Medical equipment donations in Haiti: flaws in the donation process Donaciones de equipo médico en Haití: fallas en el proceso de donación
The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 devastated the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. The area's hospitals suffered major structural damage and material losses. Project HOPE sought to rebuild the medical equipment and clinical engineering capa...
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English Spanish Portuguese |
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Pan American Health Organization
2012
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doaj.org/article/751560c5297b4bb9bda2c4b857d425fe |
| Summary: | The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 devastated the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. The area's hospitals suffered major structural damage and material losses. Project HOPE sought to rebuild the medical equipment and clinical engineering capacity of the country. A team of clinical engineers from the United States of America and Haiti conducted an inventory and assessment of medical equipment at seven public hospitals affected by the earthquake. The team found that only 28% of the equipment was working properly and in use for patient care; another 28% was working, but lay idle for technical reasons; 30% was not working, but repairable; and 14% was beyond repair. The proportion of equipment in each condition category was similar regardless of whether the equipment was present prior to the earthquake or was donated afterwards. This assessment points out the flaws that existed in the medical equipment donation process and reemphasizes the importance of the factors, as delineated by the World Health Organization more than a decade ago, that constitute a complete medical equipment donation. El terremoto de magnitud 7,0 que azotó a Haití el 12 de enero del 2010 devastó la capital, Puerto Príncipe, y sus alrededores. Los hospitales del área afectada sufrieron daños estructurales importantes y pérdidas materiales. El Proyecto Hope procuró reconstruir el equipo médico y la capacidad de ingeniería clínica del país. Un equipo de ingenieros clínicos de Estados Unidos y Haití realizó un inventario y una evaluación del equipo médico en siete hospitales públicos afectados por el terremoto. El equipo encontró que solo 28% del equipo estaba funcionando adecuadamente y se usaba para la atención de los pacientes; otro 28% funcionaba pero no se empleaba por razones técnicas; 30% del equipo no funcionaba, pero podía repararse; y 14% no funcionaba y no podía repararse. La proporción de equipo en cada categoría fue similar, independientemente de que el equipo estuviera presente antes ... |
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