The Observer, September 23, 2005
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 4
GMI Benefit Dinner to raise money for medical supply shipments
In an effort to support medical supply shipments to Uganda, Case's Global Medical Initiative (GMI) will be hosting the Doctors Without Borders Benefit Dinner on Friday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. in Thwing Ballroom.
The dinner is the first of a series of events hosted by GMI and will feature a speech from Doctors Without Borders representative Dr. Robert Levin. Because of his recent experiences in Uganda, Levin was asked to deliver a speech as well as provide a question-and-answer session with event participants.
GMI is currently in collaboration with a Cleveland-based organization called Medwish International. This organization collects donated useable medical supplies that would otherwise be thrown away by local hospitals. GMI members at Case have been working with Medwish to sort and package the supplies that have been donated.
The medical supplies that have been collected are destined for Uganda. The country of Uganda was chosen in part because of the partnership between Case and Makerere University and Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda.
In addition, Uganda was chosen for its need for medical services. "Uganda's infant mortality is in the top 30 of countries worldwide, and it is important that we try and contribute to their health care system. Case has a strong research partnership with Uganda, so we have a responsibility to help them with basic needs like health care also," GMI's VP of logistics Niloufer Khan said.
Though the region of Uganda has been chosen as the destination for medical supplies, the exact location within the country has yet to be determined. Members are currently faced with two concerns that affect the exact location of the shipment. "One of the issues we face is that we need to make sure our contacts in Uganda are reliable, which is why we go through people from Case," GMI president Rein Lambrecht said. "Another issue is that it takes a while to hear back from people, so we have to always keep our options open, which is why are starting to raise money for our shipment because once everything is set we can send the supplies right away."
Founded by senior Raymond Choi during the fall 2003 semester, GMI is a student organization recognized by USG. The organization's mission is to send medical supplies to third world countries, advocate global public health issues on campus, and to develop leadership qualities in those who want to become involved in global public health.
Last semester, with the support of 30 other groups, GMI spearheaded the Case for UNICEF tsunami relief drive. The effort raised over $8000. Lately, GMI has been working to help with the efforts of Hurricane Katrina relief. An organized car wash recently raised approximately $335. All proceeds generated from the event went to Katrina relief. Members are also planning to host a campus-wide raffle to raise money for the American Red Cross.
Lambrecht hopes to start the semester successfully and raise over $2000 from the benefit dinner for the medical shipment to Uganda.
Tickets for the event will be sold in Leutner, Fribley, and Thwing. They can also be purchased at the event. In addition to the speaker, the event will also feature dinner from Siam Café and the suggested donations for the event are $8 for students and $12 for the Case community.
For more information regarding the benefit dinner, contact medshipment@case.edu. GMI meetings are currently held every Tuesday at 6:30 in the 1914 Lounge in Thwing.
