Current News > March 5th, 2010: KDH Helps Haiti
KDH donates equipment to Haiti
Kemptville, Ontario, March 5, 2010 – KDH Helps Haiti
When KDH Board member Pete Larocque heard that the Hospital had some equipment it was no longer in need of after an upgrade, he immediately thought of well-known Ottawa restauranteur and philanthropist, David Smith. He knew that Smith had previously shipped containers of used medical and dental equipment to Africa. A few phone calls later and KDH’s Director of Patient Services & Integration, Catherine Van Vliet, had arranged for Smith to pick up the Hospital’s old ultrasound and defibrillator.
As it turns out, Smith was collecting items for a special shipment.
Smith, the founder of Ottawa landmark Nate’s Deli, arrived at KDH in February to pick up the equipment. It has now been transported to one of two shipping containers, destined to help the survivors of the devastating Haitian earthquake. KDH is not alone; medical equipment has been donated by hospitals throughout Ontario.
In conversation, Smith mentioned that he had been informed by a local doctor that there are approximately 38,000 pregnant women in Haiti and limited prenatal resources, so the ultrasound, even with outdated technology, will make a difference in their care.
At KDH, Catherine Van Vliet noted that the equipment was older but still in a usable state. ?Unfortunately, the equipment was no longer compatible with our expanded services and current technology, so we had to make the decision to upgrade earlier this year. We’re so happy that these pieces of equipment can be of use to those in Haiti.?
Smith is currently organizing the shipping of the containers and plans to personally travel to Haiti to oversee the distribution. ?The first time I went to Africa, I traveled to the rural areas and saw absolute poverty. So when I came home, I called every single hospital from Hawkesbury to Toronto and started asking for their used medical and dental equipment. That’s how it started.?
This will be Smith’s first shipment to Haiti.
For more information, please contact:
Linda Bell
Director, Kemptville District Hospital Foundation/ Manager, Hospital Communications
Tel: 613-258-6133 x 194
E-mail: lbell@kdh.on.ca