| H A I T I Rescue, Recover, Rebuild  |
The 2010 earthquake in Haiti has imposed a tremendous burden on an already resource-limited, impoverished country. Haiti has a long-standing history of natural disasters, further exacerbating the food crisis, overcrowded living situations, and struggling economic situation. Basic needs such as adequate nutrition, clean water and sanitation, education, health, and protection from violence are a daily struggle for this country's citizens. With a devastating 112,000 deaths, 196,000 people injured, and another 700,000 living in shelters, action by the international community is imperative.
EMEDEX International has created the "Rescue, Recover, Rebuild" initiative, a comprehensive plan to help with both the immediate and long-term health needs of the people of Haiti. This year-long initiative will set the foundation for a continued partnership over years to come. Project leaders are trained experts in disaster management and emergency medicine who are accustomed to serving at the frontline of the healthcare system.
In the Rescue phase of the project, teams of emergency healthcare providers will be deployed, in partnership with larger humanitarian relief organizations, to assist with direct patient care needs.
During the post-disaster Recovery phase of the project, the group will continue to provide and model patient care at Haitian healthcare facilities, where project leaders have strong pre-established partnerships. Training programs in basic and advanced life support skills, ultrasound, and emergency medical management will begin during this phase, aimed at building local expertise amongst professionals in this region.
Finally, the long-term Rebuilding phase will continue sending teams to provide and model patient care, to conduct and establish sustainable training courses in emergency medical skills and disaster management and preparedness, and to help develop inter-facility communication and referral systems.
Team Member Reflections
Team #1
We gave of ourselves to those whom were grateful beyond measure. So that our giving was far from altruistic. We actually gained from the gratitude of the thousands we served, shared with and alleviated of suffering if only for a moment. We are extremely humbled that we had the opportunity to serve a people who were in such dire straits. We were stunned by the strength and the dignity that our patients maintained despite the destruction. We we blessed that our institution valued our drive to serve in their time of need. Come and find a fuller sense of your humanity. come and work internationally.
- Emily Nichols, MD and Jonel Daphnis, MD MPH
Team #3
“Yes! I got the time off!” was what I was thinking when I found out that I’d be able to go Haiti. A mixture of anxiety and excitement overcame me and I started making a list of things to do. A few weeks later, I’m on the plane heading to Port-au-Prince, about to land, listening to the instructions in both English and Creole, nervous energy running through me. We land, quickly gather our luggage, and transition to our flight to Cap Haitien. We land again, and I’m struck first by the heat, and then the sites. Dry landscapes, rocky roads lined by street-side shops, ranging from cold soda to pay-per-use phones and even gasoline. We drive though to our destination Terrier-Rouge, and the scenery is slowly changing, with less people, worsening terrain, and more widespread shops. When we arrive, we are gratiously welcomed by our hosts, Pere and Mere Bruno. Quickly, our luggage is transferred to our rooms and our bellies were fed. Over the next week, we split up and worked in different local clinics and hospitals. In addition to seeing patients, we did a needs-assessment of the communities, speaking with the other doctors and medical personnel we were working with. Lucky for us, we were able to see a variety of pathology in both kids and adults. We also got the opportunity to speak with other humanitarian workers and their experiences. Everyone was very hospitable and welcomed us with open arms. The patients were patient with our language skills and appreciative of even the littlest things.
This trip really helped us solidify our connections and the information we need to start our projects for the region. Currently, we’re working on setting up a medical conference for the local medical personnel to attend next year. Through the conference, we want to teach easy, practical skills that the local practitioners can apply to their daily practices. We also plan to set up educational initiatives that local community leaders can implement. Lastly, one of the local hospitals is in the process of starting their own pre-hospital system, and we will be teaching them basic skills such as BLS, local wound care and control, and disaster management. As we continue our efforts, we look forward to returning to our friends and the community.
- Brijal Patel, MD
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