Medical equipment donated for use by clinics in Lebanon

2/1/2004

Area hospitals and physician groups have donated $500,000 worth of outdated or surplus medical equipment, including wheelchairs, beds, and dialysis machines, that will be shipped tomorrow to needy clinics in Lebanon.

The shipment was organized by the Toledo-based Diller Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists groups planning medical missions to other countries.

John Shousher, president of the Toledo Lebanese-American Association, said the donation “will be a very big help” to poor clinics in remote areas of Lebanon.

Mr. Shousher and others are gathering today at St. Charles Mercy Hospital to collect more supplies. They expect to ship everything by tomorrow, Mr. Shousher said.

Though much of the equipment is outdated by American standards, it s still far better than the equipment in use by many of the Lebanese clinics, Mr. Shousher said.