Nash UNC Seeking Donations of Protective Medical Supplies Amid Pandemic
ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina (March 24, 2020) –
As the coronavirus outbreak puts more stress on hospitals nationwide, Nash UNC Health Care is asking for donations of medical supplies, especially personal protective equipment, or PPE, for health care providers.
The biggest needs include N95 masks, surgical masks (with and without shields), disposable gloves, disposable shoe covers, eye protection and protective gowns. Other needs include nasal swabs, disinfectant, hand sanitizer with more than 60 percent alcohol and hand soap.
“The increasing need for medical supplies is putting a strain on the health care system as a whole and we are already feeling the effects of that strain here at Nash UNC,” said Lee Isley, Ph.D, president and CEO of Nash UNC Health Care. “We are working to ensure we have the appropriate supplies in order to protect our frontline staff with the personal protective equipment they need.”
As the coronavirus continues to spread to more rural areas, hospitals like Nash UNC are seeing an increase in the usage of those masks and other supplies.
"We are concerned about the long-term integrity of the supply chain across the United States," said Paul Mathews, director of materials management at Nash UNC Health Care. “Where we are seeing shortages in PPE now, we can see where other shortages may occur in the long-term if this outbreak doesn’t resolve soon”.
Mathews said it’s difficult for suppliers to keep up with demand.
“Much of the equipment is made in different countries around the world that are also being hit by this global pandemic,” he said.
Health care providers are working to conserve what they can.
Kirby Slade, director of community relations at Nash UNC Health Care, says that community groups and businesses have already reached out about donating masks and other supplies.
“We have set up a drop off location for those in the community who want to donate medical supplies to us, including masks, disposable gloves, hand sanitizer and other supplies,” said Slade.
Slade also mentioned that they would also accept handmade masks and gowns. Specifications for those items will be shared soon. Keep an eye on nashunchealthcare.org for those updates.
Supplies can be dropped off at the old Rocky Mount Eye building, across from Nash Medical Arts Mall on Nash UNC Health Care’s campus, between the hours of 12PM to 4PM Monday through Friday, starting Tuesday March 24th. Contact Kirby Slade at Kirby.Slade@unchealth.unc.edu, 962-8835 if you have any questions regarding donations.
“We are humbled by the outpouring of support from our community, and thank everyone who is helping us protect our patients and staff during this challenging time,” said Isley.
