Haiti medical relief: Mesi~thanks!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Mesi~thanks!

We raised $3445 to purchase cholera medications for Real Hope for Haiti! I purchased a large order of medications a couple weeks ago--many thanks to Emily (the pharmacist I work with) who graciously put in extra hours at work ordering and organizing the medications.

This first order of medications was carried into Haiti this past Monday by teams visiting Haiti from Minnesota. After a small decrease in cholera cases last week, RHFH is unfortunately seeing an increase again, with 73 patients in the cholera house last night, so the medications will be immediately used to save lives. You can read Licia's most recent update here and see pictures of the medications in Cazale. NPR also recently posted this article describing the current situation with cholera in Haiti.

I will be purchasing more cholera medications this coming week. Like I've said before, most of the medications and supplies that are needed to treat cholera can be either purchased in Haiti, or Lori and Licia can find organizations in Haiti that are giving away donated items. However, there are a few medications that are either very expensive to purchase in Haiti, or are unavailable or very difficult to find in large quantities. These are the medications I purchase here.

None of this would be possible without the support of everyone who has donated money, my friends at Haiti Mission Project who do the administrative behind-the scenes work to process donations, the pharmacists I work with who generously donate their time and expertise, the teams and individuals who carry medications to Haiti in their luggage, and of course everyone on the ground in Cazale.

Thanks again for your generosity! This need will be ongoing for as long as there is cholera in Haiti--please watch my blog for updates.

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what I'm doing

I first traveled to Haiti in 1998. For the next 10 years, I visited Haiti once or twice a year, working with various organizations but mainly with Providence Ministries. I finished pediatric residency in June 2007 and spent 9 months volunteering as a pediatrician in Haiti from Sept 2007 through May 2008, then started fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine. I finished fellowship in mid-2011 then started an attending job. My state-side home is in Minnesota.

While in Haiti in 2007-08, I worked at a medical clinic in La Digue, a small village about 30 miles north of Port au Prince. We saw children with conditions common in the developing world, such as malnutrition, malaria and parasites, as well as conditions common in children all over the world, like respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

Five days after the earthquake in January 2010 I joined a medical relief team at Heartline Field Hospital in Port au Prince. I initially planned to stay 6 weeks but ended up staying for about 5 months total throughout the year, traveling back and forth multiple times in 2010 while running the field hospital. I have had the privilege of providing medical care for some of the strongest, bravest people I've ever met.

In 2011 and beyond my medical work in Haiti has continued, first by responding to the cholera epidemic, then in other areas as needs have arisen. I continue to work with several different organizations in Haiti including Heartline Ministries. I spent over 4 months in Haiti in 2011 and I'm looking forward to several more months in-country coming up in 2012.