CHCC raising funds for hospital’s new IV system

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Volunteers Association is conducting a fundraiser to raise money for the hospital’s the new intravenous system.

IV system are used in order to infuse necessary fluids such as nutritional formulas and drugs directly into a patient’s veins to substitute the traditional eating and ingesting of nutrients and medications for patients who are incapable of doing so.

CHCCVA president John Oliver Gonzales said that Saipan’s lone hospital is in dire need of a new IV system due to the manufacturer being unable to support the outdated IV system at the hospital.

“With the support of the [Torres] administration, our government leaders, the Legislature, and the entire community, funding is needed to purchase the supplies and especially the equipment of the hospital facilities, so everything is need-based,” he said.

Gonzales said the hospital needs an estimated $400,000 to replace its outdated IV system. This amount was echoed by Gov. Ralph Torres.

In order to raise funds for the hospital’s needs, the CHCCVA is holding a Thanksgiving Day raffle to support the replacement.

“Patients come in to the hospital and require rehydration through the intravenous medium, so there is a compelling need that work with the hospital, CHCCVA, and thankfully, the governor and the first lady in raising money,” said Gonzales.

With a goal to raise $50,000, Gonzales invites the public to purchase tickets, which includes a grand prize of a roundtrip to Manila for two, courtesy of Philippine Airlines, a baby grand prize of $200, and a total of 30 Thanksgiving Day Turkey Baskets in celebration of the organization’s 30th anniversary.

“Preliminary estimates are around a little over 400,000 to rewire the entire hospital, replacing it with the latest IV system network technology. This must be done. We do not have adequate funding, so we are respectfully asking the general community to buy the tickets for today’s kickoff for the 30th anniversary Thanksgiving raffle. The money you donate, every single penny, will go toward the new IV system network for the hospital,” he said.

For those interested in buying tickets, they can be bought at the CHCC gift shop or call the hospital at 234-8950, or call Gonzales at 285-6382.