The first of five containers packed with enough medical supplies to stock seven hospitals is now in Ghana, and the first lady of that West African nation told backers of the nonprofit that sent the aid that it is sure to save lives.
"Improving maternal and child health is part of a strategy to transform Ghana into a middle-income country," said Ernestina Naadu Mills at the First Ladies' Luncheon.
The annual event benefits Project C.U.R.E. (the Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment), a Denver-based organization that collects and sends $50 million worth of supplies a year to hospitals in about 40 countries. Colorado's Jeannie Ritter, Frances Owens and Wilma Webb co-chaired the event, which was attended by about 1,800 people.
A Ghana-bound container packed with about $400,000 of donated medical supplies was sponsored by Newmont and four more are slated to move using funds raised at the luncheon.
Mills and a delegation of health-ministry officials inspected Project C.U.R.E.'s warehouse, where Newmont volunteers were sorting donated supplies. She walked through rows of labeled items, including forceps, tubing and surgical gloves.
"The problem is always with children," she said, referring to stagnant conditions in rural parts of Ghana. "If they are born without problems, it makes things easier for them."
She said she was amazed by the 10,000 volunteers who drive the redistribution of medical supplies that would otherwise be discarded.
"Good people, putting themselves to use for the benefit of others," she said. "God bless you."
