February 8, 2010
Esteemed Members, Volunteers and Friends of AHDH and Haiti :
AHDH’s first wave response team to this “cruel and incomprehensible” catastrophic
earthquake in our Motherland, is completely back last night, with the return of the last
2 volunteers of the New Orleans team, and 2 from our Nashville partners (see below).
Once more, it was a mission under His most protective wings. Blessed all along !
Once embarked on this emergency response to this crisis, most of us have quickly come
to realize that one thing is sure: from now on, Haiti’s history is divided into a pre-
January 12, 2010 era with its intolerable status quo, and a post-January 12, 2010 era
which will be a test of the character of our generation - our generation of Haitians in the
motherland as well those in the Diaspora.
By His grace AHDH went, served the best we could, took notes, and is firmly resolute
that our beloved Haiti can never be allowed to be the same: hesitation, denial,
nonchalance have no more place in our midst, and specifically in the Haitian Diaspora;
rather determination, boldness, mobilization of the largest possible support from genuine
compassionate friends is the order of the day.
And we are already initiating the process of actively regrouping our available assets,
seek more avenues and organize the Second Wave Response which we anticipate will be
out on April 2, 2010, around Easter time. In the meantime we hope the 100,000 cu.ft
barge the rest of the team is working on will be soon a reality, as for one thing,
humanitarian help, food and tents are sorely needed.
If we were for a short period relieved to see the medical infrastructure at our base has
remained intact (knock on wood), it was painful to see that in that whole area, (South-
East Department of Haiti) there are only 6 operating rooms in working condition, 3 of
which are AHDH’s at La Vallee de Jacmel, 1 at a private clinic and 2 at the CME
center of our partner, Dr Louis Philippe in Cayes-Jacmel
With the overwhelming support of so many -- can we ever
name you all? ... from east to west coasts, from Canada
to the Gulf States, Europe – our initial team of 11 managed
to make it finally to Santo Domingo on Saturday the 23rd,
some of us thanks to Mr. John Georges’ altruism. From
there, the next day to Port-Au-Prince, and then to Jacmel.
We promptly connected at the Jacmel airport with the locally
present medical assets, as well as the Mayor, and after an
evaluation of the situation we joined our base in La Vallee.
We promptly cleared all the local trauma cases including a
gunshot wound imported from Port-Au-Prince, a reminder that the demographics will be
changing; therefore, we need to plan for a more sophisticated medical facility.
After 2 days of trauma services, we redeployed some of our assets… orthopedist, trauma
surgeon, intensivist and nurses... to the CME center in Cayes-Jacmel. The remainder of
the team stayed at our base to continue providing general medicine and Ob-Gyn
services, again with a growing demand from former residents of P-Au-P seeking better
care in a safer environment. That is,
relatively speaking as our population
was very terrorized by the unpredict -
able aftershocks ... and we had no
choice but to hold inpatient services
under tents n the hospital yard, and
many times we had to rush out ourselves as the tremor was visiting.
On 1/28, the Nashville team arrived from the Cathedral of the Incarnation, twin parish of
St John the Baptist Church and the village Patron Saint, and with whom AHDH has been
partnering over the last 15 years. They joined us by direct flight from Fort Lauderdale to
Jacmel, bringing medical asset (CRNA), which raised our level of comfort if we had to
deal with a surgical emergency, 2 very handy persons and some sorely needed supplies
(100 tents, food etc.).
On 1/30, a team of 8 from the New Orleans Haiti Village Project painstakingly made its
way from Santo Domingo to Cayes-Jacmel. We promptly activated the arrangements
made the week before and introduced them to the Mayor of Jacmel, Mr. Eddo Zenny.
We stold their medical personnel (an orthopedist and a PA) which raised again our
medical assets, as the flow of patients from P-Au-P was constantly rising, from obstetrical
to trauma.
Their technicians visited us subsequently, as the unbearable absence of any water and
electricity infrastructure in the La Vallee area is something our generation must do
everything to relegate to the past, if health is to be conceived as more than just providing
medicines.
We can't wait to get together in New Orleans with Tim Duggan, who lead the group, and
develop a solution,be it of solar energy or something else.
Additional support came yesterday from our Nashville partners, by way of a cargo plane
full of supplies dedicated to meet mostly the general humanitarian needs of the
population: 16,000 lbs of foods items and 500 tents etc. The empty cargo plane offered
us passage back to the States.
This emergency trip has expectedly nothing in common with our routine quarterly
medical mission, and we have no word to praise our 14 heroes who consented so much,
each one in his/her own way, to bring AHDH to serve the people who are left with
nothing else to lose but their lives.
