A planeside party welcomed three and one-half tons of medicine, medical supplies and other donations at the Baku airport at 9 a.m.
About 100 people gathered for a press conference beside the Russian cargo jet the U.S. State Department chartered to deliver the products. A cool wind swept across the tarmac, granting relief from what promised to be a sweltering day.
Physicians With Heart delegates rubbed elbows with government officials, representatives of donor companies and leaders of nongovernmental organizations that will distribute the materials.
Delegation Greets Plane Bringing Medicine
October 9, 2000
So many people had such a good time at the Baku airport witnessing the arrival of the donations that it was more like a party than an official event. The airlift's "group photo" includes Physicians With Heart delegates, U.S. and Azerbaijan officials, representatives of donor companies and nongovernmental relief organizations, and in the front at far right, an airport worker biding his time before the cargo door opened and he began his heavy lifting for the day.
"I was impressed that the two highest-ranking U.S. officials in Azerbaijan came to the event and stayed and visited with us till the plane was unloaded -- about an hour," said Daniel Ostergaard, M.D., AAFP vice president for international and interprofessional activities. "It showed they think this public-private effort led by family doctors is extremely important."
One of the officials was new in town: Ross Wilson, installed as U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan Oct. 10, the day before the shipment arrived. The other official was Deputy U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth Shelton. The ambassador spoke at the press conference.
So did Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov, who focuses on problems of refugees from the nation's wartorn areas and on ecological problems. The medicine will reach the refugees and other needy Azeris.
Eleven FPs in the AAFP and a cardiologist are part of the Physicians With Heart delegation. From left: Joseph Hess, M.D.; Robert Klein, M.D.; cardiologist Tamaz Areshidze, M.D.; Robert Zemke, M.D.; Najwa Bukhari, M.D.; Caroline Scott, M.D.; Mary Lynass, M.D.; Daniel Van Durme, M.D.; Byron Carlson, M.D.; Daniel Ostergaard, M.D.; Lanny Copeland, M.D.; and Gary Morsch, M.D.
Leaders of the three groups that created Physicians With Heart also spoke: AAFP Past President Lanny Copeland, M.D., of Albany, Ga.; Sandra Panther, executive vice president of the AAFP Foundation; and FP Gary Morsch, M.D., of Olathe, Kan., founder and president of Heart to Heart International.
"We plan to take these materials to four areas in Azerbaijan and talk with physicians there about what work we as family physicians do in the United States," said Copeland. Azerbaijan has pediatricians, general internists and many specialists but no physicians trained in family practice.
After the press conference, the cargo bay was opened, and those waiting on the tarmac saw what they came for: huge containers marked "Heart to Heart." The crowd cheered and burst into applause.
Later in the day, some Physicians With Heart delegates visited a camp near Baku for internally displaced persons, and some delegates flew to other areas to help deliver donations there.
"The situation with our one million refugees is very critical," said Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov. "We are confident the U.S. Congress will repeal Section 907 (of the Freedom Security Act) and increase aid to Azerbaijan. This project (Physicians With Heart) demonstrates that relations between the U.S. and Azerbaijan are improving."
Sandra Panther, EVP of the AAFP Foundation, acknowledged the partnership of more than 30 companies that donated products or funds to the Azerbaijan project.
"America is determined to work with Azerbaijan to help alleviate human suffering and help Azeris build a strong, independent nation," said U.S. Ambassador Ross Wilson. "Physicians With Heart reflects America's values to help people in need wherever they are."
Azerbaijan 2000
