Perth County paramedics again are helping ensure needy residents have a brighter Christmas, and they have also taken on the challenge of helping a Guatemalan village.
89% of of the population of Tzununa suffer from severe poverty, and struggle to keep their small medical clinic supplied.
Perth paramedics are collecting new and expired medical supplies that are still useful to donate directly to the clinic.
Local paramedic Andree Martin spends two months a year in the mountain village, and belongs to a group called, Not Just a Tourist, which encourages participants to take along suitcases full of medical supplies.
Direct cash donations are not advised due to corruption in the country.
CUPE, the union that represents paramedics in Perth County, also donated $500 toward supplies.
Perth paramedics are collecting food donations in the community, and donations toward the clinic.
“We really don’t know how lucky we are here in Canada with our hospitals and medical system, when I see how this clinic struggles to provide care to people I just had to stand up and help” stated Martin.
Martin has also started a go fund me page “Medical aid to Tzununa Guatemala” and is hoping to collect $1,000 to help fill this clinics Christmas wish list, she is halfway to her goal.
“Christmas time should be a time we stop and think about others and what they may need to make the season brighter, and that is what Perth County paramedics have done. I’m very proud of this group of individuals,” says Deputy Chief Cliff Eggleton.
