Valentina has her friend check her blood pressure with the cuff supplied in her free MedEx kit.

ALMATY, Kazakhstan – A small, blue box contained life-saving help for Valentina Tyuryupova and the people of her village.

Thanks to OBI, MedEx kits containing first aid items, blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes as well as over-the-counter medications were distributed to people in three cities, including Valentina.

She uses her kit to treat her family and neighbors when in need.

“The closest drug store is 5 kilometers away from our settlement,” she said. “There are no telephones either, so anything could happen and we may not even get an ambulance.”

Valentina, who works at a local nursing home for the disabled, said the people in her village often come to her for help in treating minor ailments and she provides care for them as she can.

MedEx kits containing first aid items, blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes as well as over-the-counter medications were distributed to people in three cities.

“We are happy to have access to medicine that does not require a prescription,” the 70-year-old said. “I measure their blood pressure too.”

Part of OBI’s MedEx program is not only to provide these basic medical kits to communities, but also train local health promoters, like Valentina, in first aid care.

Most of the recipients of the medical kits were elderly people living in remote areas. The goal of the project was to help people with basic medical supplies since most of their income is used to cover utilities and food costs.

Mapira Urazova, 68, also received a medical kit, which she uses to help treat her youngest son.
“So many people need medicines and always have to find ways to pay for those,” she said. “It is nice to feel cared for.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

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