SPEECHES AND STATEMENTS

Remarks by Deputy Chief of Mission Bruce Wharton at the Jutiapa General Hospital for the Donation of Medical Equipment

Guatemala, September 14, 2004

Deputy Chief of Mission Bruce Wharton at the Jutiapa General Hospital for the Donation of Medical Equipment on September 14, 2004.

Representatives of the Ministry of Public Health,
Staff Members of the Jutiapa General Hospital,
Representatives of the Military,
Representatives of the Southern Command of the U.S.A.
Representatives of Regional and International NGOs,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to be here today to visit this hospital and meet its personnel. I have seen the excellent work you do here each day and I recognize the sacrifices that each of you has made to provide medical services to the people of Jutiapa.

I am especially honored to be here today representing the people of the United States in giving a gift of medical equipment to this hospital worth more than three million Quetzales. This gift has been donated through the armed forces of the United States, specifically the Southern Command located in Florida.

The American NGO represented here today did a survey of the medical equipment here in Jutiapa and suggested what equipment would be most useful to the people at the Southern Command. The equipment donated includes medicines, furniture, surgical equipment and dental equipment.

The humanitarian aid program in the Southern Command worked together with the hospital, the Guatemalan army, and American NGOs to coordinate the shipment of the equipment. I want to thank each of you for your role in this important mission.

Once again, it is a great pleasure for me to be a part of this humanitarian aid project. This is another symbol of the strong ties of friendship and cooperation that exist between the United States and Guatemala. It is also a great demonstration of what we can accomplish when our armies, governments, and societies work together.

Finally, I am very proud to work alongside the men and women of the Southern Command of the United States. Your work in Jutiapa during the New Horizons project several months ago and this donation that we are celebrating today show your commitment to better the lives of disadvantaged Guatemalans and the determination of the United States to be a good friend to Guatemala.

Thank you.