Hospital beds, medical equipment heading for Cuba

Hospital beds, medical equipment heading for Cuba
The Mississauga News
Mar 1, 2006

Credit Valley Hospital (CVH) is donating much-needed beds and medical
equipment to Cuba this week.

In doing so, the Mississauga health-care facility is continuing a
Canadian tradition of helping Cubans in need of medical items that began
more than a decade ago, thanks in large part to one of Canada's most
famous Prime Ministers, Pierre Trudeau.

The shipment, which is being sent via Health Partners International of
Canada's (HPIC) Tomken Rd. distribution centre, is the latest load to
head to the Caribbean nation under a humanitarian medical aid
arrangement struck in 1995.

The items, which are second-hand from CVH, are going directly to a
hospital in Cuba, HPIC officials say.

HPIC, a Montreal-based humanitarian organization with a 26,000-sq.ft.
distribution centre in Mississauga, provides medicines, vaccines and
medical supplies donated by Canadian health-care groups -- such as CVH
-- to doctors, aid organizations and government agencies in the
developing world.

"We partner with Canadian companies and individuals from across the
country to provide medical aid. Together, we are improving the health
and lives of children and adults in the developing world," said HPIC
spokesperson Margaret Buchanan.

Since 1990, HPIC has delivered more than $180 million in medical aid to
111 countries. Of that, $40 million in goods has been sent to Cuba since
1995.

HPIC also taps into a network of non-governmental organizations,
humanitarian agencies, medical professionals, faith-based organizations
and churches, community groups, and transportation service providers to
ensure vital medicines are sent quickly to aid workers for efficient
distribution.

The arrangement with Cuba was struck in August of 1995. After an
official visit to the country in 1976 as Prime Minister, Trudeau
returned to the Caribbean island numerous times and it was his goal to
help people there get the medicine and supplies they needed.

An arrangement was eventually worked out and today HPIC has various
projects in the country.

In 2003, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) began
working with HPIC to deliver $15 million in medical aid to Cuba over
five years. Cuba's Ministry of Health relates medical needs to HPIC and
officials here assemble the medical products required.

Millions of dollars in donated medical products are received at HPIC's
facility throughout the year and subsequently shipped to locations
around the world.

http://www.mississauga.com/mi/insidenews/story/3352253p-3879623c.html