Crisis in Haiti - Physicians urgently needed
-MSV member in Haiti issues an urgent call for trauma surgeons, orthopedics, and anesthesiologists-
14 January 2010
As news of the devastation in Haiti continues to grow, so does the tremendous medical need. MSV is reaching out to members to aid in this disaster. MSV member, Dr. Lisbet Hanson, an obstetrician from Virginia Beach, is currently in Haiti and has been able to communicate an urgent need for medical assistance via Facebook and Skype. ‘The one thing that is absolutely needed is orthopedics and trauma surgery with anesthesia,” she writes. She says it is very important to remember that “the long haul picture in Haiti for health care will not be going away, but getting immediate surgical help has tremendous leverage today.”
As an obstetrician, Dr. Hanson is assisting on amputations in Cange, roughly 45 miles north east of Port au Prince. She writes, “Delivered twins, have set bones, helped with amputations, sutured, started IVs, washed wounds, done emergency ultrasounds... So much trauma--not enough of us to go around. Mirabelais is standing room only. Patients are leaving Port au Prince any way they can…Stepping over people in shock with arms dangling, bones exposed--it's unbelievable. Please post on Facebook that I am well, but Haiti needs HELP.” The disaster left tens of thousands of people injured and homeless, and reports estimate the death toll may pass the 100,000 mark.
Dr. Hanson and Dr. John Kenerson were the recipients of the
MSV Foundation’s 2009 Salute to Service Award for service to the international community. For the past seven years, they have provided Haitians with needed medical supplies and services, including medicines, hospital facilities, and personnel. Despite the challenging physical and political environment of Haiti, they have had great success in creating collaborations which facilitate care. They have partnered with the International Society of OB Gyn Ultrasound and GE to initiate an OB ultrasound training program, allowing week-long training for physicians and nurse midwives. They were also able to secure two high-level Vivid cardiac machines from GE and will be training Haitians to perform advanced cardiac ultrasound. In addition, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, Partners in Health, and their church community, they led the development of medical facilities at Baptiste in Central Haiti. Recognizing the need in Baptiste for clean water, Drs. Kenerson and Hanson have been collaborating with the Haitian government to construct a pipeline to bring clean potable water to the local population.
Click here for an updated message with more information on how to get involved.
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To learn more about volunteering in Haiti, please visit:
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Partners in Health is looking for surgeons, ER doctors and nurses, and full surgical teams. |
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To contribute financially to health relief efforts in Haiti please visit:
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