Help me purchase medications & medical supplies

(please read an update on fundraising efforts here)

I spent 2 wonderful months in Haiti back in January and February. As time goes on, I see my role in Haiti being shaped and formed in a few different ways. I continue to work closely with Heartline ministries, providing medical care both in person and medical advice from afar (when I'm in Minnesota). I've also had the privilege of working with Real Hope for Haiti in rural Cazale, both by providing hands-on care when I'm in Haiti and also by offering support and advice by e-mail when I'm in Minnesota. Additionally, I've connected with a few other medical providers and organizations and have been able to bring needed medications and supplies to them.

I'm planning on returning to Haiti in May for at least a short period of time (and hopefully for a little longer if I can finish up a few projects before then). I will be purchasing prescription medications for each of the organizations named above and also for at least one other medical provider working in Haiti (Dr. Megan Coffee who works with HIV and TB patients at HUEH in Port au Prince). I will also be purchasing a few medical supplies (IV catheters, pill boxes, IV arm boards for children, and IV "heplock" tubing--all things that are currently needed by these 3 organizations).

I'm able to purchase medications "at cost", meaning I get the best deal possible. Most of the medications I purchase are ones that either can't be purchased in Haiti, or are difficult to find (at least in larger quantities), or are very expensive to purchase in Haiti. Because I'm in close contact with these organizations, I purchase only medications that are truly needed, meaning nothing is wasted. So far I have $800 to work with, thanks to the generous donation of one family. Can you help me purchase more? Every cent of donated money goes towards purchasing medications and supplies--there is no overhead at all.

I am partnering with Haiti Mission Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Minnesota, to collect donations for this project. If you would like to contribute, please make a donation to Haiti Mission Project either online or by mail. Information and links for how to donate are here (please click on the 2nd "Donate" button on this page to make sure your donation is specifically used to purchase medications). If you donate by check, please specify in the memo section of your check that your contribution is for "medications for Haiti".

Thanks in advance--this is a great way to tangibly help people in Haiti.

Here are a few examples of how medications previously purchased with donated funds have helped in Haiti over the past 15 months (IV=intravenous, PO=oral, IM=intramuscular injection):

1. Treatment of cholera (IV and PO Zofran to treat nausea and vomiting, PO Azithromycin in both pill and suspension form for kids, PO Zinc supplements, IV fluids).

Child with cholera in rural Cazale (picture from Real Hope for Haiti)

2. Providing sedation for painful procedures in children and adults, typically wound debridement and burn debridement/dressing changes (IV/IM Ketamine, IV Propofol).

Sedation medications drawn up, labeled, and ready to be given, January 2010

3. Treatment of infants and children with sepsis and other serious infections, such as typhoid fever (IV Ampicillin, Gentamicin, and Ceftriaxone).

A baby with sepsis who was treated with donated antibiotics, February 2010

4. Treatment of adults with various infectious diseases and associated conditions (IV steroids such as Dexamethasone, IV and PO Zofran to treat nausea and vomiting that commonly afflicts those needing to take a lot of medications together, and IV medications such as Ceftriaxone, Zosyn, Clindamycin, and others).

5. Treatment of women with high-risk pregnancies (IV magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures in women with pre-eclampsia, IM steroids to help with fetal lung development, IV Penicillin G to prevent group B strep infections in newborns, IV anti-hypertensives such as Labetalol to treat pregnancy-induced hypertension during labor, IM Ceftriaxone to treat gonorrhea, IV Clindamycin, Ampicillin, and Gentamicin to treat post-partum uterine infections and post C-section wound infections).

6. Treatment of various wound and soft tissue infections encountered after the earthquake (PO antibiotics such as Augmentin, Clindamycin, Bactrim, and various cephalosporins, and IV antibiotics such as Ceftriaxone, Clindamycin, Zosyn, and others).

Makeshift pharmacy, January 2010