Children's Hospital Los Angeles has donated more than $326,000 in reusable pediatric medical equipment, supplies and furniture to Haiti to help in the Caribbean country's earthquake relief efforts, it was announced Friday.
Specialized equipment, including beds, cribs, pediatric ventilators and incubator warmers, is in short supply as the island nation strives to recover from the 7.0 earthquake that ravaged the country three years ago Saturday.
Dr. Henri Ford, Children's Hospital's vice president and chief of surgery, plans to travel back to his native country later this month to help oversee the distribution of the more than 650 items.
"Haiti's recovery from the earthquake has been long and arduous and
while this is a small contribution in the larger context of the country's needs, every bit helps,'' he said.
The equipment and furniture had been in storage since the summer of 2011, when Children's Hospital vacated its old building on Sunset Boulevard and moved into the new 317-bed Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion next door.
Much of the existing furniture and supplies moved with the patients to the new site, but many items typically designated for salvage in such moves was deemed unusable in the new facility, or elsewhere at the hospital, but still in workable condition, said Elizabeth Cochran, associate vice president of construction, design and facilities.
She said hospital administrators hosted Haitian health officials to review the donation prior to shipping the goods, which filled six cargo containers. The contribution enabled the hospital to save money on disposal into the environment and salvage costs, Cochran said.
