PLEASE DONATE WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.  100% OF YOUR DONATION GOES DIRECTLY TO GOOD SAM FOR IMMEDIATE USE.

PLEASE ASK YOU FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO HELP ALSO.

DONATIONS SENT TO GOOD SAM AS OF

June  2010

$100,150

THANK YOU!!

2010 Planned Tours

LINKS:

LA Romana Dreamin

Wallingford DR Team

Circle of 12

HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY

Sunday January 17, 2010    Q+5

A report from a meeting of Doctors and others who are going to Haiti from La Romana, DR

Written 1-17-10, By Cyndi McNamara from La Romana

 

This morning (Sunday 1-17-10) Moises told me that my job was to go to a meeting with Dr. Bido and find out as much information as I could about the trip to Haiti. It is truly my lament that I do not understand the Spanish language; however Denny helped make sure I knew the important details, thanks Denny!

On the ride to the meeting Dr. Bido explained to me that the local TV stations and political people that are going are collecting food and money for the trip. They plan to go along with the medical team to bring those supplies to the Haitian people. The Good Samaritan Hospital will be responsible for the overall medical part of the trip.

Dr. Bido and I arrived at a small building in the city to find medical supplies being packed. Before long I saw several familiar faces and many others packing boxes.  The meeting began with Dr. Bido explaining that the Good Sam has a lot of experience doing Medical clinics in the Bateyes and this will be a HUGE help in knowing how to accomplish the goals of this trip. He then gave the floor to Kristy.

Kristy explained the mechanics of how the clinic would work. If you have participated in a Batey medical clinic you will be able to use your imagination and think about what it would be like to go to an enormous Batey. There are many questions that cannot be answered until you get there? For example, exactly what type of space will the clinic be in, what will the logistics of seeing patients be like, what type of injuries will be seen? The plan sounded a lot like a clinic that many of us have experienced: the Doctor has to determine the problem, make a diagnosis and determine treatment. The doctors will write prescriptions and they will be filled at the pharmacy. I am sure Kristy will have a lot of stories to tell once she has returned.

Kristy also explained to those gathered what type of equipment and supplies they would be bringing such as antibiotics, pain meds, first aid supplies, wheel chairs, crutches, and many other essentials. This means that each person going will only be allowed to take a backpack for their personal belongings. The Hospital is going to issue a set of scrubs as a sort of ‘uniform’ to identify the team. They will also all have a special name tag. They were told they could only bring one pair of shoes, the ones they will be wearing.

Kristy told them all that the conditions are going to be extremely difficult, with the horrific smell of rotting bodies in the streets, the smell of unwashed bodies, including fellow team members, and many more unknowns. It was stressed that those going really need to understand what an emotional impact this is going to have on them and prepare themselves mentally. Those at the meeting were asked if they speak Creole, to help determine the need for translators.  Kristy told them that our contact in Haiti is Pastor Coulange and that the medical team would be going to his clinic in Port-au-Prince. His presence will help provide a measure of safety and all will need to heed any instructions he gives.

There was a time for discussion about the conditions they may find. Kristy answered many questions. She explained that they will work long hours, may get little sleep and even though food and water will be brought for the team they may not get all their meals. They also probably won’t be able to shower or change their clothing. Kristy talked about the importance of them not touching their faces and other basic hygiene steps to follow, such as using hand sanitizer. Everyone going will need to receive immunizations at a clinic to be held at the Good Samaritan Hospital on Monday. This is because it is unknown what diseases they will be exposed to while they are in Haiti’s ground zero. They were also told not to bring any jewelry or watches, for their own safety.  It is very probable that they will be working with medical people from other counties as well. This will truly be an international response to help the victims of this catastrophic earthquake, Praise God!

They were all told to meet at the Good Samaritan Hospital at Midnight for an early start on Tuesday. It was stressed all that the leadership from Good Sam is to be listened to without question. This will be essential for the safety and success of this trip. Kristy stressed the need for flexibility as they face the unknown.

Moises announced that there will be a second trip on January 26^th, which will also be only for medical people with many coming from the United States. Medically trained people need to email Kristy  kristynurse@gmail.com AND Moises samaritano@codetel.net.do  with their medical skills/training/specialty and contact information to be considered for this trip.

It is my privilege to be a very small part of all that is going on here in the effort to help Haiti. It is my personal reflection that God provides in so many ways, including the fact that there was no team scheduled for this week. Many here think that in the coming months and weeks we may see some people on the Bateyes that were affected by the earthquake. The need for our work on the Bateyes will be very important over this year. God has a plan; we just need to continue to trust in his provisions.