DONG HA, Vietnam - A shipment of seven containers filled with much-needed medical equipment and supplies arrived in Vietnam and Cambodia this fall. The relief shipment is part of Clear Path International's Hospital Support Program designed to strengthen the capacity of local medical facilities to treat and heal traumatic injuries such as those suffered from landmine and bomb accidents.

The first four containers arrived at the Preah Ket Maelea hospital in Cambodia, which treats hundreds of landmine victims. Some of the equipment was sent from there to hospitals in Svay Rieng, Takeo and Battambang. The Cambodia shipment included more than 100 hospital beds, a dozen wheel chairs, stretchers, diagnostic machines, stainless steel cabinets and nearly 100 boxes of surgical supplies.

"This valuable assistance will contribute to the improvement of the hospitals' ability to treat the patients on the one hand, and on the other hand it will strengthen relations of friendship between the people of Cambodia and the Pacific Northwest," said Sok An, head of Cambodia's Council of Ministers. "This donation is highly appreciated by the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia."

Three containers with 150 beds and various accessories arrived at the Quang Tri General Hospital and the Hue Central Hospital in central Vietnam. Both hospitals received patients injured by accidental mine and bomb explosions.

"Needless to say how much the items benefit the patients under our care," said Le Van Thanh, director of the Quang Tri General Hospital, which also received surgical supplies and patient monitors from Clear Path.

The idea for the shipment came after Son Michael Pham, the president of the Greater Seattle Vietnam Association (Clear Path's parent nonprofit) introduced Vietnam veteran Ric Troyer to the mine action organization. Troyer worked tirelessly to put the shipment together from donations in his adopted hometown of Kamloops, B.C. and elsewhere.

The project, a first for Clear Path, would not have happened without the generosity and support of Sary Math, Susila Dharma International, the Khmer Alliance Foundation, Islamic National Movement for Democracy of Cambodia, the Cambodian Consulate in Seattle, Overlander Extended Care Hospital, Ponderosa Extended Care Hospital, Royal Inland Hospital, Island County Hospital, Group Health Cooperative, RNI Distribution, APL, Pacific Coast Express, Northwest Airlines and Kam Valley Distributors.