Hospital Nacional de Retalhuleu, Guatemala-
Unimpressive, overstuffed, black plastic bags, the kind usually reserved for yard debris, were delivered to the National Hospital of Retalhuleu, Guatemala today. Rather than being deposited with the trash, these bags were wholeheartedly welcomed by the Physicians and staff of the hospital.
The national health system of Guatemala is the primary source of medical care for the impoverished and indigenous people of this Central America nation. It has been hard pressed to keep up with demand and shortages of medicine and supplies have been serious and widespread. The Hospital at Retalhuleu has been particularly hard hit by these shortages.
In this case, the plastic bags are filled with medicine and supplies to help ease the shortage of necessities at the hospital.
AMEDICAusa volunteers arrived here in an SUV filled with these supplies.
“Gathering donations from pharmacies, physicians and suppliers around Guatemala was hard work “said AMEDICAusa Vice President Silvana Ayuso. “but very much worth it. Every patient we help is important.”
Normally, AMEDICAusa’s focus is on the more rural areas of Guatemala. 90% of the country’s doctors are practicing in the major urban areas, leaving the rural, poor and indigenous chronically underserved.
“This was an important donation, and actually in line with our rural focus.” said Neale Brown, President of AMEDICAusa.
“Seriously ill people from the rural villages must often be referred to the National Hospitals in the larger towns and cities. If they can make their way – and it is difficult and expensive for them to do so – to the hospital, it is obviously better if there is medicine and supplies to actually care for them.” Said Brown.
AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.
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Nuestro Diario, Guatemala – 5/18/2016
Nuestro Diario, Guatemala -5/18/2016
HOSPITAL RECEIVES DONATION (translated from the Spanish)
The charity AMEDICAusa delivered a shipment of medicines for patients in the National Hospital in Retalhuleu.
The contribution was made by Silvana Ayuso, Vice President of the Organization, who explained that the drugs were donated by Guatemalan doctors.
The batch of medicines including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic medicines, among others, said Ayuso.
For her part, Wendy Méndez, responsible for the pharmacy of the Medical Center, said that the donation will help to alleviate the crisis that affects all hospitals.
“It will be well used in the different units,” she said.
Some patients came to thank [the volunteers] for the help.
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