Please remember to ask yourself the following questions before purchasing any equipment:
1. What does the hospital need? (contact the hospital prior to travelling and chat to someone who has been before).
2. Will it require special ‘refills’, or unusual batteries etc. that are unavailable? (think sustainability).
3. Does it need a reliable electricity/pressurised air/oxygen supply? (does my elective destination have these?)
4. Is it likely to break down and need expensive repairs or become unusable?
5. Is specialist knowledge about how to use it needed? (think appropriate technology).
6. Can I fit it in my luggage – not too heavy, not too big?
7. Will there be any problems at customs or import duties? (check, don't take drugs that need a special licence to be transported)
8. Is this likely to be used often rather than infrequently?
9. Remeber to check again is this what the hospital really needs?
Here are some suggestions of what you could take:
Generic
Textbooks/guidelines/CDs/educational resources
Protective Equipment
Face Masks
Gloves
Diagnostic equipment
Opthalmoscopes
Auriscopes
Torches
Stethoscopes
Vaginal specula
Measuring equipment
Thermometers
Pulse oximeters
BP measurement
Emergency kit
Ambubag + Face mask
Defibrilators
Cannulae
Nebulisers
Other
Batteries
