The donation of 3 respirators or mechanical ventilators, and protective equipment, among other supplies was made by the Salvar Vidas Trust to the Luis Vernaza Hospital of Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, so to face the increase of critical cases of Covid- 19 that are treated in this center of national reference health.
The respirators received will be immediately installed in the Vernaza Intensive Care Unit, which has 45 beds in the ICU for Covid- 19 patients, that are being used; and it has projected to expand to 60 beds, due to the increase in infections.
Adrián Huerta, Hospital Manager, thanked this important donation and highlighted the importance of continuing working on the front line. "This will allow us to expand our capacity and to do more the community," Huerta said.
Ralph Suástegui, Executive director of Salvar Vidas, pointed out that since the creation of this initiative they have contributed with donations of ventilators, endowments for infusion pumps and medicines to hospitals and health centers.
In support of the vaccination plan, Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil added efforts to fight Covid -19 by setting - up an Outpatient Consultation area at the Alfredo Paulson Hospital, available to the Ministry of Public Health to vaccinate. Since yesterday this hospital has become a vaccination center for phase 1 that will immunize the elderly who have registered on the website of the Ministry of Public Health.
On the other hand, in the eastern part of the country, Junta de Beneficencia de Guaayquil donated medicine, medical supplies, 11 mechanically powered cars, 2 pairs of crutches, 8 walkers, and 27 canes. This donation will benefit the residents of the "Monsignor Tomás Romero Gross Home” as well as the patients who are treated at the "Santa Narcisa de Jesús" clinic. Both institutions are run by the Apostolic Vicariate of Puyo, capital of the Province of Pastaza.
The elderly home “Nuestra Señora Purísima de Macas”, located in the Morona Santiago Province, received 10 non-folding wheelchairs, 4 mechanically-powered cars, and ten walkers. Mirian Isabel Játiva, on behalf of the elderly home, pointed out that this donation will greatly alleviate the mobility needs of the elderly they serve. "Many of our older adults are in a situation of poverty or extreme poverty and do not have family references," said Játiva.
Héctor Ullauri, on behalf of Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, pointed out that each of the institutions that receive the mobility implements have been previously trained in the evaluation of the beneficiaries so to guarantee that they receive technical assistance according to their mobility needs.
The Program to donate mobility aids has so far improved the mobility situation of 289 disabled in 2021. This program is being posible thanks to the cooperation of international organizations such as Direct Relief International, Free Wheelchair Mission, Mobility Worldwide, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
