$300K allocated for hospital equipment

A bill appropriating $300,000 for the purchase of medical equipment for the Commonwealth Health Center became law Saturday, bringing the CHC Volunteers close to its goal of raising $400,000 for a hyperbaric chamber and a multi-slice CT scanner.

Acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez signed House Local Bill 15-40 during the CHC Volunteers’ fundraising dinner at Saipan World Resort.

The bill is now Saipan Local Law 15-13.

The appropriated funds come from poker license fee revenues.

Villagomez touted the advantages of equipping the Commonwealth’s only hospital with the machines.

The hyperbaric chamber will serve divers needing safe recompression, diabetic patients with wounds that are difficult to heal, and cancer patients with radiation tissue damage. The CT scanner will provide detailed cross sectional views of body tissues to help diagnose cancers, cardiovascular diseases and other disorders.

“These machines will bring the Commonwealth to a higher level of medical care than we have every seen here before,” Villagomez said.

He also cited the intangible benefits of having the equipment on island. “Instead of traveling off island for diagnosis, patients will now be able to face the uncertainty of their health screenings in familiar surroundings and with the emotional support of loved ones. Instead of traveling off island for treatment, healing will now be a short trip away by car or plane, and the families will be able to care for their loved ones during treatment with less physical and financial stress. These are the immeasurable, yet invaluable benefits we can also look forward to,” he said.

CHC Volunteers Kim Prinz said that the appropriation brought the group “very, very close” to its target amount and practically secured the purchase of hyperbaric chamber.

The amount of funds raised during Saturday’s event has yet to be determined.

Prinz said that the CHC Volunteers have three more fundraising coming. This Saturday, Oct. 21, the organization will be selling Saipan-da toys at Sugar King Park. A walkathon will be held next Saturday, Oct. 28. The group will also have its annual Thanksgiving raffle next month.

She added that Joeten Foundation, DFS Galleria, Tan Holdings Corp., and Mobil Oil Marianas, as well as Reps. Ray Yumul and Manuel Tenorio, have made significant contributions.