Siemens Ultrasound Group Sends Equipment To Kosovo

Siemens Medical Systems, Inc., Ultrasound Group is donating ultrasound equipment and technical training to assist the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to provide medical care for tens of thousands of Kosovo refugees in Albania.

At the request of UNFPA, the ultrasound equipment, worth some $110,000, has been sent directly to Albania, overcome by the flood of refugees. Additionally, Siemens AG, Munich, Germany -- a parent of the Ultrasound Group -- is donating approximately $55,000 in medical spare parts and services to the Macedonian Ministry of Health to help with its refugee assistance efforts. The donation will be delivered to Skopje, Macedonia, and will be of most assistance to X-ray departments and intensive care wards.

"The health care situation in Albania was already struggling with outdated ultrasound equipment before the refugee crisis began," said Pam DeLargy, UNFPA senior technical officer. "With the influx of tens of thousands of refugees, the majority of whom are women and children, the health care system is completely overwhelmed." DeLargy said that when the crisis erupted, UNFPA assessed the need for medical equipment and training and made an international appeal. She said that although many governments have come forward to help, Siemens is the only company to respond so far.

"There are from 1,000 to 1,500 births a month among the entire women refugee population and prenatal exams are conducted with very few -- and often broken -- ultrasound systems. The Siemens ultrasound equipment and training will greatly help the doctors and clinicians treating the refugees," said DeLargy.

In mid-May, Siemens Ultrasound Group shipped two SONOLINE Versa ultrasound systems from Issaquah, WA, to Germany where they were reconfigured to European electrical standards. Then they were shipped to Tirana, Albania, accompanied by a senior technical trainer from Issaquah who will install them and instruct doctors and clinicians on the systems' capabilities.