Adam Darville, President, Rotary Club of East Nassau; Barry Rassin, Past Rotary International Director & Haiti Task Force; Carolyn Papai, Michele Rassin, Ports International

Nassau, Bahamas - Premature neonates can now breathe easy thanks to the generous donation of a ventilator made by medical supply and equipment company Ports International.  The Bear Cub 750 Ventilator was donated to the Rotary Club of East Nassau and Rotary International District 7020 for the Hospital Bernard Mevs in Haiti. The donation is to the Rotary District 7020 long term disaster relief efforts for Haiti, as they are still recovering from the devastating 7.0 earthquake in 2010. 

Presented by Carolyn Papai, President of Ports International “ On behalf of Ports International, I would like to thank Rotary International for the support that has been given to Haiti.  Your contributions have helped provide many people with their basic needs.  Basic needs like food, water, shelter, education, healthcare and protection we take for granted. As appreciation for the support Rotary International has provided to Haiti for disaster relief and to lend support, Ports International would like to donate a Bear Cub 750 Neonatal Ventilator and Humidifier, to the Hospital Bernard Mevs in Haiti. A heartfelt thank you to Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation for your interest and commitment to service above self.  We are delighted to be able to provide this ventilator donation and support goodwill and improved healthcare in Haiti; we know this ventilator will be put to good use and save many lives.”

The Rotary Club of East Nassau President Adam Darville and Past Rotary International Director Barry Rassin were pleased to accept the ventilator donation.  As stated by Barry Rassin, Past Rotary International Director and Haiti Task Force organizer, “On behalf of Rotary International and the Hospital Bernard Mevs in Haiti, I would like to thank Carolyn Papai and Ports International for their generous donation.   We are delighted to be able to receive this ventilator and present it to the Hospital Bernard Mevs in Haiti which will help save the lives of thousands of premature babies who would be unable to breathe without the assistance of these ventilators.”

Rotary District 7020 has established the Haiti Task Force as the conduit for all Foundation-related projects. The Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, a donor advised fund set up by The Rotary Foundation, has raised $1.3 million to help rebuild the country's infrastructure, which was shattered by the 12 January earthquake that killed up to 300,000 people and left 1.2 million more homeless.  For more information on how you can contribute to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, visit www.7020.org.