This is a partial list of
equipment and supplies we need in our daily work. We realize that there are
a number of rare and somewhat unusual items. But we hope that by creating an
awareness of the needs, we can put surplus items from other countries to work
in solving problems and improving health in El Salvador and Chiapas.
Please note that there
are two lists, one for Chiapas and another for El Salvador.
Medical Equipment
- Suture Material: Prolene No. 1 R-35; Prolene No. 1 R-27; vicryl No. 0 aguja SH gastrointestinal
- Rifampin used for the last four months of TB
treatment--1,500 capsules of 600mg would be about a 6-month supply for all current patients
- Antibiotics and antifungals, especially 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and fluconazole.
- (6) Diagnostic kits with oto-opthalmoscope, stethoscope, and sphygmomanometer
- (2) Finger oximeters
- Binocular microscope
- Normal centrifuge
- Refrigerated centrifuge
- (2) Doppler fetal ultrasound devices
Kindergarten/Day-Care Centers
- color pencils,
pens
- Chalk,
scissors, construction paper
- Story books
in Spanish, games, toys
- Audio cassette
tapes -- to record songs for the children.
Community-Based Rehabilitation Programs
(CBR)
Our CBR programs, managed
by a Salvadoran physical therapist, promote dignified life for persons with
congenital malformations, injuries of all types, and chronic diseases.
- Motor rehabilitation
equipment (handgrip exerciser, goniometer to measure range of motion,
heel cushions, etc. Cerebral palsy and other congenital/neonatal problems,
farm accidents, war injuries, and land mine injuries are major causes of disability.
- Opthalmological
equipment -- Graduated lenses and support frames, machine to measure
lens power, used eye glasses, eye charts (wall and hand-held), tonometer for
glaucoma screening, slit-lamp.
- Tuning forks
-- Auditory damage may be caused by infections, congenital abnormalities
and close range bomb explosions.
Equipment for daily use by Health
Promoters and Community Volunteers
During the rainy season
from May through October, vehicles cannot cross many rivers and the teams must
hike for three hours or more to reach some communities. New or used equipment
in good condition would be valuable.
- Internal-frame backpacks
- Hiking sandals
(for river crossings)
- Flashlights
and battery-operated lamps
- Rain coats/ponchos
- Mosquito nets
- Medical
journals or books in Spanish
Equipment for the Clinic in Gotera
- Fetoscope or
doppler (hand-held, portable) -- Prenatal care is almost non-existent
in Morazan. These instruments would greatly improve our ability to provide
better care.
- Colposcope
-- . A donated colposcope obtained by Michigan volunteers in 1995 is now in
service at the National Hospital in San Francisco Gotera. However, a
second unit is needed
- Equipment for the colposcope
in Gotera:
- Pen
lights or small flashlights
- Thermometers
- Small and large Keborkian
forceps
- Tischler forceps
- Keborkian curette
- Goosberg curette
- Cetilcyde flask
- Instrument for cryotherapy
- Manometer for CO2
- Endocervical speculum
- Set of tips for cryotherapy
instrument package for cryotherapy instrument
- Children's
books or toys for waiting area
- Portable ultrasound
machine -- For evaluating abdominal pain in women and measuring thyroid
glands.
- Microscopes,
slides, reagents, cover slips, and lens cleaning paper -- for stool samples
and Gram stains.
- Lab manuals
with color photos to accompany the microscopes.
- EKG machine
-- if small, portable and easily maintained
- Scalpel blades
--I & Ds of cutaneous abscesses represent 90% of minor surgical procedures.
Some of these abscesses contain blow-fly larvae.
- Oto-opthalmoscopes,
stethoscopes (especially pediatric!), sphygmomanometers
(especially pediatric!), gluco-strips, Snellen eye charts
(large and small), and tape measures.
- Urine dip sticks
- Basic dental
equipment -- The building for the dental laboratory is complete.
- Micro-centrifuge
and interpretative equipment for spun-hematocrit
- Vaginal speculums
and diagnostic equipment (ring-forceps, etc.)
Cultural Center-Youth Rescue Project
We have several groups of
young people who want to learn to make music.
- Musical Instruments
-- Especially trumpets, violins, and guitars.
- Musical supplies
-- Guitar strings and violin strings.
- Sheet
music
Educational, Community & Office
Supplies
Data analysis and reports
on human rights status are part of our daily work
