International Partnerships Save Lives
Each week dozens of volunteers sort medical supplies in our warehouse. They’re employees participating in a company volunteer day. They’re college students from the nursing school. They’re our All-Star weekly regulars. What they all have in common is the why…a commitment to bringing life-saving supplies to those in need.
Recently we heard from two of our international recipients of medical supplies who shared the impact these supplies have on real people.
Dr. Timothy DeKoninck, an emergency medicine physician at AIC Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, turned to long-time MedWish MedWorks international recipient Dr. Steven Repas of U.S.-based Ministry in Mission for help. The hospital’s Biomedical Department notified Dr. DeKoninck of an urgent crisis in the NICU and PICU: a shortage of pulse-ox probes that was affecting monitoring capabilities for newborns. Our donation of pulse-ox probes allowed them to continue delivering high-quality, safe care to the infants during their most fragile moments.
In addition, a donation of Lifepak 12 has also significantly strengthened their prehospital response. Their ambulance team has improved capacity to provide advanced cardiac and critical care support for community members experiencing cardiac emergencies or unstable vital signs.
“This single piece of equipment will save countless lives,” says Dr. DeKoninck. “And your contributions of sutures, gauze, IV pressure bags, and Glidescope blades have already made a measurable difference in the trauma care we deliver in our Emergency Department. These supplies not only enhance the quality of care but also help us keep costs down as we strive to treat every patient—regardless of their ability to pay—and promote greater health equity for the communities we serve.”
Albanians Fighting Cancer has been working with us since 2021, and has sent one 40' container and eight hand carries to Hospital of City of Korca, Albania. We started our partnership with Founder and President Roberta Nashi and Fotini Allteni Kokeri, executive director of Kosloski Family Foundation, by focusing on medical supplies and equipment that was most needed at the hospital (surgical in nature) and then later sent a 40' container with beds to replace old broken beds and improve hospital equipment.
Our most recent hand carry, which contributed to the creation of the Oncology Department, had two vital sign monitors, a tabletop microscope, Port-a-Cath needles, and tonometer (to diagnose and treat people with glaucoma) as well as other additional supplies. Without our tonometer they would need to put these patients under anesthesia every 10 days to check their eye pressure.
Learn more about our international aid program.
