wfn.org | NCC/CWS Sends Californians' Donated Medical Supplies to Cuba

[carolf@ncccusa.org]

Contact: 	NCC News, New York, 212-870-2252 (news@ncccusa.org)
		International Sportsmedicine Institute, Los Angeles, 310-559-6900
		Luis Chirino, Cuban Council of Churches, Havana (537) 81-29-27

CALIFORNIANS' DONATION MEANS "NEW LIFE" FOR CUBAN CLINICS
Dr. Leroy R. Perry, Jr., to Accompany $500,000 in Medical Supplies from 
L.A. April 12

DEPARTURE NEWS CONFERENCE: 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12, Tom Bradley 
International Airport, Los Angeles, between Terminals 3 and 4, TACA 
counter.  With Dr. Leroy R. Perry, Jr., L.A. chiropractor who organized the 
donation of medical supplies and equipment for Cuba and who will accompany 
the shipment to Cuba.

FLIGHT: CTS Charters' TACA #9529, Departs 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12, for 
Havana, Cuba, arriving 11:30 p.m.

WHAT: $500,000 in medical equipment and supplies donated to Church World 
Service, the global service and witness ministry of the (U.S.) National 
Council of Churches, and being sent to the Cuban Council of Churches' 
Medical Commission for distribution.

WHO/WHY/HOW: Los Angeles chiropractor Dr. Leroy R. Perry, Jr., who treats 
many celebrities and sports figures, has a more than 20-year relationship 
with Cuban athletes.  He is a long-time advocate of lifting the U.S. 
embargo against Cuba and working for health of Cuba's 11 million people.

In September 2000, he had occasion to accompany an NCC delegation visit to 
Cuba, where he participated in the presenting of 1,500 school kits to 
schools in Elian Gonzalez's hometown of Cardenas, Cuba.  He was impressed 
with the organization's "great humanitarian interest in bringing millions 
of dollars worth medical aid, supplies, educational materials and equipment 
into Cuba."  (CWS already has sent more than $100,000 in medical equipment 
so far this year.)

Upon his return to the United States, Dr. Perry enlisted medical colleagues 
in collecting $1.5 million in medical equipment and supplies for Cuba, 
going in a series of shipments (of which the April 12 shipment is the 
first).

This shipment includes a portable defibrillator and EKG reader for use by 
the Antonio Guiteras Holmes Polyclinic in Old Havana.  When the NCC 
delegation visited the polyclinic last September, staff there said that for 
lack of portable equipment, lives were being lost in the extra minutes it 
takes to get a trauma victim back to the polyclinic.  Other items in the 
shipment include fiberglass splints, gowns, needles, sponges, swabs, 
gloves, surgical booties - in short, a substantial array of medical and 
surgical equipment and supplies.

Joe Perez, CEO and President of CTS Charters, is donating $20,000 to cover 
the costs of the shipment, Dr. Perry said; he will meet Dr. Perry in Cuba.

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