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Jul 29, 2009 1:16 pm US/Eastern
Children's Hospital Sends Supplies Overseas
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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Global Links workers move furniture at the old Children's Hospital facility.
KDKA
Children's Hospital is sending nearly 20 truckloads of used surplus medical furnishings to several developing countries that are in critical need of the equipment.
After the hospital moved from Oakland to Lawrenceville, it rounded up roves of unneeded medical supplies and equipment and is now giving it to the Pittsburgh-based Global Links.
Global Links will recover the items – pediatric exam tables, lab stools, rocking chairs, children's furnishings and toys – and then sort, clean and refurbish them by staff and volunteers at it's warehouse.
"Usually what we see are family members in pediatric hospitals actually lying on the floor of the hospital next to their child's bed or crib," Angela Garcia, Global Links Deputy Director, said. "By re-purposing the materials from the old children's hospital, we are actually going to make a huge difference in the dignity and the ability of the health care professionals who provide a better setting for those patients."
In each truck there is anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 in goods.
"The majority are going to be going to Jamaica, Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Bolivia in the coming weeks to actually fill waiting rooms or patient rooms that have nothing," Garcia said.
Global Links is in its 20th year and send medical aid valued at almost $30 million to developing countries last year.
In total, more than 330 containers of surplus medical equipment and furnishings have been shipped to 22 countries since 1989.
"Everything from office furniture to patient exam room furniture, waiting room furniture, things like that are very basic but very well needed in the places we send to," David Davis, Global Links Logistics Manager, said.
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