FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mitch Leff, Leff & Associates, (404) 861-4769, mitch@leffassociates.com

Interviews: Katie Pace, MAP International, 828.329.2988, kpace@map.org

Georgia-Based MAP International Has Staff On the Ground in Ecuador Evaluating Medical Relief Needed for Areas Affected by Earthquake

ATLANTA, April 18, 2016 -- Global health nonprofit MAP International (www.map.org) has staff on the ground in Ecuador working to determine the level of assistance needed for those injured in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the country’s coastal region Saturday evening.

Maggy Martinez, MAP’s Ecuador country leader, reports that entire towns have been destroyed. She is evaluating the type and amount of medical relief MAP will need to send, and MAP is also working with other non-profit partners to coordinate those efforts. The damage and needs assessment could take several days.

The earthquake’s epicenter was in Ecuador’s coastal region. Initial reports list 350 people have been killed and more than 2,500 injured. The death toll is expected to rise considerable according to Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa.

Any relief efforts will be done in coordination with and in support of the relief efforts lead by the Ecuador government .

In many disasters, serious health threats arise quickly and require a swift response to stabilize the situation. Medical donations are often difficult to secure in time to make a difference in the critical early phases of a disaster. As a result, pre-packed, standardized kits of medicines and medical supplies were developed over the last 20 years to form Interagency Emergency Health Kits (IEHK).

These IEHKs are designed to address the priority health conditions of disasters and have been widely adopted by relief agencies and national authorities.

Intended to treat the health needs of 10,000 people for three months, IEHKs are a critical component in responding effectively to onset disasters

If requested, and based on its long history of providing global relief, MAP estimates it will need donations to fully fund a shipment of vital relief medicines and supplies to the region. Donate online at https://www.map.org/ecuador-earthquake.

About MAP International

MAP International is a global health organization that partners with people living in conditions of poverty to save lives and build healthier families and communities. Known for its 99% efficiency rating, MAP provides medicines, prevents disease and promotes health to create real hope and lasting change. www.map.org