Medical Mission Trips

Dear Friends in the USA,

I write this e-mail to you to let you know that I am alive and all my parents and my fiancee's parents are alive.

The first bulding of St. Vincent is down and 6 kids and employees died in the earthquake. Now they are with me in the field of the College St. Pierre near the Palace. This afternoon I will have a meeting with the bishop, and I plan to propose to him to let me go with all the kid to Montrouis. I hope he agrees.

We really appreciate what Bill Squire did yesterday. He came to visit us in this difficult situation. He brought some money for us and we will use this money to feed the kids during three weeks in Montrouis.

The urgent now is to feed them. We don't have any materiels (cloths, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap). After the earthquake people got into St Vincent, so they robbed all the rest of the materials left, in my office, in the dorm, in the pharmacy, in the oparating room etc....

I hope in the next day the state will be able to pull out all the wall so we can built a new wall to protect the rest of St Vincent.

Glory to God we are safe, Glory to God He keeps the children safe. May his name be glorified everywhere.

In Christ,

Sadoni

 

Note: The email message above was received on January 18, 2010 from Father Sadoni, Director of St. Vincent's Center. Montrouis, where he hopes to take the children, is on the coast northwest of Port-au-Prince. The Rev. Canon Bill Squire, President of the Children's Medical Mission of Haiti, went to Haiti to assess the situation and take money to feed the children. He has since returned home saftely. Also check the CMMH website for updates. Please continue to keep Father Sadoni, the children, and staff at St. Vincent's in your prayers.

Donations collected though the Physicians for Peace Haiti Relief Fund are shared with St. Vincent's School for Handicapped Children. If you would like to contribute, make your donation here. 

 

Left to Right: Carolyn Papafil; Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.) President and CEO
of Physicians for Peace; Elizabeth Woods, President of the Hellenic Women's Club of Norfolk;
Sam Hill, Development Officer, Physicians for Peace. 

Last month, Physicians for Peace was proud to receive a donation of $2,500 from the Hellenic Women's Club of Norfolk. The gift was presented by Carolyn Papafil and Club President Elizabeth Woods. 

All of this was made possible by the generous spirit of Carolyn, a Past President of the Women's Club, who nominated Physicians for Peace to be the beneficiary of their annual fundraising dinner, "A Touch of Greece." The dinner, held on December 4th, 2009, with the support of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Granby Street in Norfolk, was a great success. Guests enjoyed Greek cuisine and live entertainment from the Norfolk community. 

We are grateful for this show of support by this caring and generous group, who clearly shares our mission of building peace and international friendships. 

For anyone in the Norfolk, Virginia area, you can sample the authentic Greek cuisine of Carolyn Papafil at her son's restaurant, the Norfolk Grill, located in the Wainwright building on West Bute Street. 

To Carolyn, her friends and family, and all those involved with the Hellenic Women's Club, from all of us at Physicians for Peace - Thank you!

If you would like to join the Greek community of Norfolk in supporting out volunteer medical missions in international health education, click here to make your donation. 

A young girl in Nigeria awaits care from medical volunteers. Physicians for Peace
creates stories of hope and healing each day all over the world. 

Recently, we shared the story on our blog of Maryam, a woman whose life was saved by having access to proper medical care while delivering her baby boy. Life-changing stories like Maryam’s have been documented all year by Physicians for Peace medical volunteers around the world . . . 

For the past few years, Physicians for Peace has been working in partnership with the government of Eritrea and The George Washington University Medical Center to bring post-graduate medical education to Asmara. Last week, a dream was realized for The Partnership for Eritrea, as the Orotta Medical School graduated its first class of doctors and pediatricians, a priceless contribution to the health care system of a country affected by years of conflict. 
President and CEO of Physicians for Peace, Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.) attended the graduation, which marked an important milestone for medical education in Africa. He shares his thoughts on this experience:

I have just returned from Eritrea…after a most stirring and historical experience. 

 

When Dr. Horton conceived Physicians for Peace, it was his vision to build international peace and lasting friendships by bringing America’s best medical talent together with the medical talent of the world’s underserved to not only heal and teach, but through “people to people”  outreach, create unwavering friendships, regardless of politics, geography, religion, or other artificial boundaries.  What  transpired this  past weekend sets the standard for Dr. Horton’s vision of medical diplomacy. 

 

Picture this:  the dais at the graduation ceremony of the first class of Eritrea’s new medical school.  Eight dignitaries prepare to convey degrees on 31 medical doctors and 8 pediatricians.  Four of those about to honor these students are directly affiliated with  Physicians for Peace;  three are from Eritrea, a country with “not so good” relationships with America (but life long friends of PFP);  and one from Cuba (and new PFP friend), who in fact is the Dean of Eritrea’s Orotta School of Medicine…another country with severely strained relationships with its neighbor to the North.  But here they stood, as friends and colleagues, in the name of medicine.   No politics, no animosity. Just a common cause of bringing the best medicine to a nation’s people. 

 

In 2001, PFP, under the leadership of Dr. Haile Mezghebe, of Howard University (and personally recruited by Dr. Horton)  began a series of medical missions to Eritrea that opened doors and hearts to the way of PFP.  And then in 2005, PFP joined forces with The George Washington University Medical Center to establish the Partnership for Eritrea, bringing the first post graduate medical education to this nation…in the face of severe challenges and uncertainty.

 

Today, 31 new Eritrean doctors and 8 new Eritrean pediatricians begin their lives anew, fulfilling their aspirations to serve others.  And Physicians for Peace yet again demonstrates that if you heal a man, you heal only one, but if you teach a man to heal, you heal many.  Today, thousands will be healed in Eritrea.   

 

We can take great pride in our work there!  While it remains unfinished, this is a milestone of watershed proportions. 

 

As I gather more of my thoughts, more will follow.  But just know that what has been accomplished in Eritrea is game-changing.

 

Congratulations to all!!!  

Ron 

Find out more about The Partnership for Eritrea at www.partnershipforeritrea.org

Watch local television coverage of the event:



You can help us improve health care in developing countries through international health education by supporting our training programs and medical mission trips in Africa. 

Make a donation today!

Last month, a team of Physicians for Peace volunteers traveled to Santiago, Dominican Republic to provide burn care training at the local hospital. The ABIQ training program (Atención Básica Inicial del Quemado,) is similar to the US Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) training but adapted for latin America. The Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) courses provide guidelines in assessment and management of burn patients from the scene of the burn injury through the first 24 hours post-injury. The courses are open to MDs, RNs, LPNs, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, therapists, paramedics, fire service, and other emergency care personnel. 

Dr. Ramon Lopez, Director of Physicians for Peace for the Americas, tells about the success of this training mission:

"On Thursday morning we got into the Burn Unit Dr. Thelma Rosario of the Hospital Regional Universitario Dr. Arturo Grullón. Dr. Ariel Miranda Altamirano and I were received by the Director, Dr. Renata Quintana, and had a tour through the unit. Dr. Miranda was very pleased to see how the Unit is set up. After the visit to the unit, we had a lunch meeting to discuss all the expectations for the ABIQ training and all the details.   >At 3:25 p.m. Lic. Alba Rony landed in Santiago. At night we had a welcome dinner with the President of the Voluntariado Jesus con los Niños, Vilena Comas de Stern and her team. On Friday we started the ABIQ training at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra with the presence of Dr. Rosa Morel, the Director of the children's hospital, plus a significant participation of the staff of the Burn Unit which included more than 70 participants. 

