Inventory Day: More than Just Boxes

The scene of inventory day. Medical supplies everywhere! Time to pack the boxes up!

These are more than just boxes. Upon arrival at Co Kim's home, we were welcomed to this scene of medical supplies, ready to be organized and sorted out for the trip. As part of our "Transfer of Technology" program for the mission trip, we had inventory day, where we packed up boxes upon boxes with medical supplies to donate to the local hospitals. Ranging from catheters to laparoscopic surgery tools, we packed up all of the medical supplies that we have accumulated during the year from various hospitals and generous donors. With all of the 7G goers, we had to work all day from 9am until 7pm to arrange, sort out, and pack up all of the supplies that we would be bringing to Vietnam with us.

Our pile of catheters and stents that had to be sorted out. Ben begins on this pile, while others organize the other piles.

Tuan numbers the boxes that we will assign to each 7G goer. We will have a total of 37 boxes for the trip.

Amongst all this chaos, we had a system to organize all of the supplies. With all of the 7G goers, we had to sort out according to importance and need. With the help of our advisor, Co Kim, we had to choose medical supplies that were crucial and scarce in Vietnam, as the hospitals over there lack the advanced technology that we have in the United States. Such supplies include catheters, stents, crosser machines, and many more. Every 7G goer is responsible for their assigned box. 

Each box could not exceed 62 inches (158 cm) and 50 pounds (23 kg). Julian, Cece, and Christina made boxes to fit this requirement.

In addition the limit of the number of boxes, they had to be within a certain measurement range. They could not exceed 62 inches (158 cm) and be below 50 pounds (23 kg). This was a challenge for the catheters and stents, as they extent lengthwise. Hence, we also had to makeshift our own boxes to accommodate for this (as pictured).

Tiffany, Mai Anh, Lindy, Minh organize medical supplies. As you can tell by Lindy's face, she is having a jolly good time.

With each box, they had to record each item on the computer in order to put them into a master list. When we bring the medical supplies over to Vietnam, we also have to make sure that each item is accounted for. These medical supplies are often costly and expensive. The medical supplies donated are sometimes medical supplies that have been expired due to the United States' strict regulations of sterility; however, they are still good to use and are used in Vietnam. There is still an window of use for these medical supplies. 

Boxes stacked up in the garage. There were a total of 37 boxes filled with medical supplies and toys/candies for orphanages.

In the end, the boxes were filled up to their maximum capacity and stored away in the garage. 7G goers later came by to pick up the boxes, as each student was assigned to carry a box as one of their check-in luggages. Each box was checked by Non-Profit as well as Co Kim to ensure that the best-quality medical supplies are brought over to Vietnam. We also packed up a few boxes for the orphanages, filled with candies and toys.

Boxes were also filled with toys and candies for the children of the orphanages.

Every box may be filled with medical supplies and toys/candies for the orphanages, but they also are filled with hope and unity: the hope for the progression of global community and the unity of two countries working together. These medical supplies provide the local Vietnamese hospitals the means to provide better health care service. Once we are in Vietnam, we will see the supplies that we have brought over there being used by the local doctors and nurses. The destination seems that much clearer.

Written by Johnson.