CDC donates over $3.7M worth of medical supplies to the shore
CAMBRIDGE, Md. – One by one over $3.7 million worth of medical supplies made it’s way off a massive tractor trailer and into the hands of the Dorchester County Health Department to distribute across the Midshore of Maryland.
Erin Hill, Coordinator for Midshore Opioid Misuse Prevention Program says, “We don’t always get the funding that we need to address some of the concerns in the community so I had to jump on this.”
On Friday, Dorchester County Health got quite the donation from the CDC. Donations that will make sure law enforcement, schools, and health departments are equipped with the best supplies to safely dispose of needles.
Hill explains, “They had some surplus property in a warehouse in Baltimore. These materials were Sharps collection container boxes, some biohazard bags, various other things that I know we could use on the shore,”
Supplies that are being welcomed with open arms since it’s saving money and helping to keep the community safe.
“This is a cost savings benefit so that we can use the funds that we normally pay to dispose of sharps to know you these funds for new training materials,” says Chip Verdery, EMS Coordinator for Chesapeake College.
“It will make things safer for a deputies for other police officers in the public because when we come across a needle we can safely dispose of it in the sharps containers,” explains Major Deputy Chief Dwayne Boardman, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office.
It’s supplies that are helping the Midshore’s fight against opioids.
“If you’re discarding your sharps appropriately if you’re a diabetic then that might translate to putting other medications in the drop box. Just spreading that wider message of how important safe storage and disposal is for a community,” Hill.
The Midshore Opioid Misuse Prevention Program is looking to partner with doctor’s offices, organizations and other departments to distribute the free supplies.
They also are reminding locals who may be struggling with addiction to text IWIK to 71441 for help, its a 24-hour hotline to answer questions on how to get help.
