In an effort to ease its shortage of medicine, UNMIS Pakistani Aviation donated assorted drugs worth some $5,000 to Wau Public Hospital on 19 October.
Handing over the medicine to hospital officials, UNMIS Acting Sector Commander for the Wau area Lt. Col. James Vungo said the donation would help in the hospital's day-to-day activities, although it was insufficient to resolve the shortage.
"Today you came with a heavier load of medicine than the previous time and we (...) would make maximum use of these medications and materials for the benefit of the community of Bahr El-Ghazal region," hospital director Dr. James Okello said.
Dr. Okello noted that UNMIS peacekeepers had donated on previous occasions medicine, medical equipment and other materials to Wau Public Hospital.
"This donation, which consists of intravenous fluids and oral and injectable medicines, is very important for the hospital," said Pakistani Aviation classified surgical specialist Maj. Sajjad Ahmed Ansari.
Intravenous fluids are used in the operation theatre and in cases of dehydration as well as emergencies, Maj. Ansari added, stating that the donation would greatly improve services the hospital provided to the community.
The donation consisted of 150 cartons of intravenous drips and 13 cartons of medicine. UNMIS Pakistani Aviation and Chinese Engineering Units had made a similar donation, worth $4,000, to the hospital in July.
