Nottingham-based Scientific Laboratory Supplies Ltd (SLS), the UK’s largest independent supplier of scientific equipment, chemicals and consumables, has donated nearly £3,000 worth of medical supplies and protective equipment to help the Ebola crisis in West Africa. Working through the charity International Health Partnership (IHP), the SLS items were transported free-of-charge by Nottingham company PSJ Couriers to a dedicated DHL depot in Banbury. The consignment will be transported overland by surface freight and is due to reach the African continent by mid-October. On arrival the items will be managed to their final destination by the charity partner International Aid Trust.
SLS Business Support Coordinator Amy Skaith came up with the idea and approached her company to help: “I was really concerned by what I heard and read about the Ebola outbreak. The company encourages us to think about community investment programmes and it made me wonder what we might do. Then I realised that SLS has just the kind of medical supplies and equipment the hospitals in the affected areas need.”
Amy got in touch with International Health Partners because she knew of their work in providing good quality, in-date donated medicines and medical supplies for distribution in the developing world. She also called former SLS colleague Paul Johnson who now runs his own courier company PSJ Couriers. Paul was eager to play a part by transporting the pallet free-of-charge to Banbury.
Peter Ballard of International Health Partners manages relations with companies such as SLS: “Given their medical supplies expertise and obvious interest in relief work, we are delighted to link-up with Scientific Laboratory Supplies. I know this consignment will have a real impact in helping to contain this highly-infectious disease. Support of this kind also gives encouragement to the doctors and nurses working in hard-pressed field hospitals and isolation units.”
The SLS consignment includes medical-grade gloves, disinfectants, syringes, needles, cannulas and hooded coveralls.