The ABIQ training, according to the evaluation of the participants, was very successful and filled all the expectations.  Dr. Quintana and her team want the ABIQ training twice a year and asked to DR. Miranda and I to come on February for other training. The participation of Haitians students was significant and Dr. Miranda is willing to go to Haiti to offer the ABIQ. At the end of the ABIQ, 69 doctors, residents, last year students, and nurses took the exam and were certified with the ABIQ.

During our visit to the Hospital Regional Universitario yesterday, we were welcomed by Dr. Rosa Maria Morel, who is the General Director. She was so excited about the outcome of the ABIQ and also wants us to continue the Physicians for Peace Seeing Clearly mission. In addition, they need urgently some missions for PALS and NALS for both the Hospital and the Burn Unit.

As you know, Dr. Ariel Miranda and I we were the instructors of the ABIQ and Lic. Alba Rony presented the conference of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children with Burns and their family."

Burn care training is an important part of Physicians for Peace efforts to improve patient care in under-served regions through international health education. 95% of deaths from burns worldwide occur in lower or middle income countries. You can help support our volunteer medical missions in burn care training and prevention education. Click here to make your donation. 


 

 

Women helping women: Physicians for Peace volunteers with patients at Segou Hospital.

Laura Gwathmey and Laura Fine-Morrison are traveling with our VVF surgery team on the ground now in Segou, Mali. Here is their latest report, which shares their observations of both the patients and the staff they have encountered at Segou Hospital: 


Our work here in Mali makes us realize how lucky we are to live in a country that allows women equal status. Here, women have little control over their lives. Most of the patients we've encountered have scarring from female genital mutilation. One member of our team, the only female doctor on staff at the hospital, told us the story of her own experience with FGM. As a child, she was subjected to the practice, and decided very quickly that she would not want her own child to suffer as she did. Unfortunately, the Malian custom is that the husband's family gets to decide the fate of a female child, not the parents. Despite our team member's best efforts, her husband's mother decided that the practice would be contined with her grandchild, our teammate's daughter, at the age of 2. In reality, our teammate told us, she could accept it only knowing that uncircumcised girls, as they are known in Mali, never get the opportunity to marry or have a family. The choice is stark: genital mutiliation or a solitary life. 

 

We're here hoping to change that through our actions. Many of the patients we've seen require hysterectomies because of their extensive and prolongued conditions. Those for whom we recommended treatment all told us that they must ask their husbands before they can consent, and their husbands must sign the consent form, not the women themselves. As I write, one man is traveling to Segou to give consent for his brother's wife to receive a hysterectomy. As you can imagine, many husbands do not give consent, and their wives must live with an incomplete solution to their conditions. Through the actions of our all-women surgical team, working with local Malians, we hope to show that women can still be desirable and feminine while actively serving as role models.

- Laura Gwathmey
 

My experience of the hospital staff is that they care very much about their patients. The nurses and doctors joke around with them when appropriate, to put them at ease. A nurse or anesthesiologist will talk gently with a patient, and may touch her on the shoulder or arm if they see that she is nervous during surgery (in most cases the patients are not under general anesthesia.) And they work hard to educate patients about their treatment options as well as how to care for themselves post-operatively. 

 

How hard it must be for the staff, then, to have to work under conditions that often don’t allow them to provide their patients with very good care. The patients come in malnourished and often lack funds for food and medications post-operatively, including pain meds and antibiotics. The staff are tired, as they get very little time off  (doctors, for example, work 7 days a week; nurses work 5 days per week but are on call every 3rd night, which they must spend at the hospital). And the staff are well aware that what is available medically in other parts of the world is far greater than what doctors can offer here.

 

One doctor came over to me in the hospital break room while I was writing. He sat down next to me and asked what I was writing. When I told him, he said that what I wrote was very true. 

And he said things are going to get better. How did he know, I asked him. His response was that one has to be optimistic in life. Things will get better, he repeated, before walking out to attend to his next patient.

 

- Laura Fine-Morrison
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In May 2009, Physicians for Peace sent a team to Segou, Mali (Read about the first mission to Mali.) to help with efforts to address the widespread problem of VVF. (Read more about VVF and our surgery program.) Last week, Physicians for Peace volunteers returned to Segou to help more women get the surgery they need to heal this devastating condition. 

You can help mothers in poverty by supporting our volunteer medical missions in Africa. Donate now or visit www.physiciansforpeace.org to find out how to make a medical donation to our gifts in kind program.

Today was another successful surgery day in Mali.  We saw 6 patients, each of whom required extensive surgery and reconstruction. We also encountered a patient from our May mission who had returned to accompany her friend for fistula repair! She was completely cured and had encouraged her friends to travel to Segou for the same care. What a treat to see how our mission had changed her life! She was outgoing and talkative, unlike many of our current patients, who are shy and say little. Since the surgery, she seems to have come out of her shell.  

 

There is so much more work to be done.  I've included a photo of the welcome sign that the hospital and the Millennium Villages Initiative made for us.  We will be here through November 17 and seek to complete the daunting task of reconstructive surgeries for 50 patients.  Wish us luck and please keep checking back for more updates!

 

Laura

______________________________________________________

In May 2009, Physicians for Peace sent a team to Segou, Mali (Read about the first mission to Mali.) to help with efforts to address the widespread problem of VVF. (Read more about VVF and our surgery program.) This week, Physicians for Peace volunteers returned to Segou to help more women get the surgery they need to heal this devastating condition. Laura Gwathmey, student of International Studies at Old Dominion University, is traveling with our medical volunteers to report on the progress of this mission. Check the blog for regular updates.

You can help mothers in poverty by supporting our volunteer medical missions in Africa. Donate now or visitwww.physiciansforpeace.org to find out how to make a medical donation to our gifts in kind program.

 

An important focus of Physicians for Peace Maternal and Child Health Programs is treatment and prevention of VVF and RVF (vesicovaginal fistula and rectovaginal fistula.) These serious complications of childbirth occur during prolonged labor, resulting in serious tissue damage to the mother. The condition occurs more often in developing countries where women become pregnant at a very young age. Read more about our VVF Surgery program.

In May 2009, Physicians for Peace sent a team to Segou, Mali to help with efforts to address this widespread problem. (Read about the first mission to Mali.) This week, Physicians for Peace volunteers returned to Segou to help more women get the surgery they need to heal this devastating condition. 

Laura Gwathmey, student of International Studies at Old Dominion University, is traveling with our medical volunteers to report on the progress of this mission. She sends her first update:

 

Greetings from Mali!  We've arrived in Segou and begun setting up at the hospital today. The staff and the Millennium Development office had arranged for a welcome banner for our group! I'll be sure to send pictures soon. We also began pre-screening fistula patients today. We expected approximately 30 patients, but when we arrived, we found 57 waiting for us and many more on the way. Apparently, the patients from Physicians for Peace's May 2009 mission were so pleased with their care that they passed along the word, and we have more patients than we can handle! We're also seeing a greater variety of patients than previously - we've had many fistulas, but also many children, one with complications from genital mutilation, and several male prostates.  Several of the women have been living with fistula for years; we met one woman today who has been living with fistula for 20 years! They have traveled for days to reach us and sleep on hospital grounds awaiting treatment. 

