April 22 is Earth Day! Did you know, the Green Sinai Health Committee, our Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, Building Services at Mount Sinai and Facilities and Redevelopment at Bridgepoint, work together year-round to find ways to make our organization more environmentally friendly. This includes initiatives such as the office supply swap, Operation EcoPen recycling program and battery recycling. This year we’ve also made an impact by donating medical equipment and supplies.

Sinai Health worked with the non-profit organization Hope & Healing International to give new life to beds and other equipment from Bridgepoint and Mount Sinai. Together the two hospitals have filled multiple large trucks with donations destined for a hospital, hospice and medical clinic in Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), in southern Africa.

The idea to make the donations came about because of two large initiatives at Sinai Health. Mount Sinai’s Renew Sinai project, which is updating and re-configuring clinical spaces throughout the hospital has also resulted in updates to equipment. Meanwhile, at Bridgepoint a new unit opening on the 10th floor, has made it necessary to remove old equipment that had been stored on the unit. “These items would have gone to the landfill had we not connected with Hope & Healing International to donate them,” says Tracey Clatworthy, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator.

Echo VanderWal, of a partner organization that received the donated equipment sent Sinai Health a message of thanks. “We are grateful for the gifts of hospital beds, mattresses, gurneys and other equipment. We offer any person free medical care, in a country that struggles with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and related illnesses.”

Image shows large open room with hospital beds and equipment along one side. There are three people standing in the background at the back of the room in front of a large window

Sinai Health System donated equipment to this non-profit clinic that serves rural Eswatini in southern Africa.