Dole Food Co. is using its shipping division to bring unused, unexpired surplus medical supplies and equipment to Latin America. The first shipment of a new partnership between Dole and MedShare went to Honduras in December 2008. MedShare collects surplus medical supplies and equipment from hospitals and medical supply manufacturers and redistributes them to healthcare facilities in developing nations. Dole, based in Westlake Village, shipped supplies containing more than 13,000 lbs. of supplies and equipment such as latex gloves, surgical kits, syringes and hospital beds to a health clinic in rural Honduras serving approximately 40,000 patients who suffer from malnutrition, anemia and other illnesses associated with extreme poverty. “The clinic in Honduras lacks the necessary medical supplies needed for proper patient care; supplies that are in abundance here in America. We are very grateful to Dole for this initial shipment and look forward to working with them on future shipments to Latin America,” said Chuck Haupt, executive director of MedShare’s Western Region. Nadra Kareem
