On June 17th, the United States government donated medical supplies valued at US$207,000 to the Ministry of Health.
U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Charlie Franta presented the items to Minister of Health Dr. Lackram Bodoe at the Ministry of Health’s headquarters in Port of Spain. This donation was facilitated through the United States Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Humanitarian Assistance Program. The donation included 13 hospital mobile beds, 1,000 bedsheets, and a variety of essential supplementary medical supplies. This contribution is part of the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to supporting Trinidad and Tobago’s healthcare system. These donated items will help replenish critical inventory, particularly in emergency and surgical wards.
DCM Franta said, “This donation is another example of the United States’ commitment to Trinidad and Tobago and underscores our strong bilateral ties. Last December, the United States provided disaster relief equipment and supplies valued at US$100,000 to several agencies in Trinidad and Tobago. These donations are part of a larger SOUTHCOM humanitarian assistance programme that has seen more than US$10 million in support provided to Trinidad and Tobago over the past decade.”
Minister of Health Dr. Bodoe thanked the United States for its continuing generosity. He said, “Today’s donation reaffirms that healthcare is a shared responsibility that transcends borders. It represents not only the responsiveness of our partners to the expressed needs of our hospitals but also the spirit of cooperation that defines our bilateral relationship. With increasing demands on our public health system, these resources will go a long way in boosting our operational capacity and improving patient outcomes.”
Minister Bodoe noted that the supplies will be distributed to the Port of Spain and San Fernando general hospitals.