Medical Teams International - 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response (VOLUNTEER OPS - MEDICAL)

FROM RELIEF WEB:

Medical Teams International Responds To a New Outbreak of Cholera
Source: Medical Teams International
Date: 04 Nov 2010
11/4/2010 4:39:11 PM

Prepares For the Worst in Haiti

(PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 4, 2010)—Medical Teams International is relocating three volunteers to Port de Paix, Haiti, to help treat new cholera patients who are directly in the path of a hurricane set to hit the island tomorrow.

"La Pointe Hospital contacted Medical Teams International to request assistance with a cholera outbreak there," reported Ted Steinhauer, Medical Teams International Haiti Country Director. "La Pointe Hospital dealt with 20 cases of cholera last night and another 12 cases this morning."

The team of three experienced cholera workers, who helped suppress the outbreak in St. Marc last week, will now help train local medical workers on the treatment of cholera. These same volunteers also will help with any health needs that may arise from the hurricane this week.

Medical teams International has relocated three Oregon-based volunteers; Colin O'Reardon, paramedic, Jesse Hellwege, EMT, and Colette Whelan, RN for this response. The team will treat cholera patients, train others and assist with any hurricane injuries.

FROM THE WEBSITE:

Tuesday, February 16 - We currently have 21 volunteers and three staff in Haiti. Our 11th team of volunteers arrived in Haiti on February 15. Since the earthquake happened, we have sent 56 volunteers to Haiti including orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, general physicians, nurses, and health care administrators. Together they have ministered to more than 9,600 patients. We will continue to send in new teams to replace the teams that are returning. For firsthand accounts of their experiences, check out our volunteer blogs.
Recent Updates:

Monday, February 15 - Daily, our teams are treating over 400 patients in the earthquake affected zones in mobile clinics, field hospitals, and in local hospitals. In addition, we have public health and mental health teams assessing the situation and designing culturally appropriate short-term and long-term projects.

Wednesday, February 10 - We currently have 23 volunteers and three staff in Haiti. Six volunteers, including Deanna King, RN, arrived home today. Deanna was part of the first team to Haiti. This was her 18th medical mission with Medical Teams International.

Monday, February 8 - We currently have 22 volunteers, one consultant and four staff in Haiti. We have six volunteers and one staff member scheduled to arrive home on February 10.

Thursday, February 4 - We currently have 22 volunteers and two staff in Haiti. Our ninth team of volunteers is scheduled to leave on Sunday, February 7.

Sunday, January 31 - Four of our volunteers returned from the Carrefour community, a largely residential and very poor community in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, where they saw an average of 200 patients a day. Another team went to Carrefour on Monday, February 1, and stayed for three days.

Sunday, January 31 - A volunteer team left for the coastal port city of Léogâne, located about 29 km (18 miles) west of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Léogâne was at the epicenter of the January 12 earthquake and was devastated by the trembler. More than 80% of the buildings are damaged. Two more teams went to Léogâne on Monday, February 1, and stayed until Thursday, February 4.

Friday, January 29 - We sent our third shipment of medicines and medical supplies valued at more than $670,000. This brings our total of medicines shipped to over $2.5 million.

On Thursday, January 21, we airlifted medicines and medical supplies valued at $1.2 million. These supplies will treat 45,500 people for three months.

On Thursday we sent four more volunteer nurses and a doctor.

On Wednesday, January 20, we sent three doctors, two nurses and an experienced hospital administrator. The team that left on Wednesday went to Port-au-Prince on a private jet supplied by TEC Equipment Inc., who own Volvo and Mack truck dealerships on the West Coast. Dave Thompson, TEC Equipment Inc.’s president, made the decision to donate the flight after his employees donated the funds to pay for the fuel.

One of the members of the team is Andrew Davidson, president and CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospital and Health Systems OAHHS. Davidson is an expert in health logistics in disaster situations. The OAHHS, and its counterpart in Washington State, has committed to raising more than $560,000 in cash and medicines to help Medical Teams International respond to the Haiti crisis.

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SEE CAT FACILITY RECORD FOR - Clinic of Hope (Partnered w/Med. Teams Intl.):
https://ccc.haghy.com/shelters/4929