U.S. AMBASSADOR DELIVERS MEDICAL
SUPPLIES TO MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTHs
December 2, 2002
U.
S. Ambassador Martin J. Silverstein stated “the United
States has faith in the Uruguayan people and their leadership,
as well as in the ability to recover and return to full
productivity” when he delivered medical supplies today
to Minister of Public Health Dr. Alfonso Varela.
This delivery is the second in a series of scheduled donations
from the United States of America. The current shipment
of medical supplies, worth a total of $550,000, was donated
by the Southern Command of the U.S. Department of Defense
and approved by General James T. Hill, who visited Uruguay
in October, 2002.
The donation includes, among other items, hundreds of portable
incubators for premature infants, ultrasound “Doppler”
equipment, gurneys, surgery and laboratory equipment, and
basic items such as syringes, bandages, gloves and suture
materials.
Ambassador Silverstein noted, “This is the first of
many shipments of medical equipment and supplies, as well
as pharmaceuticals, from the U.S. people to the Uruguayan
people.
“I am here today to thank the people of Uruguay and
not to accept their gratitude. We are happy to be friends
and allies. Friends allow friends to help them. By allowing
us to respond to your request for assistance, you have vividly
expressed our unswerving friendship.
“Present
economic challenges are transitory. The United States of
America has faith in the Uruguayan people and in their leadership,
as well as in the ability of Uruguay to recover and return
to full productivity.
“Let us continue to work together for the good of
our peoples and citizens of the world. As General Artigas
expressed: ‘The cause of the people admits no delay’.
“The Ministry of Public Health will send these supplies
to several hospitals in the interior of the country. The
U.S. Embassy and the Ministry of Public Health are developing
a series of programs to obtain additional shipments of medical
supplies and pharmaceuticals in the course of the next year.”
Further information on the United States of America and
Embassy activities are available on the Internet at http://uruguay.usembassy.gov
