Some of the medical supplies that have reached Haiti in support of the country’s relief efforts came right out of Douglas.

Percept Medical Products Inc., with a 100,000-square-foot office and distribution center in Douglas, has a manufacturing facility in Agua Prieta, Sonora Mexico, the sister city to Douglas. The company’s manufacturing unit operates 24 hours per day with shifts producing surgical, procedure and protective masks, along with protective apparel.

“Our company was the first maquiladora in Douglas,” said Ken Johnson, the company’s quality assurance and regulatory affairs manager. “We’ve been here since 1964.”

With its headquarters in Asheville, N.C., Percept is an East Coast supplier, Johnson said.

“The majority of our protective apparel is produced by contract manufacturers in Asia and then imported into the U.S.,” he said.

Precept’s Agua Prieta manufacturing component, Industrias Apson, employs 325 people and is currently bringing in new equipment to expand production capacity.

“The current H1N1 virus pandemic has had a profound impact upon all mask-producing companies, some more positive than others,” Johnson said. “At Precept, we are experiencing a 50 percent a growth trend. We’re increasing employees to help with the operation, so it’s a good thing for the people of Agua Prieta.”

Along with supplying U.S. hospitals, the company has international accounts, with products in about 3,000 hospitals.

While watching the devastating events unfold in Haiti, Johnson said, the company wanted to do something to help.

“The Haiti earthquake is a tragedy that is beyond my imagination,” he said. “The scope of devastation is immense, and the real challenges lie well beyond the physical destruction.”

As Haiti turns toward rebuilding and helping the injured heal, Precept will be part of that process. On Jan. 15, the company sent its first shipment of medical supplies to the country. Those supplies included:

• 6,100 surgical masks with veils or shields.

• 5,000 surgical gowns.

• 1,350 pairs of boot covers.

Since that first shipment, Precept has sent another round of supplies.

“We hope these supplies serve in the healing of those who require skilled medical help,” Johnson said.