|
Dear friends,
As the U.N.
calls for the evacuation of foreigners in the Ivory Coast, and Liberia,
Ivory Coast Medical Relief Team (ICMRT) in collaboration with the
Northwest Medical Teams (NWMT), has been working to ship several
containers of critically needed medical supplies to this small, embattled
West African country.
ICMRT, a
recently incorporated 501c.3 organization was created out of a strong
desire to make a difference following the wake of destruction that has
followed the civil war in Ivory Coast. Officially the war is over. Its
consequences however, will be felt for many years in a country formerly
known for political stability and relative economic prosperity. The
destruction of many health care facilities, the difficulty in maintaining
the effectiveness of existing facilities with influx of patients, the
interruption of health care programs in AIDS, tuberculosis, and
meningitis, among others, are issues ICMRT has chosen to address.
Compounding the uncertainty in the Ivory Coast is the continuing crisis in
Liberia and the resulting additional strain on health care resources.
Our mission is
to provide medical assistance to the displaced and refugee populations (IDPs)
of the Ivory Coast, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion or political
affiliation. The ICMRT will provide this assistance through the delivery
of medical supplies directly to our partner organizations in the Ivory
Coast who have established distribution channels to the displaced and
refugee population.
NWMT, our
current partner, has committed to providing $5 million dollars worth of
medical supplies in ten (10) containers. Our goal is to raise the money
required to ensure the shipment and distribution of this aid to IDPs.
The first
container of medicines and medical supplies valued at $517,000 was
distributed to seventeen (17) Ivory Coast health care facilities
throughout the country last April. The healthcare workers and IPDs were
profusely grateful for our effort.
ICMRT is
committed to raising $6,000 for shipping and distributing each of the
remaining nine (9) containers, or a total of $54,000.
As you all know,
it takes great effort, energy, and commitment to care for those in need.
But together we can make a difference. This is a daunting challenge, but
the pay-off of $5 million dollars worth of medicine is too great to pass
up; so we must march on! We need a lot of help; your help. For every
dollar you donate $85.00 worth of medical supplies is shipped to the Ivory
Coast. This is our opportunity to participate in making the world a better
place for all of us.
We've had
several small events to raise the necessary funds. Our last Fundraising dance and silence auction, on October 4th in
Seattle was a great success.
We need your
help. Together we can make a difference in the lives of these people, our
friends and families, by a donation to the ICMRT. Your contribution will
relieve some of the pain of the many innocent people caught in a senseless
conflict. We are appealing directly to you to give to this worthwhile
relief fund. Cash, check, and credit card donations are accepted at any
Bank of America and may be paid to the order of ICMRT. Your contribution
is tax-deductible.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Patrice Adjibly
Executive Director
ICMRT
padjibly@icmrt.org
Contributions can be made to ICMRT
at any Bank of America WA branch,
or by mail to 14817 Linden Ave N., Shoreline, WA 98133.
|