We also met with the governor of the Segou region and several local health officials today, pleading our case for greater support and assistance for the people of Mali. All of the officials agreed that there is much work to be done to help prevent and treat cases of fistula.  

 

We begin surgery tomorrow morning at 7 am and will continue until dark. Each day seems to bring a new challenge and a new heart wrenching story.  

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You can help mothers in poverty by supporting our volunteer medical missions in Africa. Donate now or visit www.physiciansforpeace.org to find out how to make a medical donation to our gifts in kind program.

Thursday, Nov 5, 2009

 

Greetings from Nigeria!

 

This week wasn’t nearly as exciting as last week - No births at the clinic. We did see a woman who said she had been leaking fluid for two days. She wasn’t in labor so we referred her to the hospital, after we found her husband who was off working in a neighboring field. She went to the hospital on Tuesday for induction of labor. Today she returned to the village with her beautiful, healthy baby!

 

A woman we referred for an ultrasound last week found me and gave me the report. When we examined her we could only feel the baby below her belly button and we heard the baby’s heart beat on the left and right side. Not sure if the baby was lying horizontally or there might be twins.  The report came back that the baby is transverse (horizontal).  She is about 8 months pregnant. We will watch her closely - if the baby doesn’t turn head down we will refer her for a Cesarean delivery.

 

Our babies from last week came back for weight checks and vaccines. The little girl who weighed 2.3 kg at birth was down to 2 kg so we reviewed breastfeeding with Mom. This is her first baby. She came back the next day and the baby had gained. No signs of dehydration. Mom brought me a bag of ground nuts (peanuts) as thanks. My “grandson”  gained .25 kg. I gave his mom a bag with powdered milk (for her, not the baby), another protein based beverage powder and 4 cans of sardines. After all her blood loss, we want to build her back up. We are encouraging greens and liver also. Maryam #2 gave me another bag of ground nuts and 6 bars of soap. I was overwhelmed - they have so very little. 70% of the people in the village are living on less than $1/day, and they are giving me gifts!

 

I have been walking every day and said I wanted to walk from Pampaida to Saulawa. Everyone kept telling me it is too far, too hot, etc. Yesterday, Dr. Ojo left to go to another clinic to get vaccines for our new babies (we don’t have a refrigerator). I got bored waiting for him - and decided to trek to Saulawa to help with the prenatal clinic. Several people stopped on motorcycles and offered me a ride. Thank you, no! I did it. I walked 9 kilometers. I think I probably sweat 3 liters, but I did it! Dr. Ojo started teasing Banke (she is 25) that the elderly woman is more fit than she is! I could be their mother, but elderly? Though 48 is the typical life span here, and  I am 52.

 

This weekend, I am taking Dr. Ojo and Banke to dinner. There is a Chinese buffet, but they want to go to Chicken Republic. I will let you know if it is like our KFC! They also want to go to a photographer and get a formal picture of the three of us. “The Pampaida Birth Team." Also, Banke and I plan to go to the market this weekend to see if I can find something for Matt’s (my son-in-law) wall. He is a history/geography teacher. Also my “sister” Joy wants some Nigerian fabric for a quilt.  So we will go exploring. 

 

I am counting down the days until I go home - in 8 days I will be on the plane. It will be a bittersweet farewell. I have made some lifelong friends here. Mary, from Physicians for Peace, is already starting to talk about my next trip. Right now, I just want to spend some quality time with my family.

 

Not sure if I will write again before I return. I promise to post lots of pictures when I get back.

 

Blessings!

Robin

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Robin Jones, Registered Nurse and Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner, has been writing about her experiences in the Millennium Village of Pampaida in Zaria, Nigeria. If you would like to make a donation to help mothers in poverty and support volunteers like Robin on our medical missions in Africa, visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org. 

Greetings from Nigeria!

 

We couldn’t go to Saulawa for clinic today because the ambulance driver was no where to be found and no one knew where the keys to the vehicle were. I was resting from our first delivery, when Banke woke me around noon and said we had another woman in labor.

 

Her name was also Maryam.  She is 20 years old and this is her 5^th pregnancy. It seems she only has one living child, and we never did find out what the circumstances were of the deaths of the other 3.  She has a 4 year old daughter.

 

She was dilated 5 cm and Dr. Ojo said her bag of waters had ruptured 2 hours earlier. We started monitoring her contractions and the baby’s heartbeat every 30 minutes. We are committed to being more diligent with the partograph. It was decided that we will have Banke “catch” this baby. Maryam was on the bed. The contractions were only 2 in 10 minutes, so we decided to walk a bit. These women make very little noise during the labor. I would occasionally see a grimace, or more likely I would see her just bend over when she got a contraction. Around 4 we checked her progress - only 8 cm. She is going slower than we expected. Dr Ojo decided to go play some soccer.  We told him to be sure to be back before dark to start up the generator so we could have some light.

 

We just hung out walking with Maryam, setting up our equipment and patiently waiting. At around 8, we checked her again - only 9 cm. Hmm, time to consider a plan. Baby’s heartbeat was beautiful. We felt Mom might be anxious, so we would be patient. (And still no driver or vehicle keys) Around 10, I noticed Maryam had some vaginal bleeding - a little more than we normally see. Baby looked great, but she really wasn’t pushing effectively. As the head moved down, Banke assumed the  “Catcher’s” position. She did a beautiful job! At 10:35 pm, a beautiful baby boy was born. No lacerations, either. He was a nice 3.5 Kg (7 ½ pounds). I took him and did the ‘baby stuff’ while Dr. Ojo and Banke took care of Mom. The placenta delivered intact 10 minutes later. 

 

Around 11, Banke was cleaning instruments, Dr. Ojo was in the hall chatting with family, and I went to check the Mom. She was lying in a pool of blood. She was starting to go unconscious. We put in an IV, gave her 10 Units of Pitocin in 500 cc of IV fluid rapidly to contract the uterus and drained her bladder with a catheter. So glad the class this week was on Post Partum Hemorrhage. We responded quickly without wasting any time. Mom’s pulse and blood pressure stayed normal. We put the baby to breast, elevated Mom’s legs and continued to monitor closely. The uterus firmed up for a short time, but the bleeding continued. We decided to give another drug - Misoprostel to firm up the uterus. This worked very nicely.  We reexamined the cervix and birth canal for any tears that might have been missed. None.

 

By around 2:30 things had calmed down. Maryam’s pulse and blood pressure remained stable and the bleeding had become normal. In all, we estimated she lost a little over a liter of blood.  Everyone was exhausted. I told the others to go to bed for a couple of hours and I would stay up. The generator ran out of fuel at 4:17 am. So my checks were done by lantern light.  The baby nursed again.  Maryam was resting comfortably.

