U.S. Assisting Georgia with Medical Supplies and Diagnostic Instruments

October 30, 2009

Ambassador John Bass and Georgian Minister of Health Alexander Kvitashvili welcomes Physicians

On October 30, U.S. Ambassador John Bass and Georgian Minister of Health Alexander Kvitashvili welcomed Physicians with Heart (PWH) humanitarian cargo of medicines and supplies worth $7.2 million at Tbilisi International Airport, brought to Georgia by the U.S. Department of State onboard a USAF C-17 cargo plane.  The arrival of the medical assistance was the result of collaborative efforts between the U.S. Department of State and partner organizations the American Family Physicians Foundation and Heart to Heart International.

"This assistance will help one of Georgia's most vulnerable populations, displaced by last year's war and by earlier conflicts.  It's another tangible symbol of the United States commitment to the people of Georgia," - Ambassador Bass said.  Dan Rosenblum, State Department Coordinator for U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia led the delegation onboard the C-17.Members of the PWH delegation will participate in a two-day symposium on Family Medicine; they will also distribute medicines and supplies to schools and orphanages and volunteer in activities with children to help the local population, recover from the military conflict of August 2008.  This assistance project is fully coordinated with the Georgian Ministry of Health.  The airlifted medicines and supplies are certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.