Hurricane Medical Relief in Cuba

Since our initial donations began arriving in Cuba last year, we have been coordinating with the Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization office in Havana to target receiving institutions and discuss materials most needed. In April of this year, Global Links staff performed site visits to three of the targeted provinces, Las Tunas, Camaguay and Pinar del Rio visiting hospitals, primary care facilities and senior care homes. It was decided that our next shipments will be concentrated in Las Tunas and Camaguay provinces where we plan to address needs in senior care facilities, pediatric and general hospitals in each province. For example, we are planning to upgrade the maternity area of one of the hospitals with equipment and furnishings. A psychiatric hospital in Las Tunas suffered severe water damage when the windows blew out. They need furnishings for their patient recreation room. In April and May 2009, Global Links made three shipments to Cuba which included 195,000 pairs of sterile surgical gloves which will be provided to multiple hospitals in the country, and 2 containers of office furnishings (including filing cabinets, desks, chairs, storage cabinets, chart racks). There is an intense need for these basic furnishings as many were damaged during the storms, and most have not been replaced in 40+ years. We are planning additional shipments this year to the targeted provinces. Your support is greatly appreciated. Please leave us comments on our project below- we value your input!