 

Dr. Ojo relieved me at 6. When I went back to check on them at 8, Maryam had gotten up to go to relieve herself and had eaten some food.  She is pale and will be on iron supplements for a while.  God was definitely with us. We have no doubt if she would have stayed home to deliver, she would not be alive today.  We are hoping that this will encourage more women to come to the clinic to deliver.

 

That is the story of Pampaida ‘s second delivery! The training prepared us for this emergency. We are reminded to always be alert and ready to respond in a systematic, calm manner.

 

I have claimed this little boy as my African grandson. I will post pictures when I get back home. 

 

That’s all for now.  I need sleep!

 

Blessings!

Robin

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Robin Jones, Registered Nurse and Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner, has been writing about her experiences in the Millennium Village of Pampaida in Zaria Nigeria. If you would like to make a donation to help mothers in poverty and support volunteers like Robin on our medical missions in Africa, visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org. 

I am finally able to write of the first ever birth at Pampaida Health Clinic, New Millenium Village, Nigeria!

Maryam is a 17 year old mother with her first pregnancy. The team tonight consisted of Dr. Ojo, Banke, the nurse, a CHEW-community health worker, and me. Maryam had her mother-in-law, aunt, husband, a niece and nephew and about 5 other men in her entourage. The men and children quickly found a bench or position on the floor and went to sleep.

We timed her contractions. This was something I hadn’t done in about 8 years. I had really become dependent on the fetal monitors for telling me when contractions we occurring and how long they were lasting. She was having 2 contractions in 10 minutes. They were only lasting about 30 seconds. We started a partograph to frequently record information on the labor. The baby’s heart rate was wonderful and the head was well down in the pelvis. Maryam’s blood pressure was a little high at 142/90 and she had a little protein in her urine. We would have to watch her closely.

Around 1 am, we saw much more restlessness and quiet moaning. Maryam would grab her back during a contraction. I started apply pressure on her lower back or squeezing her hips to help relieve her discomfort. The two men were busy playing video games on their cell phones. I guess some things are just universal!!!

We let Maryam push as she felt the need. No coaching, yelling or bright lights! So nice. The baby’s head slowly came out. The rest of the baby followed quickly. Time of birth 2:12 am Oct 27, 2009! We dried off the baby girl. She had a  nice strong cry. Banke and I tended to the baby. Her Apgars were 8 and 9. This is a scale to determine how well the baby is adapting to life outside the womb. She was doing great! We  tied off the cord with a fine string that had been soaked in alcohol (Spirits). Dr Ojo checked to make sure there were no more babies and gave Maryam 3 tablets of Misoprostel. This is a drug to help contract the uterus, deliver the placenta and prevent excessive bleeding. 

For the next two hours we continued to monitor Maryam and the baby.  They were doing well, so after cleaning up we went to bed at 4 am. I woke up at 6, checked Mom and baby were doing well. 

We had breakfast, saw 28 women in prenatal clinic and then went to discharge the new family. We did a discharge physical on both mother and baby and taught Maryam, her husband and the mother-in-law what to expect, when to return if certain signs developed, how to monitor the baby for dehydration and how to take care of the umbilical cord. We will see the baby back in 1 week. We will check her weight. Her birth weight was 2.3 kg - just a smidge over 5 pounds. She will get her BCG vaccine (to prevent TB), a Hepatitis B vaccine and her oral polio vaccine. Ideally, she would have received these right after birth but we have no refrigerator to store the vaccines so we have to get them from the clinic in Ikara and carry them in a cooler. Maryam will return for a check in 2 weeks.

We were all exhausted. So after pictures with the family, we sent them home in the ambulance (Maryam wasn’t quite ready to travel on the back of a motor bike), we all went to take a much deserved nap.

____________________________________________________

Robin Jones, Registered Nurse and Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner, has been writing about her experiences in the Millennium Village of Pampaida in Zaria Nigeria. If you would like to make a donation to help mothers in poverty and support volunteers like Robin on our medical missions in Africa, visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org. 

We have posted many stories from our recent medical mission to the Philippines. Our volunteers worked with patients in our on-going programs there, Walking Free and Seeing Clearly. Their trip was even more important because they were able to lend a hand with relief efforts in the aftermath of the typhoons that had hit the area only a week before. Ken Hudson, Physicians for Peace Gifts in Kind Manager, was there to witness a population bonding together in the face of loss and tragedy. He shares his personal story of what it was like trying to deliver food and water to families in need:

The first couple of days of our mission to the Philippines focused on the “Walking Free” program and how we could better meet the needs of its patients. We had visited the facilities at PGH (Philippine General Hospital) and Clark Air Field. Today would be different since we would be participating in a relief effort which is something that we normally do not do - Physicians for Peace is an organization that focuses primarily on medical education.

During this part of the mission we were supposed to visit the area of the Philippines called Northern Luzon.  Unfortunately we were not able to do so because of the damage that the area had sustained from typhoons Ondong and Pepeng. Lyne Abanilla, PFP’s representative on the ground in the Philippines, asked our team if we would like to help hand out relief supplies to victims of the recent flooding caused by the typhoons. The effort would be in Pasig which is part of Metro Manila. We jumped at the chance to help.

We meet Lyne at the Manila Bulletin which is where she works. The Manila Bulletin is the nation’s second oldest newspaper and claims the second largest circulation in the Phlippines. The paper is located in the historic Intramuros section of Manila.

When we arrive we are noisily greeted by a room full of volunteers that are busy packing the supplies that will be taken to Pasig. The volunteers include Rotarians, business owners, and doctors. The volunteers are eagerly making and packing peanut butter sandwiches. We quickly pitch in, and in no time everything is finished and ready for transport. Once loaded, we head for the police station to pick up our police escort and the truck that will transport the supplies and the volunteers.

Once we get to Pasig, we are greeted by our security escorts. Our truck that will carry the volunteers and supplies is a standard troop/personnel carrier. There will be seats for 8 people but about a dozen or so of the volunteers will have to stand up during the trip with only the wire from the surrounding cage to hang on to.

We are escorted by two police vehicles as we leave the compound. As we slowly make our way through traffic we notice that we are waved through at every intersection by the local traffic cops. Apparently word has been sent ahead in order to help ease our way through the heavy traffic.

The traffic, which is always backed up, becomes even harder to work our way through. We realize that this is due to the roads being closed due to the flooding and landslides. Then traffic comes to an abrupt halt. Right in front of us is a section of road that is completely submerged. Our escorts slowly ease their way through the water and for a while look as if they are getting ready to float away. We are nervous and are sure that they are not going to make it but eventually they are out of the water. As we inch our way forward, we are greeted by people in boats and tricycles. Some people are actually swimming or wading in the dirty water. To the left of us we notice personnel bridges made of two by fours supported by wooden bases that have been hastily constructed so that people can get in and out of the area. This is a scene that I had never witnessed and am once again awestruck at the ingenuity of the Filipino people.

Once we make it out of the water we arrive at our destination. Suddenly we are greeted by a large crowd that starts cheering and waving. These are the people that we have been sent to help.

