The Humboldt District Hospital Foundation is sharing the news of its latest purchase for the hospital.

"The foundation purchased a biohazard laminar safety hood, which is also known as a chemo hood," explained Executive Director Lorrie Bunko. "Our previous chemo hood was purchased in 1994 and in December we found out it was allowed to pass certification for only six more months."

Bunko says that the item is crucial for the pharmacy, as they are using it most days of the week.

"Our pharmacy department mixes chemotherapy for patients throughout the whole Humboldt district," she noted. "They're mixing chemo from Monday to Friday, so they do quite a bit of this and it serves a lot of people throughout the district."

"We need to be able to have this hood to mix this chemotherapy."

Bunko also explained the process of removing the old hood, which is quite extensive.

"They have to put on protective equipment, which includes respiratory. They have to get inside the hood and start the decontamination process," she said. "It has to be 100% past decommissioning before it goes to the dump."

The new hood was purchased with money donated from the Good Neighbour Store, which Bunko added her thanks to the organization for.