In 1948 the United Nations established the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote the highest possible level of physical, mental, and social well-being for all peoples. Over the past sixty years, significant progress has been made in assessing and improving the overall health of people worldwide. Healthcare delivery systems now exist within many developing nations to provide access to basic healthcare services that were previously lacking. The WHO recognizes ultrasound as a safe, effective, and highly flexible imaging modality capable of providing critical clinical information about the body in a rapid and cost-effective fashion. Ultrasound accounts for almost 25% of all diagnostic imaging studies and complements other diagnostic procedures. In many cases, ultrasound has replaced more invasive diagnostic techniques. Ultrasound is a “sustainable technology” in that it is portable, durable, and inexpensive to maintain. Thus, this technology is particularly well suited to address major health concerns of developing countries. According to Barry B. Goldberg, M.D., President of the Global Ultrasound Equipment Donation Foundation (GUEDF), “There are still millions of people around the world who do not have access to even the most basic ultrasound technology. The donation of advanced ultrasound systems will help adults, children, and newborns survive medical conditions that may have otherwise been fatal.” Dr. Goldberg and his colleagues at GUEDF are working to improve access to diagnostic ultrasound worldwide.

GUEDF is a non-profit organization that places donated ultrasound equipment within healthcare centers in developing and emerging countries throughout the world. Since its inception in 2003, GUEDF has acquired more than 400 modern ultrasound scanners from equipment manufacturers. GUEDF has placed over 300 of these units in underprivileged areas, educated healthcare providers in the use and interpretation of ultrasound technology, and established programs for continuing education and equipment maintenance. This project has been endorsed by the WHO, which recently classified ultrasound as the primary diagnostic tool after x-ray and recommended its dissemination to developing nations. Access to diagnostic ultrasound revolutionizes the ability of physicians to detect diseases earlier, aids in the appropriate treatment of diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and improves reproductive, maternal, and pediatric healthcare.

GUEDF cooperates with a number of non-profit organizations including Assist International (AI), the Jefferson Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (JUREI), the International Certification and Education Accreditation Foundation (ICEAF), and more recently with the Radiology Outreach Foundation and the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. The equipment donation project was initiated by Barry B. Goldberg, M.D., Director of JUREI. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, JUREI has been advancing international research and education in diagnostic ultrasound for the past twenty-five years. The WHO recognizes JUREI as a collaborating center for ultrasound education. AI is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1990, which updates, electrically converts, crates and sends high-tech medical equipment such as ultrasound scanners and patient monitoring systems to developing countries. AI also provides training to healthcare providers and ongoing technical support for these systems. Working together under the coordination of GUEDF, these organizations are in a unique position to advance the availability of diagnostic ultrasound services in emerging and developing countries throughout the world.

The philanthropic goals of GUEDF can be achieved due to the generous donations of new and used ultrasound equipment by ultrasound manufacturers. Siemens Medical Solutions, GE Healthcare, and Philips Medical Systems have collectively donated ultrasound equipment to this project. With these donations, manufacturers support the mission of GUEDF and also benefit from the tax advantages of donating equipment. Donating organizations are not responsible for future servicing of the equipment. AI has agreed to refurbish, modify electrical voltage requirements, and ship equipment to needy areas as well as to provide assistance in maintaining donated equipment. Supporting manufacturers have embraced the idea that offering healthcare professionals the opportunity to better care for their patients and to become familiar with ultrasound technology increases the likelihood of future equipment purchases once economic conditions improve in these underserved areas. GUEDF continues to partner with these manufacturers and to solicit the support of others within the industry in the worthwhile cause of providing diagnostic ultrasound capabilities to developing nations.

The Global Ultrasound Equipment Donation Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that accepts donations of ultrasound equipment and funds. Individuals and organizations may make donations and recommend sites for equipment placement by contacting us at info@GUEDF.org

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The day the ultrasound scanner was delivered to a ten-room hospital in Cameroon, Africa, people formed a line that went out the door and down the road. They came from villages miles away to obtain an ultrasound examination. Some had requests from their village doctors for an ultrasound scan dating back two years. Many were not able to get this diagnostic procedure in the past due to the expense of an ultrasound examination or the distance they had to travel to get to a hospital with ultrasound capabilities. Over ninety studies were conducted that first day, including evaluations of fetal well-being, diagnoses of abscesses, and confirmations of congenital abnormalities. In many cases, doctors strongly suspected medical conditions, but they needed ultrasound examinations to confirm their suspicions without resorting to surgical diagnostic techniques. The availability of diagnostic ultrasound at the Hospital Bethesda has improved the quality of healthcare services to the citizens of Cameroon.

System Delivery In Cameroon Patients lined up on the first day that ultrasound was made available to the village.

Installation & Staff Training Over ninety ultrasound examinations were conducted on the first day.