Suddenly we are out of the truck and on the ground. The supplies are taken off of the truck and moved to a gymnasium that will be the main distribution point. There are also a large number of people in the gym. We are told that the people outside have suffered some damage to their homes but their homes are still habitable. The people inside the gym have lost most of their possessions and their homes were destroyed or almost completely destroyed.

While everyone is busy getting the supplies ready for distribution I grab my camera and spot a set of stairs inside the gym where I can get a few good pictures of what is going on inside. As soon as I get to the top of the stairs, a door flies open and I am greeted by a young man.  I realize that I am invading someone’s “home”. But instead of being angry, the young man asks if I can take a picture of his family. I agree and suddenly they are all in front of me eagerly posing for the camera. Once again, here is a family that instead of focusing on their terrible loss, are instead trying to have fun by posing for a picture.

I quickly turn around and start snapping pictures of the scene on the gym floor. The sight that appears before me is shocking. These are families that have been dislocated. It looks as if some of them had little or no time to grab anything of value. Dirty blankets and sheets have been erected in an attempt at privacy. Some of the people look as if they do not have any clean clothes. Children are running in and out of the makeshift dwellings playing and laughing. The crowd is starting to murmur with anticipation of a chance to receive some water and a little bit of food.

As I make my way to the floor and start walking in and out of the dwellings, I am greeted by calls of “hello sir”,  “good evening sir”, and “how are you doing sir”.  Everyone has a smile as I greet them.

After taking pictures for a few minutes I notice that Lyne has the volunteers ready to hand out the supplies to the people inside the gym. I run over and grab a big box of bottled water and drag it on the floor as someone else passes out the bottles. We are told to try to limit each family to one bottle. We need to make sure that everyone, including the people outside, receives their fair share of supplies. The first box empties rather quickly and then we start working on a second box of water. Suddenly people start running up to me and asking “tubig please”, water please. Though I know that every family should have received a bottle of water I cannot turn them down. What if their family is very large? How long has it been since they had fresh drinking water? What if they have small children? So I give them some more.  Once again I hear many “thank you sirs” and “salamat po”. Then I spot Doc Montero who is also busy handing out water. Someone is asking him to limit the amount of water that he is giving away. He shouts back that the children keep asking him for water and how can he turn them down. My thoughts exactly.

Eventually mats and blankets are also passed out. A small amount of cooked noodles and bread with peanut butter is given to each family. We are finished handing out supplies to the “residents” of the gym.

Now we shift to the people waiting outside. Everyone is standing in two lines. The supplies start moving down the line but we need to move a little quicker. These people have been waiting for quite some time and we want to make sure that they get their fair share. Lyne is urging everyone to move a little quicker. We certainly don’t want anyone to think that they are going to be left out. It seems that the supplies move a little quicker this time and before we know it we are finished. Through all of the commotion there is no pushing, shoving, fighting or cursing. Everyone is well-behaved and courteous.

Night has come, so we start to gather the few supplies that we have left and put them on the truck. As we make our way to the truck to leave we are greeted with “thank you ate” (older sister), “thank you kuya” (older brother), “thank you sir” or salamat po.  Some of the volunteers are on the truck. As I get ready to climb on I hear a child call out “tanapay sir”, “bread please sir”. I notice a box of bread at the end of the truck. I hand the little boy a roll. Then where there was one hand there are now two. So I hand out two more rolls. Now there are four more hands stretched out toward me, so I give up four more rolls. Now there are six and then eight more hands. So I hand out more bread. The people inside the truck are telling me that we need to leave because it is getting late. Suddenly there is a hand around my right arm and then one on my left. Then there is a hand from behind and then I am in the truck.

As we start to leave we pass by a crowd of people. Some of them are cheering while others are waving. I hear some goodbyes and few more salamats and then we are gone.

Our trip out of the flooded area is a bit quicker since it is late and there is a lot less traffic. Once again we receive a free pass because of our escort and because of our mission.

Once we arrive back at the police station it is decided that we will all meet somewhere to eat. We are all thirsty, hungry, and tired. The restaurant of choice is Jolibees. This is the Philippines version of KFC.

When I receive my order and start to eat, I can’t help but wonder how easy it is for me to take for granted that I have the ability to eat anything that I want at anytime but that there were going to be many mouths tonight that would not be fed. Even though I finish my meal, it seems that it is a little harder to swallow than usual.

P.S. - At some point during the relief mission in Pasig a woman handed me a note. The note had her name and phone number. On it she stated that her daughter had scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and asks for help. When I meet Dr. Pipo Bundoc the next day and ask him if he could help he tells me “I can do this”.  Once again our friends in the Philippines will come through.

_________________________________________________

The work of Physicians for Peace to improve third world health care is vital to those in need. Find out more about our medical missions in the Philippines and how you can make a medical donation to support our international health programs there - visit www.physiciansforpeace.org 

Bill and Melinda Gates gave a presentation in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to introduce the Living Proof Project, a campaign to spread the word about the incredible progress that has been made in global health over the past decades and to show how U.S. investments in global health projects are truly changing the world. 

Calling themselves "Impatient Optimists," Bill and Melinda Gates demonstrate through the personal stories of those who are "Living Proof," that U.S. investments have had significant and life-changing effects on communities throughout the world, but that there is still much more to be done. 

At Physicians for Peace, we are inspired by these stories of success and encourage our supporters to watch the presentation by Bill and Melinda Gates and learn more about how investing in global health is changing the world. 

Watch the presentation 

The Gates speech shows that contributions to global health programs are an effective investment in the future of our world. We see these kinds of success stories every day at Physicians for Peace.

You can be a part of our success. The work we do at Physicians for Peace has brought healing and hope to thousands of people over the last 20 years, and our volunteer medical missions and on-going international health programs continue to change lives around the world. You can help us do more of this valuable work. 

Make your contribution now. 

We have posted reports about how the The Physicians for Peace mission to the Philippines this month brought support to the Walking Free program and assistance to typhoon survivors. Another important aspect of this mission was working with the Seeing Clearly Program, as volunteer John Knight reports below:

 

We had wonderful missions in Smokey Mountain, Manila and Madrid, Surigao del Sur, and Mindinao. This occurred after an impromptu disaster relief trip to a flooded area of Manila. Saturday, we made sandwiches and carried other food, sleeping supplies, and clothing to an area of Manila that was still flooded from the recent typhoon. It was an amazing experience for all involved. Hundreds of grateful people were helped. Words and pictures could never describe the resilience of these people amidst such dire circumstances. 

The following 2 days consisted of the opening of the PFP/Rotary Health Center and a "Seeing Clearly" eye exam and eyeglass mission in Smokey Mountain. It is named so because it was once a large garbage dump site where 20,000 people had been living. Since the closing of the dump, they now live in public housing highrises. We had many volunteer optometrists working alongside volunteers from the community we were serving. Several hundred patients were examined and the majority of these received prescription eyeglasses. Many of the others received diagnoses and were referred for future surgeries. Those prescriptions that we did not have will be made by Dr. Buniel in Madrid and sent back to Manila for proper fitting by the local optometrist.

