dickinson) of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Uzbekistan has been bearing the burden of building and developing its own healthcare system. To help them meet these challenges, AmeriCares will be partnering with the Uzbek organization Soglum Avlod Uchun (For the Health of Coming Generations), which was founded in 1993, by a special Presidential directive in order to serve the citizens of Uzbekistan. _“In Uzbekistan, the year 2000 has been proclaimed as the ‘Year of the Healthy Generation,’” said Bob Macauley, founder and chairman of AmeriCares. “Improving the health of the diabetic population in Uzbekistan this special year, and every year, is a priority.”_The air shipment is being sponsored by the US Department of State and will be shipped from JFK, New York.

Since its inception in 1982, AmeriCares has responded with emergency medicines, medical supplies, and nutritional items to victims of disasters, famine, and war. To date AmeriCares has provided more than $2.5 billion in relief supplies to over 137 countries worldwide, including the United States._AmeriCares is the world’s largest private 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. Cash donations may be sent to AmeriCares, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840, or by calling AmeriCares at 800/486-HELP.