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prevention and mental health, providing patients with the knowledge to lead healthier lives. In 2017, Americares reached an estimated 2.4 million people with medicine and health projects. “With good health, people can attend school, be productive at work, care for their families and contribute to strong communities,” says Americares President and CEO Michael J. Nyenhuis. “Poor health puts all of that at risk.” A Commitment to Care Americares health programs focus on women and children’s health, non-communicable diseases, mental health, infectious diseases and strengthening health systems. Ongoing programs support under-resourced health systems in 40 countries. In Liberia, where the health system collapsed during the 2014 Ebola epidemic and the maternal mortality rate is among the highest in the world, Americares made a commitment to improve care for mothers and children. It recently completed a new maternity ward at a government hospital and is serving as the lead sponsor

of two important health centers in Grand Bassa County. One of the facilities, a remote clinic built to treat Ebola patients, was converted to a maternal and child health post with Americares support, for the first time giving a community of 20,000 people a safe place to deliver babies. The organization also provides critical training for maternity nurses, midwives and community health workers in Liberia to help save the lives of mothers and newborns. More than 2,200 people participated in Americares community education programs in Liberia last year. In El Salvador, Americares built a family health clinic in the aftermath of the 2001 earthquakes. The clinic offers high-quality, low-cost care for patients in the eastern part of the country. La Clinica Integral de Atención Familiar in Santiago de María provides primary and specialty care to more than 60,000 children and adults every year and serves nearby communities with health education and disease prevention programs. “We invest in thousands of local health providers every year with programs that build capacity, improve quality and create sustainable change,” Nyenhuis says. Helping Disaster Survivors Poverty, conflict and natural disasters around the world leave millions of people in desperate need of urgent medical care and mental health support. Last year, Americares helped restore health services for survivors of 25 disasters in 19 countries. Through partnerships, the deployment of emergency medical teams and deliveries of medicine and medical supplies, Americares’ impact is both immediate and long-term. When a series of catastrophic hurricanes in the Caribbean and southern United States last fall flooded communities, knocked out power and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, Americares relief workers were among the first to respond, deploying to Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and other

A HOME DAMAGED BY HURRICANE MARIA IN PUERTO RICO. PHOTO BY WILLIAM VAZQUEZ/AMERICARES

parts of the Caribbean to meet survivors’ health needs. Months later, Americares continues to respond to the needs of families impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Its relief and recovery teams are working to restore health services, support mental health and psychosocial programs for survivors and help health facilities prepare for future storms. Americares responds to an average of 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishing long-term recovery projects and bringing disaster preparedness programs to vulnerable communities. Its professional relief workers are ready to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice and stocks emergency medicine and supplies in its warehouses in the U.S., Europe and India that can be delivered quickly in times of crisis. The Year’s Most Unique Benefit Every fall, supporters gather in an airplane hangar at New York’s Westchester County Airport to celebrate Americares impact. The evening culminates with a dramatic tarmac sendoff as a group of guests depart on a 24-hour journey to see Americares programs firsthand. Longtime Americares supporters Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough hosted the 30th Americares Airlift Benefit in 2017, which featured a special appearance by Americares Ambassador Tony Goldwyn. The sold-out event was attended by nearly 1,000 guests—raising over $3 million. This year, Americares will travel to Puerto Rico, where guests will see how Americares is restoring and expanding health services in communities devastated by Hurricane Maria. For more information, and to learn how you can get involved, visit americares.org *

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