Guatemala 9-1-1 Cover Letter

Oneida County Commissioners,

The National Hospital of La Tinta in Guatemala houses eight doctors, two operation rooms, and one x-ray machine to manage an area population of approximately 960,000 residents. The motivated staff works wonders regardless of the lack of medical equipment supplied to them. Unfortunately, their resourcefulness and motivation cannot help the most critically wounded and sick. The only alternative for these patients is to travel a two to three hour ride to the nearest regional hospital. The Ambulance- a small, white Toyota truck with a metal gurney and a tarp for adverse weather- is then requested. The patient is placed in the bed of the truck and sped away.

Although bleak, these circumstances are encouraging to those willing to help. Guatemala 9-1-1 is a recently formed organization that sees the potential in an area like La Tinta to save lives, and currently seeks sponsorship and third party donations for the acquisition of an ambulance and medical supplies to donate. The National Hospital of La Tinta will provide a list of necessary medical items for donation and is excited for the potential of an ambulance. Currently, the hospital uses two pick-up trucks for ambulances for both emergency transfers and local emergencies. "The donation (of an ambulance) would be of great benefit to the population in need of emergency transfer to a regional capital or Guatemala City," said Mr. Cifuentes, administrator and head of personnel in the National Hopsital of La Tinta.

Guatemala 9-1-1 has teamed up with Utah State University's True Blue public relations firm and is seeking sponsorship from organizations willing to help. Additional campaign media will include charity concerts, charity runs, and the use of social media. The campaign will fill the ambulance with medical supplies in Logan, Utah, and drive it 2,917 miles to La Tinta. The trip's progression will be filmed and placed on YouTube for subscribers. "We want the whole project to be transparent, we want everyone to come along and see the impact it makes," said Oja.

The timing of the project coincides with current governmental infrastructure development of note: the paving of the main highway in La Tinta. "The paved highway coupled with the ambulance donation could translate to hundreds of lives," said Oja. Although this is Guatemala 9-1-1's first campaign, the organization has great potential for future impact in rural, Central American, health care.

Currently, Oneida County has 4 ambulances and plans to acquire another this spring. Once the new vehicle arrives, an older ambulance will be retired in its place. In the past, retired ambulances have been sold through county auction for private use. The potential of an unneeded ambulance in Oneida County could be invaluable to those in La Tinta; may it be suggested that the retired ambulance be donated or sold to Guatemala 9-1-1. This donation or sale would save hundreds of lives and greatly improve La Tinta's health care system.

Jesse Dredge

True Blue Account Executive

jddredge@gmail.com

435-757-2898