Volunteers from Masonic families witness the unloading of donated medical equipment from Australia. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Medical equipment worth P2.5 million from Australia arrived in Cebu this weekend.
Brand new wheelchairs and slightly used hydraulic hospital beds will be delivered to the government-run Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City.
The DeMolay and Masonic families of Western Australia arranged the donation from Australian institutions through its Project Brotherly Love and Relief.
Project Director Zaldy Geonzon said the project was a collective effort of Masonic families in the State of Western Australia.
The brand new pediatric wheelchairs were donated by the Wheelchairs for Kids (Australia).
Shriners Medical Director Dr. Felix Vicuna Jr. said the wheelchairs will be given to underprivileged orthopaedic patients of VSMMC.
Stuffed toys were collected by The Murray Masonic Lodge No. 69 in Western Australia. These will be distributed to the children-patients along with the wheelchairs.
The Cebu Shriners, led by chapter president Dennis Villamor, oversaw local distribution along with volunteers from its Masonic youth, Order of DeMolay, Senior DeMolays and Masonic Lodges.
Australia-based co-organizer Enrico Ledesma, originally from Lapu-Lapu Chapter. He flew to the city earlier to assist the DeMolay Masonic volunteers in the distribution and documentation activities.