It is not an easy task to outline here the extraordinary human and humanistic qualities of
Nicole (Pediatrics), Francisco (intensivist), Richard (emergency medicine), Lorena
(anesthesia), Georges (mechanical engineer), Roger (chest and vascular surgery), Daniel
(orthopedic surgery), Sandra (RN), Madeline (OR/RN), Diane (RN), Fred (orthopedist),
Anthony (PA), Jim (CRNA), Erin and James, but suffice it to say that their compassion
and their deep dedication to be part of such a challenging effort goes beyond the
ordinary, self-centered motivation. It was so inspiring to hear most of them planning to
come back; not in an undefined future time but soon, with our Easter trip.
AHDH and Haiti are forever grateful to all of you.
We would be amiss not to mention that there was a long list of volunteers willing to join
but could not be included given the limitations on transportation, but rest assured that
AHDH needs you ALL as you will see below.
We intend to create that flow of talent to our medical facility on a continuous basis, and
offer to that population meaningful 24/7 access. Just imagine, I had to drive a patient 30
miles to CME to perform her c/section. We had all the equipment and OR at
our facility but no staff while CME had no obstetrician. The newborn
was named Jean Georges, as a token of
appreciation to New Orleans businessman
Mr. John Georges, as the saga of his birth
is remindful of our struggle to get there to
be ready to catch this new life for Haiti.
After a summit this past Saturday with the Executive Committee of CODEVA, the
Elders (equivalent to a Board of Governors) and the bona fide engineers, it was
decided, considering the rising demographics of that community, the followings:
1. Hospital St Joseph’s infrastructure must be completed in the shortest time
possible
a] Completion of the laboratory (estimated at $40,000 BQ before the quake) is essential
to free the space below for the completion of the Emergency Department, which will
require only a few thousand dollars.
b] Restoration/upgrading of the right wing of the hospital to develop a Men’s and
Pediatric’s Pavilion (estimated at about $12,000 BQ)
c] Restoration/upgrading of the back wing of the hospital to develop administrative and
educational/training spaces, as those structures projected for the second floor before
the earthquake, are no longer an option upstairs (estimates underway)
d] Acquisition of the land adjacent to the hospital ($50-$60,000, being currently
negotiated) to develop Outpatient Clinics, Dental Clinic, Pharmacy , Imaging
Division, Medical Record Division and temporary lodging for our surgery
patient's families (peasants living very far away, unable to return home right away),
an educational facility to train the next generation of RNs, CNAs etc
2. Once those infrastructure challenges are met, we will promptly establish a budget as
we already have some basic data, and bring in administrative and medical staff
(Nurses/RNs, nurses- midwives/CNMs, Nurses-Aides/CNAs). We anticipate that
once well structured, we will be also attracting interns, MDs and RNs, from the state
as well as the private medical schools, without any expenses, hoping at the same time
to create and maintain a flow of volunteer medical specialists coming for 2-4 weeks
period at a time under the leadership of one of us, permanently available, and
coordinating the process.
And, hopefully a model carrying as much self –sustainability as possible, affordable
within the peasants' economical means, like that model in Ecuador , can be successfully
developed while the expenses of acquiring equipment will realistically remain on those
of us outside of the Country.
In other words: Let us ALL stand together - everyone, each one with his/her
talents/means - and let us turn St Joseph Dispensary/Hopital into a full blast St Joseph
Medical Center, a measurable goal, if we really mean to leave a lasting heritage for Haiti.
Along those lines a short list of immediate needs is as follows:
1] There are 4,500 families affected, and so far only 612 tents were delivered; 3,900
additional tents are urgently needed. Hopefully we can get them on the barge due to
leave soon from New Orleans.
2] A biomedical technician and A biomedical technician and Another biomedical
technician is urgently needed, as our equipment is a challenge
3] We need portable X-ray machines with digital developer system, the way to go to
circumvent the backward economy there
4] Low maintenance electrolytes analyzer
5] Low maintenance CBC machine
Much Esteemed Members, Volunteers and Friends of AHDH and Haiti ,
There can be no illusion about the breath of the labor ahead, as our already irresponsibly
run/developed/organized country is now facing such a devastating hit. It could be easy to
throw the gloves off, but if what we have witnessed over the last 3 weeks in your inspiring
company is any indication, there is no doubt that there is enough compassionate,
empathetic warriors ready to stand by our brethren in Haiti, and help them pick up the
pieces and experience a renaissance of Haiti, in solidarity with well meaning brothers and
sisters, Haitian and non-Haitian.
