US-based NGO to donate P46-M hospital equipment to Mexico

MEXICO, Pampanga --- A US-based non-government organization is set to donate P46-million worth of life-saving equipment to the soon-to-be-opened community hospital in this town.

Yesterday, George Samson, director of operations and chief operating officer of the World Medical Relief, Inc. (WMRI), reaffirmed the shipping of two 40-foot container containing slightly used medical equipment from the US.

Samson said the WMRI has committed to send the medical equipment, from as big as hospital beds, operating room tables and lights, X-ray, Ultrasound and dialysis machines to as small as stethoscopes for the Mexico Community Hospital.

With the donation, the newly-built hospital will be fully-operational.

Samson said that the Philippines, which is one of the 120 recipient-countries for medical equipment from WMRI, has received close to $490-million worth of aids in the form of medical equipment and medicines from the group.

Established in 1953, WMRI is a multi-funded, non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to impact the well-being of the medically impoverished on a local, national, and international basis, Samson said.

WMR achieves this through the collection of financial donations and goods, including medical, dental, and laboratory items, as well as through the purchase and distribution of such commodities.

“Goods are distributed in a non-discriminatory manner without regard to race, color, gender, religion, nationality or political beliefs,” Samson added.

Aside from the medical equipment WMRI has also committed to donate $100,000 worth of medicine to be distributed in a medical mission that would coincide with the launching of the Mexico Community Hospital.

Mexico Mayor Teddy C. Tumang on Sunday signed with Samson a deed to formally seal the donation.

Under the agreement, the municipal government would shoulder the shipping cost of the medical equipment.

Tumang said the donation was made possible with the help of the Rotary Club of Eastern Pampanga, whose charter president, Rudy Mallari, accompanied Tumang’s group in the US to seek the support of WMRI for the hospital equipment.

“These medical equipments will boost our ability to provide quality health services to our people through the Mexico Community Hospital. We are whole-heartedly thankful to the WMRI for these donations,” Tumang said.

The 50-bed capacity community hospital is being constructed by the municipal government in Barangay San Carlos here through a short-term loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines.