missions
KENYA ECUADOR COLOMBIA HAITI
HAITI RESPONSE: JANUARY 2010
On January 12, Haiti experienced its worst earthquake in two centuries, leaving whole villages in total devastation. The global community immediately began relief efforts – sending rescue and medical teams by plane and sea.
PCCHF collaborated closely with Partners in Health, The Community Coalition for Haiti, NGO liaison for the USNS Comfort and Operation Smile bringing much needed vital medical assistance as quickly and effectively as possible.
On January 21st, the PCCHF medical team - along with 80 boxes of medical supplies airlifted by the Coast Guard - arrived in Port au Prince, and then onto Pignon, Haiti. Led by Dr Jean-Max Hogarth, an anesthesiologist with First Colonies Anesthesia in Maryland, and Brigitte Smith RN, CNOR of the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in South Carolina, supported by PCCHF logistics and clinical team members. The base of operation was the Hospital de Bienfaisance, which was undamaged by the earthquake and equipped with two functioning operating rooms.
Dr. Hogarth's was the first medical team to set up, arriving to an overcrowded inpatient ward filled with the injured from Port au Prince and their now-homeless families. Operating for 10 –16 hours a day, the PCCHF team treated many open fractures, hand, arm, foot amputations, crushed extremities, infected and gangrenous traumatic wounds.
SUMMARY:
Surgeries performed:
Hip disarticulation
Multiple extremity wash-outs and debridements
Hand, arm, foot amputations
Open reduction, internal fixations of several femur fractures
Open reduction, internal fixations of several humeral fractures
Application of external fixator of tibia/ fibula fracture
Against the almost-insurmountable need, our team marveled at the spirit and resilience of Haiti's people.
HAITI UPDATE 2011:
Just in time for Christmas – The Children at the Baptist Orphanage in Pignon, Haiti were surprised and thrilled that someone remembered them on Christmas. Packed by PCCHF volunteer nurses Brigitte Smith & Sue Cook, the 60 re-usable bags were filled with small toys, cookies, toothbrushes, deodorants, pencils an more.
PCCHF is collaborating with other NGO’s for a future return mission to Haiti.
upcoming
January 2012 Kenya
PCCHF’s US medical volunteers and surgical team in collaboration with local Nairobi ENT specialist Dr. Mujahid Din are scheduling a 10 day international mission to Malindi.
The mission’s focus will be ENT, Plastics, ophthalmology & pediatrics.
Knowledge transfer and training the local medical staff of the visiting hospital is expected.
Spring 2012, Tumaco, Colombia
A return mission is planned to the new hospital.
January 2008
The Paul Chester Children's Hope Foundation's future goals include liaising with local physicians and surgeons, nurses, and government officials to visit the facility with the intent of providing continuous local support and staffing. PCCHF will assume the role of collaboration, technology transfer, and possibly funding of full-time staff as the needs of the facility become better defined. In addition, we will work closely with the Catholic Mission and District Medical officers in coordinating treatment of difficult medical or social problems that may arise.
We have agreed to provide funds towards the installation of a solar-powered pump which will quadruple the pumping capacity of the existing well.
Future project planned to help fund the building of a pediatric ward for follow up infant care and for mothers who have just given birth.