For Immediate Release November 11, 2013
Contact: Liz Jacobs, RN, 510-273-2232 or Bonnie Castillo, RN, 510-719-7147
National Nurses Relief Group Mobilizes RNs for Philippines Relief Mission
Public Can Help Support Nurses’ Relief Effort
In the aftermath of the devastation from Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, one of the worst storms on record, the Registered Nurse Response Network (RNRN), a project of National Nurses United, has put out a call for volunteers and donations through its vast network of direct-care nurses both nationally and internationally.
Following a request sent out this weekend from RNRN, within five hours, 370 RNs had already signed up to help.
RNRN has been gathering information and assessments from multiple sources, including the Philippines Alliance of Health Workers, a member of NNU’s international affiliate Global Nurses United, to determine the need for nurses, medical supplies and financial support on the ground.
Through the disaster relief effort, RNRN have mobilized hundreds of direct care RN volunteers to help provide care to people affected by other disasters in the U.S. and internationally, including Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the Haiti earthquake, and South Asia tsunami on the ground and on U.S. naval ships.
For this effort, RNRN is placing a special effort on recruiting volunteers who speak Tagalog, many of whom are directly connected to NNU and RNRN. RNs have been asked to provide their availability over the next month.
The nurses are also seeking public support with financial donations to help their relief effort. Secure donations may be made at this website https://donate.nationalnursesunited.org/page/contribute/send_a_nurse. Contributions are tax deductible, and 100 percent of all donations go directly to the relief effort.
In the Philippines, communication channels are not yet re-established to many areas, but current reports indicate as many as 10,000 deaths, with fears of many more casualties yet to be assessed.
Several hospitals, along with thousands of homes and schools have been damaged or destroyed, and hundreds of thousands left homeless – many with long term shelter needs.
“As U.S. nurses we have seen the effects of deadly storms and disasters and the pain it causes for our families and communities, said Zenei Cortez, RN, vice president of National Nurses United. “We know the difference it makes to provide support and assistance in a hour of need. We will do whatever we can to aid our sisters and brothers in the Philippines.”
RNs can volunteer for the relief effort on the NNU website at http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/blog/entry/typhoon-disaster-in-the-philippines-what-rns-can-do-to-help/
RNRN, a project of National Nurses United, the nation’s largest organization of RNs, was formed in 2004 in the aftermath of the South Asia tsunami in 2004, when the need for nurses was not being met by traditional disaster relief organizations. Since that time RNRN has send hundreds of direct-care nurse volunteers to assist following Hurricane Katrina, the massive earthquake in Haiti, and Hurricane Sandy.
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