Partners for World Health

Partners for World Health (PWH) collects medical supplies and equipment from healthcare facilities, manufacturers, other organizations, and individuals. We sort, evaluate, repackage, and prepare these supplies and equipment for distribution to individuals, communities, and healthcare facilities in need both locally and internationally. Our work limits the impact on the environment by diverting materials from landfills; lowers healthcare costs by lowering disposal fees; and provides healthcare resources to those in need. PWH aims to improve health conditions by sending medical personnel on medical missions to the developing world and educating New England communities about global health issues. If we were to win the prize we could substantially increase the number of containers we ship to overseas partners, expand our collections program in the US to reduce surplus medical equipment and supplies from being sent to landfills and to enhance specific projects on the ground in Africa such as project 10,000 to dramatically reduce neo-natal mortality. We could also offer more competitive paid internships to our global health students and expand that program significantly.

Established in 2009 we have grown in the last twelve years to have a significant impact on reducing surplus medical equipment and supplies being discarded by partnering with hundreds of hospitals, medical facilities and suppliers in Northern New England. 

This has had a huge impact in reducing 2.5 Millions pounds of medical equipment going into landfills and more over the vast majority of which was sorted, recycled, and repurposed and sent on to those in need in dozens of countries (including the US) and providing health care for thousand of people lacking access to quality care.

In addition we routinely send Medical Missions staffed with volunteer surgeons, oncologists, nurses, doctors and trauma informed social workers as a follow up to our container shipments to hospitals and clinics to ensure that our partners receive the latest training and education on best practices.

We have tried wherever possible to build sustainable pipelines of equipment and medical missions to ensure continuity of services. Here in the US we provide low or no cost services to thousand of people through our community partners program and directly with those that reach out to us. We have managed to expand our work during COVID-19!

We address two fundamental challenges that face the world in 2021. Environmental issues such as climate change and access to health care.

Partners for World Health has a unique mission that works to address both challenges simultaneously - reducing the costs of healthcare in the US by collecting equipment and supplies that would otherwise be expensively discarded into landfills and then  sorting then and making them available to those in need. Our local effort has a global impact as we help people to live healthy lives on a healthy planet!

Our vision is a simple one - share the abundance. In addition to serving two causes - an environmental one and a humanitarian one - we also utilize a model that has more than 98% of our work conducted by volunteers to ensure low costs in our operation.

Our model is easily replicated if others so choose to work alongside us. We continue to expand throughout New England and as we add more hospital partners in the US we can add more partners in our communities and overseas in the developing world.

The logistics of our operation may be somewhat complex, to collect, store, sort and ship medical equipment and supplies but the model is simple - and if people take the time to work together - much more can be achieved.

Access to healthcare is a global challenge and we address that locally and globally. We have grown rapidly and sustainably over the last decade because our mission, model, operation and values are clear, transparent and easily understood. Many people are drawn to our work because of the obvious humanitarian impact but as they witness who we are and how we achieve our goals that make a deeper connection to our work because of the multiple ways in which we positively impact the lives of those we help.

We are judicious in seeking new partners at home and abroad to ensure continuity and sustainability in our programs. By working closely with those on the ground in the developing world we ensure that not only equipment and supplies are sent but that training and education are also part of the package to foster the best practices. We also look at what is achievable over what time frame with our partners and work with them to build capacity over time. Including assistance in navigating import and export regulations - transportation and other logistics.