CMAT ships 2 skids of medical supplies by air cargo; forms medical team to head to Sri Lanka

 

December 31, 2004:  CMAT reported today that it has formed a medical team to be headed by Mr. Bill Coltart, a paramedic from British Columbia Ambulance Service. Mr. Coltart of Courtenay, B.C., will head a group consisting of an emergency physician and several paramedics with specialized training in heavy urban rescue, and extrication.

The team will take equipment and 700 lbs of medicines and medical supplies to establish a makeshift medical station/clinic in Indonesia to offer medical care and first aid to displaced persons. Moreover, other members of the team will perform a survey assessment, which will form the basis of additional funding requests from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

In other major developments:

• Two skids of medical supplies will be shipped via air cargo bound for Sri Lanka by the weekend. The skids consist of disaster-relevant surplus items gifted by Brantford General Hospital, Brantford, Canada, as well as items that were purchased by CMAT using donated funds. For a detailed listing of the skid contents, click here. Air cargo will be provided free of charge.
• CMAT has established a partnership with Colombo-based NGO named Serendib Foundation in Sri Lanka. The CMAT medical team will liaise with Serendib to deliver services to the target areas in Sri Lanka.
• CMAT will continue its work at home to organize additional relief shipments. Specifically, 285 boxes of relief items (canned food, clothing) collected by a Montreal community, more medical supplies, and 4,000 lbs of food will also be shipped in the next 2-3 weeks.

Cash donations continue to be immediately required. CMAT does not require any further donations of food or clothing.

CMAT is grateful to its donors for their support.