Robert K.
International Society of Nephrology Fellow at Yale School of Medicine
The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education seeks your assistance with a special project: Delivering Medical Supplies to Uganda
Good News! Thanks to the Connecting for Change program at the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education in Vancouver BC, we have secured donated medical equipment to help some of the 30 million people In Uganda that are badly in need of medical services.
However, the cost to cover oversight and transport of a container of supplies to Uganda is prohibitive at $35,000.00. We are hoping to find either a Humanitarian Aid sponsor, or ideas for how to transport the container at low or no cost.
Questions:
1. Does anyone know of a shipping company that can help transport a cargo container of Humanitarian Aid Medical Supplies to Uganda?
2. Can you connect us with a Humanitarian Aid Organization that can sponsor our clinic and expedite the transport of supplies?
3. Do you have any advice for dealing with Customs and other red tape in Uganda?
We have many success stories so far in areas such as income generation, education, and our medical clinic has trained 66 community nurses who can provide care to thousands of Ugandans in rural communities.
With your help and a successful delivery of the medical supplies, we hope to grow ACCESS (African Community Center for Social Sustainability) into a comprehensive medical, educational, and financially independent community health initiative. If you can provide contacts, resources, and/or want to contribute or receive updates on this project, please let us know.
Respectfully,
Robert Kalyesubula, MD
Yale School of Medicine
http://sawaglobal.com/hero_robert.htm
Janice Levine, PhD
http://www.medwish.org
Location specific: Uganda
Answers (12)
One of the thoughts we had in trying to help Robert, was to "piggy back" on a freight carrier that had room for an additional container on a ship already headed for Uganda. Does anyone know of a company that does regular shipping there? Thanks for any and all ideas
-Jan Levine
Jim F. suggests this expert on this topic:
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Clarification added December 7, 2009:
Consider contacting Rotary World Help Network in Metro Vancouver. They have been collecting obsolete and redundant medical supplies and equipment from hospitals throughout Metro Vancouver for several years, and shipping these around the world at a rate of about 30 or 40 per year.
Find a contact at http://www.rwhn.org/
I worked with them a few years ago, and recall out of pocket costs at about $3000 per container, including rental and shipment. Unpacking at destination is done through a local Rotary Club to minimize opportunities to mishandle the goods.
Contact me if you have difficulty getting to them.
Good luck.
Our Rotary club used Rotary World Help Network a few months ago to get equipment to Kenya. I have a few Rotary contacts in Uganda (Kampala and Lira) if you decide to go with this program.
I have a contact at IMED to share with Robert. IMED is a Canadian organization that ships medical equipment internationally. Robert - I'll connect Janice and you by email today to Lindsay Brook at IMED
Barbara Ross-Denroche
The Refinery Leadership Partners
Links:
I received this from Skye Burn of the Flow Project
"I suggest you contact:
Amy Hagopian, PhD.
Assistant Professor, Global Health
University of Washington
Health Alliance International
hagopian@u.washington.edu
She may be able to steer you toward the resources you need"
Frieder K.
Coach to Business and Community Leaders, Social Entrepreneur, Visionary and Activist, Seasoned Business Executive
I have contacted Audette Excel, a fellow member of YPO, who has an NGO in Uganda - hope she can help you. I also suggest you sign up on Nabuur.org and create a neighbor team to help you with your project. It seems to work quite well...
Good luck
Frieder
Links:
Contact Steve Shames at LEAD Uganda stephenshames.org
He's worked with AIDS orphans in Uganda for several years now. A close personal friend.
Links:
try contacting Bonnie Sutherland - she has been sending containers to East Africa for years.
bsutherland@afretech.2y.net
Links:
I know of two doctors, one Canadian and one American, and a Canadian midwife, who go to work in Uganda frequently and will see what they may know and reply again once I learn something. This is such an amazingly worthwhile project and it is wonderful to see the leads and ideas that folkds have. Stay tuned for information if I can get something before leaving on vacation (after which I regret I won't have internet access for 3 wks!) Thank you for initiating this project that so clearly demonstrates "connecting for change."
