Playa del Carmen, Q.R. – After several years of strategic planning, fundraising and organization, members of the Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen Seaside accepted a delivery of medical equipment worth over $500,000 USD at the General Hospital “Jesus Kumate Rodriguez” in Cancun.
The truck, carrying a container packed with essential supplies and hospital equipment arrived on June 27, which was received by hospital doctors, support staff and Seaside Rotarians who came to unpack and unload the container.
This delivery is the first of six in an ambitious project known as The Big 6, an endeavor conceived in 2016 after Seaside Rotary successfully delivered a similar container to equip Playa del Carmen’s new Red Cross Hospital.
This first initiative was a collaborative effort of Rotary Club Playa del Carmen Seaside, U.S. Rotary Clubs from Denver and Chicago and PROJECT C.U.R.E., one of the largest NGO’s in the world dedicated to providing invaluable medical supplies to disadvantaged communities in 130 countries worldwide, including Mexico.
Once again, Seaside Rotary has collaborated with PROJECT C.U.R.E to coordinate the procurement, shipment and delivery of over $3 million USD worth of essential medical equipment. Through district and club contributions and matched funds from the Rotary Foundation, this small club was awarded a Global Grant of $150,000 USD, the funds necessary to transport six semi-trailer containers to under equipped hospitals and medical clinics in the states of Oaxaca, Campeche, Chiapas, Veracruz, Tabasco and Quintana Roo.
“I don’t think we really understood what we were getting into when we decided to undertake this project,” remarked Big 6 coordinator, Doug Morgan. “There have been so many obstacles to overcome. To finally arrive at this day, and see what we have accomplished as a club…I couldn’t be prouder.”
The first delivery to the General Hospital in Cancun is complete. A portion of this shipment will be shared with the General Hospital in Playa del Carmen and the remaining five shipments will be scheduled over the next few months.
A ceremonial ribbon cutting will be held at noon on July 2 at the General Hospital “Jesus Kumate Rodriguez” to celebrate this achievement and commemorate the delivery. Dignitaries from local and state government are expected to be on hand as well as representatives from Rotary District 4195, other special guests and friends of Seaside Rotary Playa del Carmen.