On Tuesday, we took an all day trip by plane and van to Madrid in Mindinao to see the site of our permanent "Seeing Clearly" clinic for another 2 day clinic using the same model as the previous mission. Approximately 500 people were served during this mission. As always, patients travelled from near and far to avail of the services. Everyone was so kind and appreciative in that area that I now feel like that is my home in The Philippines. We promised to continue supporting the work of Dr. Buniel and also to return again soon.        

This was my sixth PFP trip to the Philippines and best so far. I could not have asked for more than to share such an experience with my father, Dr. Montero, Dr. Buniel, and all the other fine people that made this mission a great success. We will now go back to the States with a better understanding of the needs here and an invigorated spirit to do all we can at home to help these our brothers and sisters in The Philippines!

John Knight

You can help those in need by supporting our medical volunteer work and our on-going medical missions in the Philippines. Whether you wish to donate medical supplies or join or monthly giving program, there are many ways to contribute to our international health programs. Find out more at http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html

Here is the lastest news from Robin Jones, a Registered Nurse and Women's Health Care Nurse Practioner, who is currently leading a team of Physicians for Peace volunteers on a mission to Zaria, Nigeria, to assist with work being done there as part of the United Nations Millennium Village Project. The core mission of the project is to help underserved regions of sub-Saharan Africa reach the Millennium Development Goals for ending poverty and improving maternal and child health by 2015. Physicians for Peace volunteers are working with local clinics to assist in midwifery education. This is an exciting look at the work being done daily to improve health care for women and children in this region...

Thursday, Oct 15, 2009

Greetings from Pampaida!

Wow! What a week! Monday, a woman came to the office in Zairia. She was introduced to me as a Midwife/Lecturer at the local Training Hospital. Dr. Woje asked that we meet and have open discussions and perhaps I could lecture with the students one day. We traveled over to the teaching hospital, where I was introduced to the Director of Midwifery and the Principal (Dean of Nursing Education). A meeting with the Faculty has been arranged for Friday (tomorrow) morning. I have also requested to spend a day following a midwife. I have drafted a list of questions for discussion. Also, I will ask their help in developing a Safe Childbirth Checklist.

Monday afternoon, in the middle of a rain storm, we headed out to Pampaida Village. There were 17 of us crammed in a small van, plus supplies. I did wear my seatbelt (ALWAYS!) The driving is a bit crazy. They use the horn all the time.

I settled in my room. I have a bed net here. No mosquito buzz attacks in the middle of the night. Banke, one of the nurses, has the other room on the women’s side of the quarters. She also does the cooking. She is an excellent cook. I have had French fries, fried yams, fried plantain, beef stew, spaghetti, rice, beans, greens, and melon and custard. My stomach hasn’t adjusted to the greens just yet. A sauce is made from sun-dried tomatoes and red peppers. It is put on rice, meat, vegetables and spaghetti. I am really enjoying the food. This morning for breakfast I have spaghetti with sardines and hash brown plantain. I was finally able to convince Banke to let me wash dishes. I told her the cook should rest after the meal and allow the ones she served, to serve her.

In clinic at MV1, Maru-a village Health Worker, has learned to do tummy checks. She measures the uterine height and also assesses how the baby is positioned so we know where to listen for the heart beat. She learned very quickly. Next week, I will work with Banke.  The Doppler is a hit with Dr. Oje. He works with the Doppler and I follow with the fetoscope to perfect my newly learned skill.  We have discussed the need to maintain the fetoscope skill as it is not dependant on batteries, nor does it have components that can break. The problems with technology...

In the late afternoons, Banke and I have been strolling through the village. The small children- toddlers are still frightened of the white skinned woman! The rest of the children flock around as they love having pictures snapped. I have to be careful - sometimes there is shoving to get attention and the littler one are pushed to the ground. I took pictures of the settlement-cooking, bedrooms, shops,etc. I have finally learned what millet is. It is a grain that grows on a stalk that looks similar to bamboo.  The grain grows on the top, similar to the tops of the corn stalk. When it is harvested, they beat the stalk to remove and collect the grain.

Today, we had our first training session. We discussed the reproductive system, fertilization and fetal development and prenatal care before the computer died. I have 4 students, one of which is a male. Lots of great questions were asked. We will continue on Monday.

I have enjoyed sleeping with a mosquito net. When I arrived back in Zairia, I was told they are going to put one up here also.  Not sure if it was the open spaces of the village or the net,but I certainly slept well there.

_______________________________________________________________

Monday

Oct. 19, 2009

As another week begins, we will be heading out to Pampaida in the next hour. I will do another lecture today.  We will wrap up prenantal care-maybe even a quiz. Then we will go over the components of labor. Tomorrow, I will be working with Banke in the clinical setting-doing ‘tummy checks’.

This weekend was much better than last weekend. I spoke with Jeff on Friday via Skype, so the feelings of homesickness weren’t so bad.  Saturday, I did some laundry. Boy, did I take my washer and dryer for granted!  I used a bucket and a large bowl to wash the clothes.  I ran out of bottled water so I boiled the municipal water (when it was on). Even after 20 minutes of boiling there was still a dirty looking sediment. I only used it for cooking. I couldn’t bring myself to drink it.

I read 2 books this weekend and did some knitting.  My exercise routine is up to 20 laps around the compound, 30 toe touches, 50 sit-ups and 50 leg lifts a day.

Yesterday, Dr Woje and his family came by to take me to church.  The message was on willingly doing God’s work. Another timely message. The Sunday school lesson was on daily Bible reading and study.  Mrs. Woje (Hannah) was very disturbed that I only brought my little New Testament. She has lent me a Parallel Bible and also given me a Study Booklet.  She has invited me to go to a Revival Convocation in Kaduna the last weekend of the month. She is going to be the boost I need to become more disciplined in reading/studying the Bible!  After church, I was invited to have lunch with the family at their home.  I helped cut up cabbage for cole slaw.  The meal was wonderful-rice with the spicy red sauce, curry, fried plantain, cole slaw (not quite like ours) and paw-paw. It was my first time trying paw-paw.  It is almost like a cross between the mango fruit, papya and cantaloupe. Very good!  Dr Woje extended an invitation that I stay in their guest wing on the weekends. I thanked him, but declined.

His wife has a water filtering business next door to the house.  They take the municipal water and filter it through sand and ultraviolet filtration, then bag it in small bags. People bite a hole in the corner of the bag and can enjoy clean water. Quite impressive!  He dropped off about 50 bags last evening.  I will take about half out to the village with me.

I transferred another 180 pictures from my camera. Maybe Friday, the IT guys can show me how to attach/send them. Or I can figure out Flickr. 

Signing off until Thursday afternoon when I return to the city.

____________________________________________________________

Friday, Oct 23,2009

Greetings from Nigeria!

 

This was a very busy week. I taught Monday and Thursday. We covered labor and delivery and complications. They have grasped previous concepts well. I continually quiz them on things we have already covered. Prenatal clinic days  are Tuesday and Wednesday. The male student, Tajudeen, did  "tummy checks" with me on Tuesday. He did a very good job.  He also taught the  pregnant women about condom use. I know...too late to prevent pregnancy, but they are encouraging condom use to cut down on the HIV incidence. He always asks the most questions during class.

