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IMED director Lindsay Brucks says prenatal equipment is one of his favourite things to ship. He explains his preference as he ensures an almost-new ultrasound bound for Nebaj, Guatemala is secure in its protective crate. “In the developing world it’s a lot about family — a lot about children — so the ultrasounds make a huge impact on the lives of the women and the safety of the children when they’re born.”
But FH Canada’s International Medical Equipment Distribution (IMED) team does it up to 20 times a year, and has been doing so since 2002. Rapid advances in medical technology mean that perfectly functional equipment is constantly being replaced in Canadian hospitals. Most of this equipment is out of reach for clinics and staff “It REaLLy ImpactS in developing communities. That’s where the IMED program comes in. tHE nuRSES and They work with Canadian health professionals avERaGE It bRInGS doctoRS. coSt to SHIp avERaGE vaLuE oF ItS to keep recently-replaced equipment from early IMED directorcontEntS Lindsay Bruc tHEm HopE.” a contaInER donatEd retirement at a costly storage facility. equipment is one of his favourite The equipment is donated to FH and kept at lindsay Brucks imed director He explains his preference as he IMED’s Saskatoon warehouse, where it’s refurmost-new ultrasound bound fo bished and matched with requests for equipment But FH Canada’s International Medical EquipThe Guatemala container scheduled to ship from around the world. mala is secure in its protective cr ment Distribution (IMED) team does it up to 20 this spring is somewhat of a special order. Usually Dr. Bosco of Gisuru Hospital in East Burundi “In the developing world it’s a a year, andone hasorbeen doing soinsince a times container equips two hospitals a re-2002. recently contacted IMED with his medical wish ily — a lot about children — so in medical gion, Rapid but thisadvances time IMED was askedtechnology by Nebaj’s mean list. Dr. Bosco is one of only two doctors and make a huge impact on the lives o Lindsay Brucksspecialized saysisFoR prenatal EvERy $1 It’S StRanGE tHInG, that IMED perfectly functional constantly district healthdirector authority to equipment supply eight nurses a at the 50-bed facility that serves an donatEd, $30 the safety of the children when th equipment oneinofCanadian his things to Most ship. of equipment andissupplies forfavourite one large hospital, being replaced hospitals. areamEaSuRInG of over 200,000 people. HopE. They see about 90 oF mEdIcaL He explains hisis preference as he ensures an al-staff two smaller ones, and 30 clinics in the people a day, often two to a bed. this equipment outupoftoreach for clinics and EQuIpmEnt IS SEnt most-newvillages. ultrasound bound for to Nebaj, Guate- WHo But FH Medical Equip- surrounding doctoRS The bedCanada’s shortageInternational isn’t the only frustration. in developing communities. mala is secure in its protective crate. dESpERatELy Containers are always packed tightly, but this ment Distribution (IMED) team does it up to 20 They often have to turn away patients they can’t That’s the world IMEDit’sprogram comes in.It. nEEd “In thewhere developing a lot about has every square inch filled withfamtimes or a year, has been doing so since 2002. one especially diagnose treat and without a crucial piece of equipThey work with Canadian health professionals ily — a lot about children — so the ultrasounds Rapid basic advances in medical technology mean wheelchairs, heart monitors and examination ment, either or complex. tomake keep recently-replaced equipment from a huge impact on the lives of the women andearly beds; with linens, gauze, scrubs and operating that perfectly is constantly “Stuff we’d be functional shocked toequipment see missing from the safety of the children when they’re born.” retirement at a costly storage facility. utensils filling the gaps. being replaced in Canadian hospitals. Most of the doctor’s office—” begins Ron Morey, the bioNebaj shipment is is one of usually seven The equipment donated to FH andto kept at this equipment out of reach for clinics and staff The lindsay Brucks medical technician is who’s refurbishing Dr. Bosco’s imed director nine a yearREaLLy that go to communities already walk“It ImpactS in developing communities. IMED’s Saskatoon warehouse, where it’s refurpieces, “that’s the stuff they’re desperate for.” ing with FH Canada in a longer-term sustainable where Gisuru the IMED program comes in. bished As That’s the 40-foot Hospital container tHEandnuRSES matched with and requests for equipment development partnership. They work The Guatemala container sch is packed with with beds,Canadian operatinghealth tables,professionals surgical from around