Monday, November 03, 2008 US groups donate medical supplies
THE Mandaue City Government has received millions of pesos worth of medical, dental and educational supplies from a Rotary Club and a medical mission group in the United States.
The donation contained in a 40-footer van was unloaded at the Mandaue City Hospital. These included operating tables, an ECG machine, hospital beds, computers, school chairs, stuffed toys and assorted educational books, among others.
Mayor Jonas Cortes received the donation during a formal turnover ceremony held recently at the city hospital.
“Thank you for touching the lives of the less fortunate brothers and sisters in Mandaue,” said the mayor in his speech.
“Despite the crisis we are facing there are lots of opportunities coming us. There are new businesses in the North Reclamation Area because they have seen that we have pooled our efforts together. With these kind of people, we are optimistic that we can overcome the obstacles,” he added.
The donors were Rotary Club METS (Medical Equipment and Transport Services) – Rotary District 6920 based in Savannah, Georgia, USA and Sta. Barbara Medical Mission, USA. The donation was facilitated by Mandauehanons who are USA Rotarians.
Sanitarium
In behalf of the donors, Ricardo Oplado, president of Rotary Club of Mandaue, made the turnover to Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi, assistant director of the Department of Health 7, who in turn made the turnover to Mayor Cortes.
The mayor then made a symbolic turnover to the beneficiaries in Mandaue—the city hospital, Eversley Childs Sanitarium and Hospital, Mandaue City College and the City Library.
Dr. Oscar Quirante, chief of Mandaue City Hospital and City Health Officer, said although the equipment are second hand in the US these are very useful here, adding that the operating table alone would cost at least P800,000.
Since they cannot accommodate the entire donation in the hospital, Quirante said they will share some of these to Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City.
