DevelopingEM is raising funds to purchase two ultrasound machines for donation to hospitals in Haiti & Cuba – and we need your help to raise the remaining $US 8,730 by our August 15th deadline
I’m sure you’re asked for help in some way every day – either in the form of money or time. So why is this request any different?
Because in this case your donation will be directed entirely to the purchase of something that will have an extremely practical use & immediate clinical impact. The beneficiaries are clear and most importantly there will be no money lost in middlemen/admin/transport.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere & in fact one of the poorest in the world. The poverty faced by its people has been compounded by natural disasters and the relative lack of infrastructure – especially with respect to health care.
Our friend and colleague Dr. Regan Marsh is the Director of Emergency at the Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais in Haiti. Through her work with Partners in Health, Regan has developed an emergency training program to provide training of local emergency doctors and ongoing care for the local community. Regan has incorporated Ultrasound in the training of the junior doctors and in treatment of their patients. A new machine will go a long way in helping them to care for their community.
Cuba has been a vanguard of health care and medical internationalism for several decades. Although their doctors and health care providers are exceptionally well trained and incredibly dedicated, the ongoing Embargo has severely limited their supply of even basic medical equipment and supplies. Donation of an Ultrasound machine would assist our Cuban colleagues immensely with the care of its people.
We will be returning to Havana, Cuba in September to host our 2015 DevelopingEM critical care conference. Our partners at Ultrasound Podcast will be hosting an ultrasound workshop with the participation from regional delegates & faculty.
In addition to fully sponsoring the attendance for over 70 Cuban and Caribbean colleagues, we hope to use residual proceeds from conference registration towards the purchase of two ultrasound machines. Although we’ve arranged a very good deal through a purchase program for developing countries, we will still be short on funds.
If you can help, rest assured that your contribution will have a direct and meaningful impact. Any excess donations will be used to fund Emergency bedside ultrasound training in the region. We will acknowledge all named deposits and can email receipts for any donations received.
In appreciation of your donations our colleagues in Cuba & Haiti will be happy to send photos of the machines in use. Or if you’d prefer Cuban cigars, Havana rum, some rust from the chrome bumper of a 1954 Chevrolet, or signed pictures of Mark & I doing the Cha Cha Cha by the fountain in Plaza Vieja, then I’m sure that could be arranged as well.
Thanks for taking time to care. Your help will make a difference.
Please forward this to any who might share the goals of equity in healthcare access, value for money, and joy in helping.
If you wish to donate you can do so by credit card via the link below or by direct deposit (EFT).
http://www.cvent.com/events/developing-em-2015/custom-22-12dd08d9d0ce4b138889b7a5f079ce7c.aspx
Account details for EFT are:
DevelopingEM
BSB 032695
Account: 470522
Swift Code (for deposits outside of Australia): WPACAU2S
Kindest regards,
Lee & Mark
—
Co-Directors
DevelopingEM
Regan instructing in bedside ultrasonographic technique in Haiti