 

We had a little girl that the doctor thinks might have sickle cell disease. She was dehydrated, febrile and didn't make a sound when they put the IV in. By late afternoon, she had perked up and was eating without vomiting. They will send blood for Hgb electrophoresis.

  

On Wed, at the other clinic, we saw 52 pregnant women! The nurse was gone to a conference so the doctor and I were busy. We took Maru, another nurse, with us. One woman said she was 4 months pregnant, but we couldn't feel anything on palpation. Did a pregnancy test which was a very faint positive. So we will see her back in 4 weeks. Either she is newly pregnant or had a blighted ovum. Another thought she was 6 to 7 months but had no uterine enlargement above the umbilicus. There was a lot below-either twins- I heard heart tones in the right and left quadrants or the baby was transverse. We referred her for an ultrasound.

  

After clinic, I showed Maru and Tajudeen how to clean up - wash the exam table, doppler, tape measure and scale with alcohol. They are using hand sanitizer between each patient. I have enough to last a couple of months. We had an assistant clean cobwebs, wasp nests and mouse and lizard droppings from the exam room in Saulawa. I wanted to do it, but the doctor vetoed the idea. The clinic is scheduled for a renovation, but we need to have it as clean as we can for the sake of the patients.

   

I have been doing a lot of walking - through the village or just down the road. It feels good to move. I have watched the men play football a few times. (soccer) They sure are good at heading the ball and also lots of fancy footwork - even barefoot or in flip-flops. There is certainly that sense of competitiveness. I guess that is a universal trait among males!!!

  

Banke, my housemate in the village, is coming by to take me to the market today. I want to get some material and have an outfit or two made. It will be my first trip out. I need that. The weekends are the worst as far as homesickness goes. Today is the halfway mark. Part of me wants to leave today and the other part knows there is still much to do. 

    

We have 9 women at term at Saulawa clinic so I am hoping we are around for a couple so the nurses who haven't done deliveries get some experience before I leave. The goal is to have the women come to the clinics to deliver. I warned the doctor that change takes time. If the nurses can train the TBAs (Traditional birth attendants) in warning signs and when transfer to the clinic or hospital is appropriate, they may be more successful with their goals.

  

I showed my Breech delivery/Shoulder dystocia video yesterday. Dr Woje informed the staff that I would leave the video so they can review it whenever they want. Guess I will get another when I get home! I have been able to utilize my teaching powerpoints from school. Most of the time my computer battery lets me get through the lecture.

  

Banke has asked me to let her take notes from the powerpoints in the evening when we have generator power.  I will probably download my powerpoints on Dr Woje's computer or a flash drive if he has one. Also, he has asked me to download the soft copy of "A Book for Midwives." I told them we believe in See one, Do one, Teach one - so I expect everyone to pass on the knowledge they are obtaining.

  

I will talk with Bala today to see if he can arrange a visit with Biya Dogon before I leave. Dr Woje doesn't know the name.

 

That's about it for now. Have a great weekend!

 

Robin

_______________________________________________________________

We thank Robin for her excellent reports from the field, internet access permitting! If you would like to make a donation to help mothers in poverty and support volunteers like Robin on our medical missions in Africa, visit our web site atwww.physiciansforpeace.org.

Both medical workers and patients have shown tremendous courage in dealing with the devastation caused by recent typhoons in the Philippines. Dr. Josephine Bundoc reports on the conditions there, and the incredible determination of the survivors:

Dear Everyone,

The Physicians for Peace Walking Free team walked and waded through the aftermath of the typhoon to provide relief goods, medical, surgical and disability assistance to the amputees and wheelchair borne community of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan (House without steps) on October 2, 2009.

Truly inspiring indeed is the fact that we were met with warm, happy  and  hopeful faces with only their wounds and broken prosthesis giving us a clue to the damages brought upon them by Typhoon Ondoy! As one of the survivors told us, "We survived it through faith and mind over matter."

Since President Arroyo was expected to arrive at 1 pm, we had to finish the mission before noon for security purposes. Within the time constraints, the Physicians for Peace Amputee Support Group was able to distribute 100 packages of toiletries and food, clean and dress 20 wounds, provide medical consults and medications  to 75 families and screen 28 amputees.

On that day, we also turned over a donation of 10,000 pesos by HaoChin Chua Foundation and 20,000 pesos raised by the Physicians for Peace Amputee Support group for the rehabilitation of their dormitories, homes, and workplace which were neck deep in water.

We returned Oct 19 to measure the amputees for new prosthesis --- fulfilling a promise we made when we had to leave early last Oct 2 as we were pressed to leave the premises.

We will again go back in November to deliver their finished prosthesis so they can regain independent mobility and  facilitate their immediate return to work and productivity!

On behalf of the beneficiaries, we express our appreciation for your unwavering support!

You can support our relief efforts and medical missions in the Philippines - Donate medical equipment or donate medical supplies to our Gifts in Kind Program, or make a monthly gift by becoming a Partner for Peace... To find out the many ways you can contribute to our medical volunteer work, visit http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html 

Dr. Ruffin (left) at the APROQUEN Burn Unit in Nicaragua.

Vivian Pellas, burn survivor and founder of the Association for the
Burned Children of Nicaragua.

In recognition of its 20th anniversary, Physicians for Peace is honoring 20 Health Care Heroes in 2009, individuals who embody the organization's mission and goals to teach, heal, and empower both patients and caregivers. The Physicians for Peace Burn Care Program is a true success story in changing lives and building health care capacity for countries in need. We would like to honor Dr. Willcox Ruffin and Ms. Vivian Pellas as 20th Anniversary Care Heroes for their roles in the creation of this program which has helped so many individuals heal from the trauma of burn injury.  

The Burn Care Program was conceived when Physicians for Peace founder Dr. Charles E. Horton, Sr. visited Nicaragua in 1992.  Based on the medical education needs he identified, a team of plastic surgeons, including Dr. Willcox Ruffin, traveled to Managua and Leon in 1994. Dr. Ruffin, a devoted plastic surgeon, has served as Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Sentara Hospitals, Chief of Plastic Surgery at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, and Director of the Burn Unit at Norfolk General Hospital. He has helped countless patients through his work with Physicians for Peace, and now retired from medical practice, serves on its Board of Trustees.

His purpose on that first mission to Managua was to advance medical expertise in the management of burn care, and to upgrade patient care within a burn unit built by the founder of Asociación Pro-Niños Quemados de Nicaragua (APROQUEN), Ms. Vivian Pellas. Vivian, a burn survivor herself, has devoted her life to improving the quality of care for burn victims in Nicaragua. The facility Vivian Pellas has helped to build, with the knowledge and support of plastic surgeons like Dr. Ruffin, has been able to treat tens of thousands of patients in need. With partners like Vivian, Physicians for Peace has been able to help burn clinics in other Central American countries provide better care and prevention for burns. 

 

The Burn Care Program has continued to grow and expand to include not only training and education, but the establishment of an international burn consortium. APROQUEN is now one of 19 equal partner organizations that comprise the Asociación Centroamericana y del Caribe de Quemaduras (Central American and Caribbean Burn Association) in six countries (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.) This Association was formed in 2006 by Physicians for Peace and is dedicated to advancing pediatric burn care in Central America and the Caribbean through training, knowledge exchange, and global collaboration.

