DAVAO CITY, (PNA) — Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza has announced Monday that the provincial government of Cotabato won a brand new ambulance with medical supplies and emergency equipment worth P1.2 million during the raffle draw of the World Medical Relief (MWR) 60th founding anniversary held in Detroit, Michigan last October 19.
In an interview here with the governor, she said she personally bought the winning ticket and has allotted the ambulance for use of the existing government hospitals in the province, a move to augment hospital services especially in emergency cases.
The van-type vehicle is filled with medical supplies as well as emergency equipment such as defibrillator, suction machine, nebulizer and oxygen all with an estimated value of US$ 30,000 or equivalent to P1,290,000 with the prevailing exchange rate.
The raffle draw which is a part of the anniversary kick-off of WMR is a special activity launched by the organization which aims to help various organizations or local governments especially in developing countries by giving out medical and pharmaceutical needs such as this one.
The governor bought 10 raffle tickets all in all which cost US$ 50 each while the MWR sold 1,000 raffle tickets all over the US and outside the country.
The transportation cost of the ambulance from its point of origin in Plymouth, Michigan will be sponsored by Transphere, Inc. and the handling and preparation of custom documents will also be shouldered by the company.
“In no time, it will arrive here at the province and will eventually benefit hospital patients,” said Mendoza.
It will be remembered that the Cotabato Provincial Hospital has already transferred and is now operating in its new building last September 2013.
The new building composed of air-conditioned rooms and well ventilated wards also have the latest hospital laboratory and equipment, among others.
“The ambulance is a welcome development for the provincial government in delivering health and medical services to Cotabateños,” Mendoza said.
The governor visited the WMR a few months ago and met with its president and CEO George V. Samson.
The purpose of Mendoza’s visit was to discuss possible donations of medical supplies and hospital equipment from WMR.