Medical Pantry is one seven ‘community heroes’ in line to win a $10,000 grant to further invest in their cause.
Inika Organic is running its inaugural ‘People with Purpose’ grant, which announced seven community organisations who work in animal welfare, sustainability and environmental spaces to go in the running to win.
Medical Pantry founder Dr Martin Nguyen, said the Yarraville organisation looks to reduce the amount of waste that healthcare contributes.
“We do that by rescuing surplus medical supplies before going to landfill and distributing them to those in need,” he said.
There are four tiers which Martin said they categorise their aid by.
“One is the humanitarian aid we give, which is mainly to countries or communities overseas that are facing healthcare inequality,” he said.
“Animal welfare is another one which can’t access expensive medical equipment.
“We also support the education of future doctors and nurses, so we supply medical supplies that can be used in simulations and training.
“And we also support local startups that are innovating in the healthcare space.”
Martin said the driving force to start this organisation came from working as a clinician in one of the major hospitals in Victoria.
“We did a waste audit one day and found a lot of supplies were reusable, unused and unopened,” he said.
“At the same time I was volunteering in Vietnam in really remote communities, and they were in desperate need of medical supplies.
“So it was just about connecting those two needs.”
For Medical Pantry, Martin said this grant would mean they would be able to get supplies to Bangladesh.
“We are always struggling are are very under-resourced.
“If we have funding, then we’ll be able to get supplies to Bangladesh in a couple of months, as opposed to waiting eight months.”
The winner of the grant will be announced on Monday, September 18.
Jennifer Pittorino
