Monday, February 9, 2015

LDS Charities donate 254 wheelchairs to the Ministry of Health in Guatemala City.

A ceremony was held with the Minister of Health of Guatemala to receive wheelchairs from LDS Charities February 5th, 2015

On Thursday February 5th a ceremony was held at Guatemala National Hospital Roosevelt Hospital with the Minister of Health, Luis Enrique Monterroso de Leon, Elder Adrian Ochoa of the Area Presidency and Elder and Hermana Bingham Humanitarian Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints attending. The ceremony was to accept from the LDS Charities 254 wheelchairs to use for basic transport within the hospitals of Guatemala.

The Ministry of Health of Guatemala had been using it´s budget to buy medicines and lacked the funds to provide wheelchairs for their hospitals.  The Humanitarian Missionaries, Elder Michael and Hermana Arlene Bingham worked with the LDS Charities to acquire the donation of wheelchairs to the National Hospital Roosevelt Guatemala City.  The 254 wheelchairs were accepted by Mr.  Monterroso, Minister of Health of Guatemala and are to be distributed to 44 government hospitals in Guatemala based on need.

Elder Adrian Ochoa First Counselor of the Area Presidency spoke and compared the story of the Savior raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11) with having the wheelchairs to help those in need where there might not be any help at all.  Mr. Monterroso also acknowledged the scripture further from the Book of John in the New Testament that quotes the Savior saying, “Lazarus come forth” (John 11: 43) meaning that patients who are bound to a wheelchair can go forth with hope and recover from their infirmities using wheelchairs.  The Minister of Health expressed his gratitude over the much needed donation to the hospitals in the area.

Mr. Monterroso was impressed to know that the Humanitarian Services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have helped people all over the world with donations of medicines, food, wheelchairs and countless hours of donated time to help all people regardless of race, religion or country.  Elder and Sister Bingham, Humanitarian Missionaries met with Mr. Monterroso to inform him of the other projects completed this past year in Guatemala and what other projects are planned for this year at which he responded with his “gratitude” to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Al and Kathy at the ceremony covering the story for Sala De Prensa Mormona Guatemala
 Wheelchairs donated by the church
 Elder Ochoa and Réne Olivas of the Humanitarian Department
 Flags of Guatemala and banner of the Instituto de Nutricion del Centro America y Panama

 Réne Oliva, Elder Ochoa, the Minister of Health of Guatemala,Elder and Hermana Bingham
 Elder Ochoa speaking on behalf of the LDS church
 Elder Ochoa of the Area Presidency and Mr. Luis Enrique Monterroso de León signing documents upon the donation and receiving of the donated wheelchairs
Dr. Luis Enrique Monterroso de Léon speaking at the ceremony of receiving the wheelchairs
Elder and Sister Bingham with the Minister of Health and his deputy
Three directors of hospitals whose hospitals were recognized for excellence and passed their accreditation 

No comments:

Post a Comment