QUEENS, New York — The American Medical Resource Foundation (AMRF) is an organization that is changing the way underdeveloped and developing countries receive help. According to Helping Worldwide, AMRF has provided donations worth more than $200 million in the form of “medical equipment and supplies to hospitals and clinics in 90 developing countries since 1998.” The help of the American Medical Resources Foundation enables countries to provide better health care to citizens.
AMRF Supports Eye Health Care in Guatemala
In Guatemala, citizens proclaim that the Ministry of Public Health is not giving sufficient attention to the issue of eye health care, leaving the issue largely to private sectors. Apart from lacking the necessary finances and resources, the Guatemalan government’s priorities currently do not include issues such as eye health care. However, in March 2019, Dr. Dennis Gordy “donated five complete rooms of [o]phthalmic equipment, including two complete [l]laser units” to AMRF. AMRF “processed this donation,” sending a 40-inch container holding the donations to Salud y Vida in Guatemala. According to AMRF News, the donation “will support two levels of eye-care in rural areas of Guatemala’s much-needed population for this type of service.” The ophthalmic supplies will allow medical centers in rural Guatemala to provide adequate eye health care to impoverished communities.
AMRF’s Work in the Dominican Republic
In addition, in the Dominican Republic, in 2014, AMRF donated a 40-feet container containing medical equipment to the Maimón Hospital. With the help of the American Medical Resources Foundation, the Maimón Hospital can treat patients of low economic status.
In response to another AMRF donation in 2014 to the Dominican Republic, a letter to the AMRF from Dr. Jose Morel, the director of Hospital Morel, thanks to Victor Solo, the vice president of operations at AMRF. Morel states that during a Dengue epidemic in October 2015, the donation of medical equipment and supplies from AMRF helped the hospital staff to adequately provide treatment to high numbers of patients.
A young woman living in the Dominican Republic who would like to maintain anonymity told The Borgen Project that in order to improve health care in the nation, there must be better training for the country’s doctors. However, the donations AMRF provides to health care centers in the Dominican Republic help strengthen the current health care system. In fact, the anonymous source states that health services at the Maimón Hospital have helped her reach a healthy weight and good health.
Evaluating AMRF Equipment Donations
After donating the medical equipment to the hospitals and clinics that need it, AMRF pays a visit to the centers and hospitals receiving the donations to ensure the equipment is working properly. Typically, a person from AMRF interacts with the technician that oversees and is responsible for the medical equipment. If the medical equipment is not functioning properly, a plan of action may be in progress to resolve the problem.
Other Services AMRF Offers
Besides donating medical equipment to underdeveloped and developing countries, AMRF contributes other services as well. According to Crossroads Global Hand, “AMRF also develops and provides training [programs]for medical equipment repair technicians and hospital managers responsible for maintenance, repair and calibration of medical equipment.” These additional services that AMRF provides help to better prepare those who are in charge of handling the medical equipment at hospitals or clinics to take the right measures to address a potential issue with the equipment.
The Far-Reaching Benefits of Adequate Health Care
AMRF’s donations of medical equipment and supplies to the underdeveloped and developing nations in different parts of the world allow hospitals and clinics that typically lack resources and finances to better serve and help their communities. The Borgen Project’s anonymous source stressed the impact of these donations, stating that the programs that hospitals and clinics in developing countries run really do help impoverished communities in far-reaching ways.
Adequate health care brings economic benefits to an entire nation. According to the World Economic Forum, this is “because ill-health impairs productivity, hinders job prospects and adversely affects human capital development.” Conversely, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed that the positive effect of good health on economic growth and poverty alleviation occurs due to factors such as “a reduction of production losses due to fewer worker illnesses, the increased productivity of adults as a result of better nutrition, lower absenteeism rates and improved learning among school children.” With the support of international organizations along with the American Medical Resources Foundation, impoverished nations can make strides toward better health care for all.
– Carolina Reyes
Photo: Flickr