January 22, 2009
Sunday, January 11, Lori met with Amy Elliot of MedWish International (www.medwish.org) to learn more about the non-profit organization and to discuss ways that the two organizations could partner. She was first given a tour of the MedWish facility in Cleveland, Ohio, where she learned all about the great work that is being done there.
MedWish has a mission to save lives and save the environment. They collect usable medical equipment from local hospitals and other healthcare providers and then send these items to underserved populations. Thus, they help to save lives in developing countries and to reduce solid waste in landfills by recycling medical equipment. They also pay close attention to their own operations to ensure they are fulfilling their environmental mission through recycling and other green practices. Additionally, MedWish is a host for medical mission trips to some of these same countries.
The business has a focus on sustainability, as evidenced by their policies. For instance, the supplies are provided to recipients free of charge, but the recipients have to pay shipping. This prevents abuse of their services and creates vested interest. MedWish International was founded in 1993, but has seen especially blossoming growth in the last few years, receiving 380,000 pounds of equipment in 2008. They have five staff members in Cleveland, but much of the work is done by volunteers from all walks of life.
MedWish International has supplied aid to over 70 countries, including Nicaragua. In 2008, they helped to send an ambulance filled with medical equipment to the St. Martin de Porres Hospital in Chinendega, Nicaragua, as well as an additional 20-foot container shipment of medical supplies later in the year. This hospital hosts international medical brigades from the U.S. that provide medical care, which include people from Ohio.
During her visit, Lori learned of the dire need for solar powered autoclaves within the organization of MedWish. Amy explained that every recipient of a MedWish shipment made in 2008 would have requested an autoclave if one were available. However, discarded autoclaves that still function are hard to come by. They currently only have two in stock, despite the vastness of supplies collected. It is this need that prompted the meeting and discussion with Salud del Sol. MedWish could be a distributor of Salud del Sol’s solar autoclave, or perhaps they could be a distributor of a Salud del Sol manufacturing kit that provides instructions for communities to build their own solar autoclaves. There are many opportunities for partnership between Salud del Sol and MedWish. Other ways that the organizations can benefit each other include finding funding sources, partnering for grants, networking with customers and recipient groups, and connecting with mission trip groups. Salud del Sol is excited about the possibilities for future work with MedWish International, as this meeting was just the first step toward brainstorming a mutually beneficial relationship for two organizations with very intertwined missions of social and environmental responsibility.
Enjoy!
- Lori
