DIRECT RELIEF

Sick people who don’t receive care can’t work; they get poor or stay poor, and people who are poor are at higher risk of getting sick.

Breaking this vicious cycle is an enormously complex endeavor, which requires changes in many areas other than health services. But under any scenario, better access to health services is essential.

Direct Relief’s medical assistance programs equip health professionals working in resource-poor communities to meet the challenges of diagnosing, treating, and caring for people without regard to politics, religion, gender, race, or ability to pay.

This tradition of direct and targeted assistance, provided in a manner that respects and involves the people served, has been a hallmark of the organization since its founding in 1948 by refugee war immigrants to the U.S.

Programs

Improving Maternal and Child Health: Healthy mothers are the bedrock of healthy, productive families and communities. However, women and children are disproportionately affected by poor health outcomes in developing countries and the U.S. That’s why Direct Relief’s humanitarian health efforts place particular emphasis on protecting women through the critical periods of pregnancy and childbirth: increasing access to emergency obstetric care, supporting obstetric fistula repair, and equipping midwives.

Preventing and Treating Diseases: Direct Relief has partnered with corporate supporters and health care providers to prevent and address HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cancers, mental health conditions, and rare diseases. The organization provides critical medicines to vulnerable people to allow them to stay healthy.

Preparing for and Responding to Emergencies: Every day, Direct Relief prepares the most vulnerable communities worldwide for more frequent, more destructive emergencies, and Direct Relief responds fast, effectively, and efficiently when disaster strikes to make sure medical resources are where they need to be to save lives.

Recognition

Direct Relief earns wide recognition from independent charity evaluators, including a 100% fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes, the No. 1 spot on Charity Navigator’s list of the “10 Best Charities Everyone’s Heard Of,” and inclusion in Fast Company’s list of “the world’s most innovative nonprofits.”

Direct Relief is the only nonprofit to be designated by The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) as a Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributor (VAWD) , which allows it to distribute prescription medicines to all 50 U.S. states.