MedShare International

To provide the impoverished nation of Nicaragua with desperately needed medical supplies, MedShare International recently shipped two 40-foot containers of items such as surgical packs, catheters, monitors, defibrillators, stethoscopes and ventilators to two Nicaraguan hospitals. MedShare International, an Atlanta-based non profit organization, collects and recycles surplus medical supplies and equipment for distribution to healthcare groups in economically depressed countries.

Nicaragua is one of the most economically depressed countries in Central America. According to the American-Nicaraguan Foundation, 4 million of the nation’s 5.2 million people live on less than $2 a day. Adding to the daily struggle to survive is the lack of physicians, who in turn lack access to basic medical supplies needed to effectively diagnose and treat patients The Catholic Medical Mission Board estimates that there only 7.4 doctors for every 100,000 residents.

“MedShare is pleased to be able to offer assistance with medical supplies to Nicaragua,” says MedShare Chief Executive Officer A.B. Short. “Our work is a win-win for everyone involved. Those on the receiving end appreciate MedShare’s donations because they are tailor-made to meet each groups specific needs and capacities. And MedShare has the opportunity to provide U.S. hospitals with a socially and environmentally responsible alternative to simply throwing items that are still usable and have great value elsewhere.”

MedShare is dedicated to providing some of the world’s most vulnerable populations with access to quality medical supplies and equipment. The organization collects surplus medical supplies and used equipment from U.S. hospitals and manufacturers. With generous financial support from U.S. corporations, foundation, individuals and civic and religious groups, MedShare donates medical materials to overseas facilities by supplying medical mission teams or directly shipping containers of medical supplies. The organization only donates supplies and equipment that are requested by recipients, ensuring that physicians and hospitals get what they need to treat patients and save lives.

To heighten MedShare’s level of services, the organization is piloting a project with Engineering World Health (EWH), an affiliate of the University of Memphis, Department of Biomedical Engineering. This year in collaboration with EWH, MedShare has sent two containers to Nicaragua, and will ship four more to Sierra Leone and Liberia in Africa.

Short states, “MedShare is excited about working with Engineering World Health. Engineers from EWH will travel to identified recipient hospitals to evaluate first-hand their specific biomedical equipment needs. MedShare will ship containers with these specific pieces of equipment, and an engineer will be onsite when the shipment arrives to help with the installation and maintenance training of local personnel.”

The shipments to Nicaragua were sent to the cities of Jinotepe and Diriamba, based on the findings of an EWH engineer’s visit. Jinotepe is the capital of the Carazo division (or state) of Nicaragua; Carazo is home to approximately 175,000 people in the more densely populated western part of the country. The shipment of medical materials from MedShare went to Jinotepe Regional Santiago Hospital and along with basic medical items, included electrosurgical units, breathing circuits, EEG monitors, fetal heart detectors and incubators, among other equipment. The shipment to Diriamba, also in Carazo, will benefit Hospital San Josep de Diriamba. Some of the medical materials will also be routed to a Teachers Hospital, which treats people with no income.

About MedShare International

MedShare International, based in Atlanta, collects and recycles surplus medical supplies and equipment for distribution to needy healthcare institutions in economically developing countries.

Founded in 1998, the organization has shipped more than $16 million worth of life-saving supplies and equipment to 73 countries around the world through container shipments and medical teams.

For further information on MedShare or to find out how to volunteer or make a donation, call (770) 323-5858 or visit our website at www.medshare.org.

About Engineering World Health

Engineering World Health (EWH) has been created to answer the needs of disadvantaged areas through providing and maintaining appropriate medical technology. If you are an engineer, scientist, physician, student or simply someone who wants to improve the healthcare status of people in underserved areas, you can join the EWH team.

EWH evaluates an institution’s equipment needs and arranges to obtain, check and refurbish the equipment. To ensure that a given institution has an adequate infrastructure, EWH sends engineers to recipient hospitals to install the equipment and train personnel in its maintenance. The ultimate goal is to train local engineers and technicians to maintain their own equipment.

EWH is an affiliate of the University of Memphis, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and has chapters throughout the United States.