the world. doctoRS. It bRInGS has often visited these fields, and freto keep and recently-replaced equipment from equipment incubators, IMED staff and vol-early Lindsay this spring is somewhat of a speci Dr. Bosco of Gisuru Hospital in East Burundi tHEm quently sees the HopE.” value of providing tools to peoretirement at abut costly storage facility. unteers can’t help think of a baby in another a container equips one or two h recently contacted IMED with his medical wish haveBrucks the skills to use them. equipment donatedwhere to FH aand kept at ple who lindsay area ofThe Burundi, Buyeis region, previgion, but this time IMED was a list. Dr. Bosco istheone of only two doctors and imed director “It really impacts nurses and the doctors,” IMED’s Saskatoon warehouse, where it’s refurous container request came from. An incubator district health authority to sup at the that the serves an heeight says. nurses “It brings them50-bed hope asfacility they serve andthe matched equipment www.fhcanada.org/hope theybished sent was first forwith the requests hospital. for Only days equipment and supplies for one The Guatemala container scheduled to ship people and the passion that they have.” aroundathe world. area of over 200,000 people. see about 90 afterfrom it arrived, baby was born premature and Photos (left to right from top) 1.They An incubator for Nebaj, Guatemala 2. Shutting the this spring is somewhat of a special order. Usually By empowering health professionals in their smaller kits ones, and up to 3 Dr. Bosco of Gisuru Hospital in East Burundi survived to go home with her grateful mother. doors on the fi lled Nebaj container for surgical 4. Dr. Bosco people a day, often two to a bed. 3. 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They see about 90 One 10 good stewardship HoPE Spring/Summer 2012 wheelchairs, heart monitors an ment, either basic RaRELy SuRvIvEd. two smaller ones, or andcomplex. up to 30 clinics in the people a day, often two to a bed. beds; with linens, gauze, scrubs www.fhcanada.org/hope surrounding villages. “Stuff we’d be shocked to see missing from The bed shortage isn’t the only frustration. IMED director Lindsay Brucks says prenatal utensils filling the gaps. Containers are always packed tightly, but this the doctor’s office—” begins Ron Morey, the bioThey often have to turn away patients they can’t equipment of without his favourite things toof ship. Spring/Summer HoPE NotEShas good stewardship one especially every square inch filled The Nebaj shipment is one of diagnoseisorone treat a crucial piece equip-2012 medical technician who’s refurbishing Dr.9with Bosco’s He ment, explains his basic preference as he ensures an alwheelchairs, heart monitors and examination nine a year that go to communiti either or complex. pieces, “that’s the stuff they’re desperate for.” most-new bound for Nebaj, Guatebeds; with linens, gauze, scrubs and operating “Stuffultrasound we’d be shocked to see missing from ing with FH Canada in a longer-t As the 40-foot Gisuru Hospital container mala secure inoffice—” its protective utensils filling the gaps. theis doctor’s beginscrate. 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An incubator quently sees the value of providing tools to peo“It REaLLy ImpactS he says. “It brings them hope as unteers can’t help but think of a baby in another they sent was the first for the hospital. Only days ple who have the skills to use them. area of Burundi, Buyeand region, where a previ- after people and the passion that they tHE nuRSES it arrived, a baby was born premature and “It really impacts the nurses and the doctors,” ous container request from. An incubator By empowering health profes doctoRS. It came bRInGS survived to go home with her grateful mother. he says. “It brings them hope as they serve the they sent was the first for the hospital. Only days own communities and providing tHEm HopE.” people and the passion that they have.” after it arrived, a baby was born premature and are otherwise inaccessible, the IM By empowering health professionals in their lindsay Brucks survived to go home with her grateful mother. International Medical livering hope and literally saving imed director own communities and providing resources that Equipment Distribution One 40-foot container at a tim are otherwise inaccessible, the IMED team is debEFoRE tHE The Guatemala container scheduled to ship livering hope and literally saving lives. pREEmIES thisIncubatoR, spring is somewhat of a special order. Usually www.fhcanada.org/hope One 40-foot container at a time. RaRELy SuRvIvEd. a container equips one or two hospitals in a rewww.fhcanada.org/hope gion, but this time IMED was asked by Nebaj’s
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