Early this month, Northern Light Health announced that it is joining forces with Portland-based Partners for World Health in donating much needed medical supplies and equipment to help overwhelmed and healthcare systems in India respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Supplies and equipment, including N95 masks, goggles, face shields and medical devices such as oxygen concentrators and bag valve masks (BMVs) which are devices used to assist people in breathing, were loaded on to pallets for Partners for World Health to pick up and ship to India.  The first air freight shipment is expected to arrive in its destination by mid-June.

Partners for World Health, a non-profit that specializes in getting medical supplies to places across the globe where they are needed, is raising money for this effort and others.

“We have a culture of caring at Northern Light Health that includes caring for our friends and neighbors in every corner of the world, explained Tim Denty, president and CEO of Northern Light Health.  “We are fortunate to have allies like Partners for World Health to help us make a difference where it matters,” according to a press release issued on June 3, 2021 by Chris Facchini, of the Marketing and Communications Department at Northern Light Health.

“Thanks to the extraordinary discipline of our patient care team and the determination of our Supply Chain team to procure and conserve PPE, as well as the generosity of our greater Maine community, we can contribute to this worthy cause while still ensuring the absolute safety and protection of our own employees across the state,” said Mike Whelan, VP of Facilities and Supply Chain, Partners for World Health will arrange for the supplies to be shipped to Anara Hospital in Andhra Pradesh, a state in India’s southeastern coastal region.