Henry Schein, partners to donate $1M in equipment to combat Ebola

Henry Schein, together with supplier partners, announced it will donate more than $1 million in personal protective equipment to help prevent the spread of Ebola.

The company is working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation and with partner relief organizations, including AmeriCares, Direct Relief, International Medical Corps, and MedShare, to continually monitor and assess the need for medical supplies to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which is the largest, most severe, and complex epidemic in the region's history.

The virus has already claimed nearly 4,000 lives out of more than 8,400 cases, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern."

Henry Schein's donations will include more than $1 million in masks, gloves, and gowns, along with hand sanitizer, coveralls, and other protective equipment. The CDC Foundation will receive half of this, with the remainder donated to Henry Schein's strategic nongovernment organization partners providing relief.

Henry Schein's response to the Ebola outbreak includes support from its supplier partners, including Crosstex International, KaVo Kerr Group, Medicom, and PDI Healthcare.

In a statement, CEO Stanley Bergman said getting protective equipment to healthcare workers was critical.

"The countries affected by Ebola are facing an escalating health crisis, and Henry Schein is committed to supporting relief efforts to help contain the virus," Bergman said. "It is critical that healthcare workers receive the protective equipment they need to safely continue the heroic work of saving lives. Through public-private partnerships involving our supplier network and relief organizations, we will work to provide these essential supplies in the fight against this deadly epidemic."