American Leprosy Missions sending medical supplies to Liberia - WFXG FOX 54 - News Now

Greenville-based American Leprosy Missions is sending more than $1.5 million in medical supplies and 6,000 protective suits to help people in Liberia combat the Ebola epidemic.

Jim Oehrig, the chief program officer for ALM, said in order to combat the crisis overseas, people need to focus on two things: public health and mission hospitals.

"You make a difference one person's life at a time, so protective suit for a health worker makes a tremendous difference. Medical supplies for a clinic that doesn't have any makes a tremendous difference," said Oehrig.

American Leprosy Missions focuses its efforts on caring for people suffering from leprosy and other tropical diseases.

The group teamed up with MAP International to send the aide.

Darren Schaupp, the director of program operations for ALM, said the protective suits save lives.

"Where some of these suits are going up to … north of Monrovia, already five nurses have died there at that hospital. So, just imagine going in there to work, and you don't have the right equipment to do what you need to be able to do," said Schaupp.

Last year, American Leprosy Missions partnered with MAP to send more than $3.6 million in medical supplies to people affected by tropical diseases in Africa and Asia.

The supply shipment is leaving the U.S. on Monday, August 11th.

Schaupp asked that people pray for those affected by the Ebola virus.

If you're interested in donating or learning more about ALM, click here.

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