Improving Health Care in the Developing World
by Improving the Medical Supply Chain
Our Programs
Partners for World Health recovers useful medical supplies that U.S. hospitals must discard due to government regulations, and distributes them to organizations and people around the world. Many countries throughout the world lack basic medical supplies such as bandages, IV solutions, sterile syringes, sterile needles, tape, gauze pads, catheter supplies, soap, betadine and alcohol swabs and so much more. Partners for World Health coordinates with a variety of organziations throughout New England and collects discarded supplies and equipment and makes sure that these items are distributed to those who are far less fortunate than we are.
This effort not only improves global health care, it helps preserves the environment as millions of pounds of these unused medical supplies end up in landfills as most of these items are not biodegradable. In addition Partners for World Health helps to insure that the health of people is improved by providing needed supplies and health care services.
Recovery of Medical Supplies Partners for World Health enlists hospital staff to save items in hospitals and nursing homes that are normally discarded per hospital and government regulations. The items include thousands of pounds of sterile syringes and needles, dressing supplies, orthopedic supplies, hygiene products, and an endless supply of plastic tubs, water pitches and bedpans. All are left left in rooms after patients are discharged, and normally sent to our landfills. Partners for World Health distributes medical supplies through partnerships with other non-profit organizations as well as organizing their own trips of volunteers. Partners for World Health volunteers and partners have delivered medical supplies to more than 20 countries around the world including: Viet Nam, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Nepal, Peru, Equador, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Romania, Ghana, Cambodia, India, China, Zimbabwe, Loseto, Togo and Thailand. Partners for World Health meets with local hospital representatives to identify country side clinics and rural hospitals needing supplies and care. Global Experiential Travel Opportunity
Hospital nursing and housekeeping staff voluntarily set these items aside in special bins. Partners for World Health volunteers pick-up and deliver medical supply items to a nearby warehouse for identification, sorting and packaging. In some cases the supplies are organized into boxes for packing into a container set for shipment to third world countries. And in other cases items are packed in bags for delivery to foreign lands by volunteers traveling on mission trips to developing countries. In addition Partners for World Health also supports local charities and has given away several thousand pounds of personal care items to churches, pantries and homeless shelters in the greater Portland Maine area.
Following is a small sampling of items saved from our landfills: tape, new diapers, tongue depressers, ambu bags, oxygen tubing, soap, toothbrushes, powder, IV tubing, surgical instruments, baby bottles, wash basins, mattresses, exam tables, sheets, towels, blood pressure cuffs, stethescopes, CPR equipment, hemostats, forceps, clamps, wheelchairs, scissors, walkers, crutches, IV poles, sterile and non sterile gloves, knee immobilizers, beds, etc.
Jen Parisien Volunteer
Partners for World Health organizes international travel opportunities for medical and non-medical volunteers to deliver supplies and provide primary care services free to the local people. The two week trips provide an opportunity for a great experience to make a difference in the lives of people. A small group of 20 medical and non medical people will travel with close to 2000 pounds of medical supplies, distributes supplies and provide health care services to a population over a 4 day period. In addition there will be great opportunities to visit schools, hospitals and other NGO's to learn about the country and its people along with oportunities to see the sights and sounds as well.
The first experiential travel trip will depart on November 4, 2010 to Cambodia. Medical supplies will be distributed to a small hospital outside of Phnom Penh along with 4 days of primary health care provision. In addition travel will include a trip to Anghor Wat in Siem Reap, the killing fields, the Palace, silk factory, markets and the Citidel of Women along with visits to orphanages, schools and other NGO's. There is something for everyone to do, let alone have a great educational experience and make a difference in the lives of people.
Partners for World Health will return to Cambodia in November 2011 with an additional trip to Tanzania planned for February 2012. Call for more information.
Global Education In Country Opportunity
Partners for World Health will initiate a Global Education In Country opportunity in 2011 for medical and nursing students and other health care professional students to have the experience providing health care to people in a real world setting. Hospitals are being identified in Uganda, Bangledesh and Cambodia to create this unique opportunity for a learning experience in global health. Coordinated by a member of the Partners for World Health team a Registered Nurse will provide the oversight for the in country program with actual hands on health care work with people in a foreign land. Participants will live in a safe environment and have a great opportunity to learn about the country, its health care system, education and environment while living on hospital grounds. The month long program will make a difference in the lives of those participanting as well as improving the health of people served. Efforts are underway to create affliations with University settings who wish to participate.
Partners for World Health will initiate a Global Education In Country opportunity in 2011 for medical and nursing students and other health care professional students to have the experience of living in a foreign country and providing health care to people in a real world setting.
Global Health Education Series
Partners for World Health believes in educating others and sharing experiences. In June we will begin a series of speakers starting with Joyce Perron, RN who spoke about her experience traveling and working in Ethiopia. In July, Tina Holt, MD, Courtney Nall, MD, cindy Avery, MD and Jeff Grassmann, MD spoke about life changing experience working in Haiti after the earthquake. August Sara Nelson, MD and Justin Bennett, MD shared their experience providing emergency medical services to a hospital in Uganda. Students from the University of New England will discuss their Ghana experience set for October 6, 2010.
The Global Health Education Series is a monthly event open to the public for both medical and non medical people to learn about health care in other countries. All who present must have provided health care services overseas. All presentors have carried medical supplies from Partners for World Health. The Global Health Education Series is the first Tuesday of each month at 6p at the PWH distribution warehouse. It is free to the public and all are invited. See the 'get involved' page for more information.
Environmental - Local Recycling/Reuse
Many items that are not appropriate or are too costly for overseas travel are shared with local non-profits or new uses are discovered. Many hygiene products are regularly shared locally including homeless shelters; senior centers; schools; and low-income families and immigrant communities.
For non-biodegradable products like blue wrap, which is used to wrap sterilized surgical supplies, PWH is working to find other uses, for example as grocery shopping bags. Maine College of Art has begun a program creating art forms from blue wrap which they will sell and proceeds will go to PWH to purchase medicine for upcoming trips.
Global Distribution
