Firm donates $5K worth of diabetes equipment

The Commonwealth Health Center’s Physical Therapy Department received yesterday morning $5,000 worth of diabetes treatment equipment from Winzler & Kelly Consulting Engineers.

Winzler & Kelly’s managing director Fred Smith said the donation was in line with the company’s 20th anniversary this year.

The company, which also has branch offices in Guam and California, provided not only the “electric stimulator” equipment but also some software CDs and DVDs on exercises.

The donation was held in collaboration with the Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition and the CNMI Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. Local attorney and Coalition advocate Robert Torres coordinated the donation. Fellow coalition members Reps. Benjamin Seman and Joe Guerrero, and Konrad S. Reyes, together with CNMI Diabetes Prevention and Control Program manager Lynn Tenorio and officer Tania Camacho, also attended the event.

Torres said the donation would enable the Commonwealth to create a comprehensive Foot Care Clinic Program at the hospital. As diabetes sometimes leads to lower limb amputations and the CNMI reportedly has one and a half times more amputation cases than the U.S. mainland, Torres said these amputations could be prevented through easy but valuable foot care practices.

Physical therapists from the local hospital spearheaded by Pam Carhill personally received the donations at the Winzler & Kelly office in Garapan. Two other physical therapists, Dana McFadden and Jamie Beavis, demonstrated the product for the media yesterday morning. Rep. Guerrero volunteered to act as the diabetic patient.

Carhill said the hospital is very grateful for the donation as the equipment would help diabetic patients cure their foot problems in as short as one month, rather than the usual three-month healing period. Without the device, it would take longer to dress up wounds on a patient’s foot.

“Winzler and Kelly has been very supportive of us,” she said.

Seman said he is glad to be part of a coalition that helps the diabetics on the island. The congressman, who worked at CHC for 20 years, said such donation does make a huge difference for the good health of the local community.

The Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition is part of the Ayuda Network that consists of volunteers and advocates who want to make a difference in the lives of those who are affected with the ailment.

“We are on a mission of promoting prevention and lifestyle changes to increase and raise all levels of conditions and aid to people with diabetes,” said Coalition advocate member Torres.