Have you ever wondered how containers stocked full of medical equipment and supplies make it from Canada to their final destination overseas?
Although each container varies in its length of travel for a variety of reasons including road conditions, country stability, and government permissions, their arrival always delivers hope and health to a developing community. Here is an exciting recent example!
On March 20th 2008, a container packed full of vital medical equipment departed the IMED warehouse in Saskatoon destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The journey was slowed down, in part due to the DRC's serious and ongoing conflict, but finally arrived on December 11th.
As reported by the community leader recipients, the equipment arrived in "perfect condition". (Our IMED team packs each container with extreme care as we want the equipment to arrive in perfect condition) The precious contents of this particular container were distributed among three different medical facilities. One hospital was recently refurbished and the two others were just being built – what a tremendous gift for these hospitals to receive this essential equipment!
Here are a few comments from the medical personnel who received the equipment: - "Operating tables are unobtainable in central Africa – it is a joy to undertake surgery when the table can be adjusted properly and the patient presented properly."
- "The gastroscope was the first instrument used and we were able to save the life of a man with a bleeding ulcer."
- "Thank you so much for your help!"
What an incredible process! Equipment that would otherwise end up in a Canadian landfill because it no longer meets our standards is able to save and transform the lives of so many who would die without it.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone that donated equipment and supplies, time to pick up, fix and pack equipment and resources to send these life saving supplies.
Together, we really can deliver hope – one container at a time!
