Two representatives from the
Humanitarian Assistance Program in Georgia join US Embassy
officials to visit Pereira Rossell, Clínicas, Pasteur,
Florida & Maldonado Hospitals
Two assessors from the U.S. Department of
Defense Humanitarian Assistance Program, traveled from Albany,
Ga., to deliver medical supplies and experience first-hand
how their work benefits Uruguayan hospitals.
Bill Lane and Jay Graves joined US Embassy
officials and representatives from the Ministry of Public
Health in Uruguay to dole out US$1 million worth of supplies
to Pereira Rossell Hospital, University Hospital and Pasteur
Hospital in Montevideo, and to the public hospital of Florida
and Maldonado. Ceremonies were held throughout the day at
the various hospitals. The team was joined by an NBC TV
news crew from Atlanta, which has been following the story
since Lane and Graves first visited Uruguayan hospitals
in January. The date of the broadcast is to be announced.
The donations, which came from the US Southern
Command, included a wide variety of supplies, such as stretchers,
first aid and surgical products.. In January, Lane and Graves
personally assessed their needs and were able to add several
items above what the hospital officials had requested, including
incubators, cardiovascular equipment and a portable Xray
machine.
"The hospitals only asked for the bare
minimum of what they needed in January. Mr. Lane and Mr.
Gray were able to see what other equipment, stored in the
warehouse, could be used by the hospitals," said Col.
Jerry F. Miller, of the Office of Defense Cooperation at
the embassy. "They like working with Uruguay because
the population is so well educated and the hospitals are
able to work with and maintain this complex equipment."
Miller added that the program representatives
also took the opportunity to assess the needs of other hospitals
in Uruguay to lay out the groundwork for the Humanitarian
Assistance Program in fiscal year 2004, which begins in
October.
The Embassy’s Humanitarian Assistance
Program started in 2002 with the donation of medical supplies
and educational programs and continues throughout the year.
Donations of pharmaceutical products, medical supplies,
medical services and school supplies are scheduled for the
entire year.
Because of the high level of trust and appreciation
for the people and institutions of Uruguay, several US government
branch offices and private US organizations are supporting
this initiative.
Today’s delivery is in addition to
several previous donations detailed below:
Sept. 16, 2002: Medical supplies worth $20,000
for the Hospital of Rivera.
Dec. 2, 2002: Medical supplies worth $550,000
for the Ministry of Public Health.
Jan. 7, 2003: Medical supplies worth $2,000
for the Military Hospital.
Feb. 11, 2003: Medical supplies and orthopedic
equipment worth $10,000 for the Ministry of Public Health
and the University Hospital
March 13, 2003: Medical supplies worth $70,000
for Pereira Rossell Hospital.
April 9, 2003: Medical supplies worth $4
million for the Ministry of Public Health.
June 3, 2003: Ambulance with equipment and
supplies worth $50,000 for the Hospital of Paysandú.
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Director of Clínicas Hospital
Dra. Graciela Ubach, U..S. Embassy's
Political and Economic Counselor Oliver Griffith,
Political Officer Jeff Vick, Col. Jerry F.
Miller & Department of Defense Representative
Bill Lane |
U..S. Embassy's
Political and Economic Counselor Oliver Griffith,
Director of Pereira Rossel Hospital Dr. Luis Castillo,
Ministry of Public Health Representative Dr.. Omar
Porciúncula, Col. Miller & Department of
Defense Representative Bill Lane |
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U.S. Embassy's Political Officer
Jeff Vick, Director of Florida Hospital Dr. Francis
Llanes and the Mayor of Florida Andrés Arocena |
Col. Miller and the Director
of Maldonado Hospital check donated materials. |
