by Peter Murray

 

March, 2001

 

Attached are pictures of my recent trip to Cuba in regards to the donation of hospital equipment. Most of the supplies went to Banes, Holguin Province. They opened a new hospital in January and what timing to receive such a great donation from Nova Scotia!  Dykeland Lodge, a home for special care, was the donator of the beds and wheelchairs and some other equipment.  They are located in Windsor, N.S.

 

The hospital was very appreciative of everything we sent, let me tell you. This new hospital is a 148 bed facility but only has approximately 92 beds now. The only hospital beds they have are the ones sent from us, the remaining are dorm single beds sitting on the floor. Again because of lack of equipment they have 14 wheelchairs, ALL of which was sent down by us. Four of them are used at the emergency department to move patients around because of a lack of stretchers.

 

The director of the new hospital said compared to what they did have, their new facility is fantastic and the donations from Nova Scotia have made it even better !  There were so many other things that they need but like all Cubans make due with what they have. For instance, there is no computer in the entire facility and the secretary for the administrator has a manual typewriter from 1940 !  The administrator wishes he could have a computer to put patient information on.  Perhaps if we ever made another donation to this area we could possibly help them out with this......