May the Almighty continue to bless all of you and yours, and we hope to meet soon in
His fields, because you already proved that you believe that to whom much is given, of
whom much is expected (Lk.12:48)
Cordially,
Dr Rene
Esteemed Members, Volunteers and Friends of AHDH and Haiti :
AHDH’s first wave response team to this “cruel and incomprehensible” catastrophic
earthquake in our Motherland, is completely back last night, with the return of the last
2 volunteers of the New Orleans team, and 2 from our Nashville partners (see below).
Once more, it was a mission under His most protective wings. Blessed all along !
Once embarked on this emergency response to this crisis, most of us have quickly come
to realize that one thing is sure: from now on, Haiti’s history is divided into a pre-
January 12, 2010 era with its intolerable status quo, and a post-January 12, 2010 era
which will be a test of the character of our generation - our generation of Haitians in the
motherland as well those in the Diaspora.
By His grace AHDH went, served the best we could, took notes, and is firmly resolute
that our beloved Haiti can never be allowed to be the same: hesitation, denial,
nonchalance have no more place in our midst, and specifically in the Haitian Diaspora;
rather determination, boldness, mobilization of the largest possible support from genuine
compassionate friends is the order of the day.
And we are already initiating the process of actively regrouping our available assets,
seek more avenues and organize the Second Wave Response which we anticipate will be
out on April 2, 2010, around Easter time. In the meantime we hope the 100,000 cu.ft
barge the rest of the team is working on will be soon a reality, as for one thing,
humanitarian help, food and tents are sorely needed.
If we were for a short period relieved to see the medical infrastructure at our base has
remained intact (knock on wood), it was painful to see that in that whole area, (South-
East Department of Haiti) there are only 6 operating rooms in working condition, 3 of
which are AHDH’s at La Vallee de Jacmel, 1 at a private clinic and 2 at the CME
center of our partner, Dr Louis Philippe in Cayes-Jacmel
With the overwhelming support of so many -- can we ever
name you all? ... from east to west coasts, from Canada
to the Gulf States, Europe – our initial team of 11 managed
to make it finally to Santo Domingo on Saturday the 23rd,
some of us thanks to Mr. John Georges’ altruism. From
there, the next day to Port-Au-Prince, and then to Jacmel.
We promptly connected at the Jacmel airport with the locally
present medical assets, as well as the Mayor, and after an
evaluation of the situation we joined our base in La Vallee.
We promptly cleared all the local trauma cases including a
gunshot wound imported from Port-Au-Prince, a reminder that the demographics will be
changing; therefore, we need to plan for a more sophisticated medical facility.
After 2 days of trauma services, we redeployed some of our assets… orthopedist, trauma
surgeon, intensivist and nurses... to the CME center in Cayes-Jacmel. The remainder of
the team stayed at our base to continue providing general medicine and Ob-Gyn
services, again with a growing demand from former residents of P-Au-P seeking better
care in a safer environment. That is,
relatively speaking as our population
was very terrorized by the unpredict -
able aftershocks ... and we had no
choice but to hold inpatient services
under tents n the hospital yard, and
many times we had to rush out ourselves as the tremor was visiting.
On 1/28, the Nashville team arrived from the Cathedral of the Incarnation, twin parish of
St John the Baptist Church and the village Patron Saint, and with whom AHDH has been
partnering over the last 15 years. They joined us by direct flight from Fort Lauderdale to
Jacmel, bringing medical asset (CRNA), which raised our level of comfort if we had to
deal with a surgical emergency, 2 very handy persons and some sorely needed supplies
(100 tents, food etc.).
On 1/30, a team of 8 from the New Orleans Haiti Village Project painstakingly made its
way from Santo Domingo to Cayes-Jacmel. We promptly activated the arrangements
made the week before and introduced them to the Mayor of Jacmel, Mr. Eddo Zenny.
We stold their medical personnel (an orthopedist and a PA) which raised again our
medical assets, as the flow of patients from P-Au-P was constantly rising, from obstetrical
to trauma.
Their technicians visited us subsequently, as the unbearable absence of any water and
electricity infrastructure in the La Vallee area is something our generation must do
everything to relegate to the past, if health is to be conceived as more than just providing
medicines.
We can't wait to get together in New Orleans with Tim Duggan, who lead the group, and
develop a solution,be it of solar energy or something else.
Additional support came yesterday from our Nashville partners, by way of a cargo plane
full of supplies dedicated to meet mostly the general humanitarian needs of the
population: 16,000 lbs of foods items and 500 tents etc. The empty cargo plane offered
us passage back to the States.
This emergency trip has expectedly nothing in common with our routine quarterly
medical mission, and we have no word to praise our 14 heroes who consented so much,
each one in his/her own way, to bring AHDH to serve the people who are left with
nothing else to lose but their lives.
