2020 MEDICAL SHIPMENT:​ 50 Gallon barrels sent to ST. DOMINIC'S MISSION HOSpITAL

2020 Medical SHIPMENT:
​st. Dominic's mission hospital 

The 2020 annual mission trip to Ndola, Zambia was unfortunately cancelled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The suitcases of medical and dental supply donations (approximately 15-20 suitcases in number) collected to be transported by the volunteer team had no route to reach St. Dominic's Mission Hospital this year. Adding to this stress, constraints from the pandemic caused reduction to the annual budget for St. Dominic's Mission Hospital. Their primary source of funds, the Zambian Ministry of Health (MoH), had to redirect funds to purchase an increased volume of PPE (personal protective equipment) to equip hospitals across the country for COVID-19 response.  
Aware of the great impact this could have on patient care in the local community of Ndola, we worked with the Dominican Sisters to devise an alternative route to transport the medical supplies.  We hired an international shipping company that could ship the supplies in 55 gallon barrels at a price of $350/barrel - numerous donors stepped forward and sponsored barrels. I'm very proud to say that on July 13, ten 55 gallon barrels filled with medical supplies departed Kansas City, Kansas for Ndola, Zambia.
After much planning and angst regarding the safe and unhampered arrival of the shipment, the supplies reached their destination without delay on October 26th, 2020.    To add to our shared joy and relief, the timing of the shipment's arrival was of critical importance. St. Dominic's Hospital had completely depleted their supply of protective rubber gloves by this point in the pandemic - much to their staff's delight, dozens of boxes of gloves were included in this shipment.  

Mission accomplished!

July 13, 2020: Shipment is all packed up and ready to leave Kansas City, Kansas.

Barrels of supplies being loaded in Kansas City.

Oct. 26, 2020: Shipment arrives at St. Dominic's Mission Hospital in Ndola, Zambia right on time!

The Dominican Sisters and Healthcare Staff were SO excited when the shipment arrived. They sent these photos right away!

Staff celebrating the arrival of supplies.