The Medical Mission Aid Society of the Tulane University School of Medicine is a student-led organization dedicated to helping students and physicians become more active in providing medical care to Third World. Its original intent was to supply a database of medical mission projects around the world and to aid students in contacting these organizations. In addition to providing these services, MMAidS has expanded its endeavors with a medical supply recycling project. This project salvages unused goods from local hospital O.R.s and ERs that have lost their manufacturer's warranty but have not been contaminated. These goods cannot be used in this country due to medico-legal issues, but are still in excellent condition and may be resterilized for use abroad. Following sterilization the supplies are sorted by MMAidS volunteers and packaged for shipping.
This type of recycling project was originated by Dr.William H. Rosenblatt at Yale Medical School in 1991. Dr. Rosenblatt has since founded an organization called REMEDY, Recovered Medical Equipment for the Developing World, which works to teach other hospitals to recycle unused goods. For more information about REMEDY browse their web page at REMEDY@Biomed.Med.Yale.edu or contact them at (203) 785-2802. The Yale project has donated $150,000 to $200,000 worth of goods each year and saved the hospital approximately $2,500 on incineration costs.
In addition to the recycling of OR and ER supplies we have also asked local physicians and pharmaceutical companies to donate physician samples to MMAidS to complement the surgical and emergency supplies. These medications are immediately sorted and donated to organizations that will quickly ship them abroad to ensure they do not expire. All medications are in short supply outside the United States so even small amounts of medicines are helpful, particularly anti-hypertensives, antibiotics, and vitamins.
The supplies collected in New Orleans are donated to non-profit organizations in Louisiana and throughout the country on the sole condition that they charge no fees for their medical services. Supplies will be given to any organization in need irrespective of their political, religious, or other affiliation. If you know of an organization which might benefit from these supplies, please contact us at ........