It is not an easy task to outline here the extraordinary human and humanistic qualities of
Nicole (Pediatrics), Francisco (intensivist), Richard (emergency medicine), Lorena
(anesthesia), Georges (mechanical engineer), Roger (chest and vascular surgery), Daniel
(orthopedic surgery), Sandra (RN), Madeline (OR/RN), Diane (RN), Fred (orthopedist),
Anthony (PA), Jim (CRNA), Erin and James, but suffice it to say that their compassion
and their deep dedication to be part of such a challenging effort goes beyond the
ordinary, self-centered motivation. It was so inspiring to hear most of them planning to
come back; not in an undefined future time but soon, with our Easter trip.
AHDH and Haiti are forever grateful to all of you.
We would be amiss not to mention that there was a long list of volunteers willing to join
but could not be included given the limitations on transportation, but rest assured that
AHDH needs you ALL as you will see below.
We intend to create that flow of talent to our medical facility on a continuous basis, and
offer to that population meaningful 24/7 access. Just imagine, I had to drive a patient 30
miles to CME to perform her c/section. We had all the equipment and OR at
our facility but no staff while CME had no obstetrician. The newborn
was named Jean Georges, as a token of
appreciation to New Orleans businessman
Mr. John Georges, as the saga of his birth
is remindful of our struggle to get there to
be ready to catch this new life for Haiti.
After a summit this past Saturday with the Executive Committee of CODEVA, the
Elders (equivalent to a Board of Governors) and the bona fide engineers, it was
decided, considering the rising demographics of that community, the followings:
1. Hospital St Joseph’s infrastructure must be completed in the shortest time
possible
a] Completion of the laboratory (estimated at $40,000 BQ before the quake) is essential
to free the space below for the completion of the Emergency Department, which will
require only a few thousand dollars.
b] Restoration/upgrading of the right wing of the hospital to develop a Men’s and
Pediatric’s Pavilion (estimated at about $12,000 BQ)
c] Restoration/upgrading of the back wing of the hospital to develop administrative and
educational/training spaces, as those structures projected for the second floor before
the earthquake, are no longer an option upstairs (estimates underway)
d] Acquisition of the land adjacent to the hospital ($50-$60,000, being currently
negotiated) to develop Outpatient Clinics, Dental Clinic, Pharmacy , Imaging
Division, Medical Record Division and temporary lodging for our surgery
patient's families (peasants living very far away, unable to return home right away),
an educational facility to train the next generation of RNs, CNAs etc
2. Once those infrastructure challenges are met, we will promptly establish a budget as
we already have some basic data, and bring in administrative and medical staff
(Nurses/RNs, nurses- midwives/CNMs, Nurses-Aides/CNAs). We anticipate that
once well structured, we will be also attracting interns, MDs and RNs, from the state
as well as the private medical schools, without any expenses, hoping at the same time
to create and maintain a flow of volunteer medical specialists coming for 2-4 weeks
period at a time under the leadership of one of us, permanently available, and
coordinating the process.
And, hopefully a model carrying as much self –sustainability as possible, affordable
within the peasants' economical means, like that model in Ecuador , can be successfully
developed while the expenses of acquiring equipment will realistically remain on those
of us outside of the Country.
In other words: Let us ALL stand together - everyone, each one with his/her
talents/means - and let us turn St Joseph Dispensary/Hopital into a full blast St Joseph
Medical Center, a measurable goal, if we really mean to leave a lasting heritage for Haiti.
Along those lines a short list of immediate needs is as follows:
1] There are 4,500 families affected, and so far only 612 tents were delivered; 3,900
additional tents are urgently needed. Hopefully we can get them on the barge due to
leave soon from New Orleans.
2] A biomedical technician and A biomedical technician and Another biomedical
technician is urgently needed, as our equipment is a challenge
3] We need portable X-ray machines with digital developer system, the way to go to
circumvent the backward economy there
4] Low maintenance electrolytes analyzer
5] Low maintenance CBC machine
Much Esteemed Members, Volunteers and Friends of AHDH and Haiti ,
There can be no illusion about the breath of the labor ahead, as our already irresponsibly
run/developed/organized country is now facing such a devastating hit. It could be easy to
throw the gloves off, but if what we have witnessed over the last 3 weeks in your inspiring
company is any indication, there is no doubt that there is enough compassionate,
empathetic warriors ready to stand by our brethren in Haiti, and help them pick up the
pieces and experience a renaissance of Haiti, in solidarity with well meaning brothers and
sisters, Haitian and non-Haitian.
May the Almighty continue to bless all of you and yours, and we hope to meet soon in
His fields, because you already proved that you believe that to whom much is given, of
whom much is expected (Lk.12:48)
Cordially,
Dr Rene
