A Vancouver charity sends shipping containers full of medical supplies to West Africa



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A warehouse in Delta, BC, was busy this weekend as volunteers carefully packed piles of medical supplies such as bandages, wheelchairs, crutches and beds into eight shipping containers for West Africa. The Bu Neuroscience Foundation is a charitable organization founded in 2000 with four nurses and a donation of hospital beds from the Government of British Columbia.

"We started shipping containers and we never stopped," said Marjorie Ratel, president of the foundation.

Volunteers packed medical supplies in shipping containers at a warehouse in Delta, BC, this weekend. (Nic Amaya / CBC)

Today, the charity has expanded to include partnerships, teaching and mentoring programs with partners based in Canada. West Africa, but deliveries of medical supplies remain an important part of their work.

Medical supplies – tools for the operating room, sheets, syringes, Nursing articles, walkers, crutches, hospital beds and stretchers are all donated by outbreaks of nursing and hospitals in British Columbia

"These are products that are not used [here]. 19659002] Supplies are destined for several countries in West Africa including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria.

Ebola Increases Its Needs

Ratel says that it is a vital emergency because some partner hospitals in West Africa are hit hard. the Ebola crisis from 2013 to 2016. The World Health Organization reported that more than 11,000 people have died from the deadly virus outbreak.

"Ebola decimated the medical profession and nurse there, a hospital to which we are sending equipment today – Phoebe Hospital – 23 of their 25"

"How to restore a hospital when you lost 95 % of your workforce? "

Marjorie Ratel is President and Founder of the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation, a charity that began in 2000. (Nic Amaya / CBC) [19659005] Although supplies are donated, there are still shipping costs. "Before the Ebola crisis, Ratel said the partner hospitals were covering shipping costs: about $ 9,000 for a container from British Columbia

"They are just trying to get back to the top," she said, "you can not ask them to send the money."

The group fundraising and raised enough to send the first three containers

Warmly received

Derek Agyapong-Poku, Vice President of the Charity Organization, originally from Ghana, says that supply deliveries have a huge impact on us.

"We are limited in Africa, so every little thing helps [bit]. Ghana, "said Agyapong-Poku

The Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation has raised enough money to send three containers and hopes to raise enough money to send five more here. September. (Nic Amaya / CBC)

When they started, he said that there were suspicions on the part of the inhabitants about the intentions of the charity.

"But once that we started receiving the supplies, it was free and without any conditions. really appreciate the supplies we send home, "he said.

" I feel good to help. "

With files from Deb Goble

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