Haiti medical relief: Medication Donations

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Medication Donations

I'm going to be purchasing medications for Haiti soon. As you probably know, this is something I have been doing since late 2010 when the cholera outbreak started in Haiti. With the help of a wonderful pharmacy team at my home hospital in the U.S. (including pharmacists Emily and Heidi), and with the help of generous donations from dozens of people, I've been able to purchase thousands of dollars worth of medications over the past 12+ months. I also continue to travel to Haiti frequently (I spent over 4 months in Haiti in 2011) to distribute the medications and to work with various organizations providing medical care.

Please see these past posts here and here and here for details about which medications I purchase, which organizations they are given to, and which illnesses we're able to treat with these medications,

When possible, we purchase medications in Haiti. Many medications are available in sufficient quantities in Haiti, and it is preferable to purchase medications in Haiti if we can, for two main reasons. First, from a logistical standpoint, it's much easier. And second, it supports the local economy.

However, in many cases, it makes more sense to purchase medications in the U.S. and then bring them to Haiti. I currently have lists of needed medications from Real Hope for Haiti, Heartline, and Dr. Megan Coffee. I would like to be able to purchase as many of these medications as possible. I will again be collecting donations through Haiti Mission Project, a 501(c)(3) based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. All donations are tax deductible and tax receipts are sent out at the end of the year. To donate by Paypal, go HERE and click on the 2nd yellow donate button (this will specify your donations to be used for medications). You may also donate by check (information and address is on this page). If you donate by check, please write "medications for Haiti" in the memo section.

Thank you in advance! If you have any questions, please e-mail me at jenniferhalverson09 AT gmail DOT com.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

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.