22nd January 2010
With as many as 200,000 fatalities and up to two million people in need of urgent medical assistance, Spire Healthcare is helping to save lives by donating urgent medical supplies totalling £103,000 in support of the medical relief effort in Haiti.
In light of the severe shortage of medical supplies, many people being rescued from the rubble are dying as a result of overwhelmed and under-resourced hospitals. Merlin, the Medical aid agency responding in Haiti has appealed for £4.4m in order to treat some 200,000 people who are in urgent need of medical assistance.
The four pallets of vital medical supplies that includes everything from protective gloves to essential theatre equipment is being dispatched by Spire Healthcare to the Haitian capital tomorrow morning. It will greatly assist Merlin’s medical response team that includes one of Spire Healthcare’s consultant plastic surgeons, Mr Waseem Saeed, to perform life and limb-saving operations.
Julian Troth, regional logistics officer for Merlin comments: “Merlin’s teams on the ground in Haiti are delivering world-class medical treatment to the victims of the Earthquake. This has been made possible by the tireless efforts of the logistics teams back in the UK ensuring the necessary equipment and supplies reach the surgeons as quickly as possible. Spire Healthcare has donated over £100,000 worth of supplies and equipment, as well as given many hours of technical assistance. This will help to ensure Merlin can continue to rebuild the lives and health system of Haiti well into the future."
A further donation will be made by Spire Healthcare next week as it is currently collecting vital medical aid from its 36-strong hospital group. Its donations will also be supported by on-the-ground assistance from a growing number of Spire Healthcare consultants who are foregoing their busy operating lists to travel to Haiti to support Merlin’s disaster response team.
Robert Wise, CEO of Spire Healthcare comments: “We are happy to contribute toward the enormous effort of saving people injured and at risk in this large-scale humanitarian crisis. It is vital that our consultants on the ground be supported by quality medical supplies & equipment.”