You can ensure that this program, started with the compassion and cooperation of Dr. Ruffin and Vivian Pellas, continues to help third world countries treat and prevent burn injuries and help burn victims heal. By contributing to our volunteer medical missions and international health programs, you help bring healing to a suffering world. 

Make your donation today!

 

Today Dr. Penny Bundoc, John Knight, Mr. Henry Knight, and I travelled to Clark Air Base to visit the “Walking Free” Pampanga Project.

 

Upon arrival we were met by Mr. Pepito D. Villanueva, Manager, Special Concerns Office.  “Pep” was a gracious host, and it is obvious that he has a passion for this project. It is through his hard work that he has been able to take very few resources and make this project work. I was extremely happy that I was able to give him a handful of prosthetic knees that I had taken on the flight from our headquarters in Norfolk. These knees will help complete several more above knee prostheses.

 

As we toured the facility, it was evident that it was being run in a very professional and efficient manner. There were rooms set aside for manufacturing the limbs, physical therapy, and training.   The result of everyone’s hard work over the last couple of years was clearly evident.  In a span of less than 2 years, a total of 128 patients have receive prosthetic limbs. The patients that were treated lived in 21 different localities.

 

We were introduced later to Mr. Benigno Ricafort, the President of the Clark Development Corporation. Mr. Ricafort was very enthusiastic about the work that we are doing to help amputees and indicated that he would continue to support our work there.

 

A real indicator of just how much of an impact we have made in the Pampanga area is the fact that people that live far outside the general area come to the clinic to see if they can receive help.

 

Mr. Villanueva provided me with additional information as to the types of items that would be helpful. I told him that we will continue to ship containers full of prosthetic limbs, walkers, canes, crutches, and wheelchairs in an effort to support our friends in Pampanga and help them walk again and live a full life.

 

It is almost 1:00 A.M. Oh by the way it looks like there will be more massive flooding. We are supposed to be hit by more bad weather this weekend. Let’s just hope and pray that somehow it passes us by.
 

You can join Ken in supporting our medical missions in the Philippines - Donate medical equipment or donate medical supplies to our Gifts in Kind Program, or make a monthly gift by becoming a Partner for Peace... To find out the many ways you can support our medical volunteer work, visit http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html 

John Knight, M.P.H., a long time Physicians for Peace volunteer and recipient of our 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award for Mission Support, is currently traveling in the Philippines with Ken Hudson, our Gifts in Kind Manager. He reports on the incredible achievements of the Walking Free Program and gives an update on the situation since the typhoons hit a few weeks ago: 

As you know, our first of 3 "Seeing Clearly" missions was just cancelled in Isabela due to the impassibility of the roads in Northern Luzon. Back to back typhoons have resulted in massive flooding and landslides that have killed hundreds of people in both areas. Unfortunately, The Philippines receives more than its share of natural disasters. But because of this, the people are very resilient and, as always, still have great smiles and attitudes. The first typhoon hit Manila 2 weeks ago and hit home for Physicians for Peace, with the flooding of our Secretary Cherry's house.  She had 10 feet of water in her house, had to spend a night on the roof, and lost many material possessions. The selfless person that she is, Cherry still managed to meet us at the airport, along with Juan and Lyne. This was the first trip to a developing country for my father, Henry and Ken. However, the staff and volunteers here immediately made everyone feel right at home.  

 

Dr. Montero and Lyne are arranging for us to help with the relief efforts in Manila in the time that was allotted for the first mission. Ken did a great job of summarizing our tours of Walking Free and PGH today. My father also had never seen anything like what he saw today. As a Board Member of Duke University Hospital, he had been exposed to a lot of first world medicine but had never truly seen what the have-nots in the world must face when trying to care for themselves and their families. He was truly affected by what he witnessed and will share his experiences with many others. For me, witnessing first-hand these heartbreaking scenes never fails to put things in perspective, energizing me to give more of my future time and resources to help others. After visiting the hot, chaotic & overcrowded pediatric ER, my father and I agreed that had his 2 month prematurely born granddaughter McKenzie been born in such a place, she would probably not be alive today.  

 

While there is so much work to be done in that hospital, the shining star of what we saw was the Physicians for Peace Walking Free Program. The last time I visited it several year ago, all that existed was a concept, a room filled with boxes, very little equipment, and very few patients being served. Fortunately, Dr. Montero, Penny Bundoc & Lyne Abanilla have relentlessly worked to make this program a huge success. Prostheses were being formed while some patients were being fitted and others were "Walking Free". We heard first hand stories from these patients and staff who have been made whole again by Physicians for Peace.  

 

Even though our team is delayed in the hands-on work we will perform, the Good Lord always has a plan.  Today was a chance to see the overall picture firsthand. It was an opportunity to see how much has been done but how much more we can do. We all sat down for a quiet lunch afterward and had great discussions and brainstorming about how we can best help these most deserving Filipinos in the future. Although some ideas may be dreams, Penny told me that she did not think the dream of "Walking Free - Philippines" would be where it is now when we had similar discussions in 2004. With hard the continued hard work of Physicians for Peace's staff and volunteers, dreams do come true!!!

 

We look forward to updating you soon about "Seeing Clearly" missions 2 and 3 which are still on schedule.

 

God Bless You All,

John Knight
 

You can join John in supporting our medical missions in the Philippines - Donate medical equipment or donate medical supplies to our Gifts in Kind Program, or make a monthly gift by becoming a Partner for Peace... To find out the many ways you can support our medical volunteer work, visit http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html 

Ken Hudson, our Gifts in Kind manager, is currently in the Philippines helping out with our on-going programs there, which include Walking Free and Seeing Clearly. His first observations on the ground show why Physicians for Peace is there and the importance of the work of our volunteers...

 

"I was excited to be on my first mission since joining Physicians for Peace in May 2005, and looking forward to participating in a medical mission trip to the Philippines. 

 

Doctor Montero arrived to pick up John Knight, John Knight’s dad, Henry, and myself and then we were off to meet Penny and Pipo Bundoc and Lyne Abanilla at Philippine General Hospital for a guided tour.

 

While I cannot do justice to what I saw with words or pictures I will do my best to provide an overall sense of what is being accomplished there.

 

The main focus of the tour was the prosthetics clinic where the bulk of the work for the “Walking Free” program in Manila takes place.  While Penny and Pipo gave me an education as to their primary needs in the shop they also took the time to introduce some of their patients. 

 

I met  Lea Redreno, who suffers from congenital deformities on every limb.  Lea is working at the “Walking Free” clinic, helping maintain it’s inventory and organization. Lea has a beautiful smile and a great personality even though she has suffered from many personal hardships.

 

Then I had the pleasure of meeting Herbert Renuda, who at the young age of 15 was being fitted for an above the knee prosthesis at the hip. While being fitted, Herbert displayed maturity beyond his years.

 

Then I met several young amputees that also had appointments at the clinic who all had positive attitudes and big smiles for everyone they met.

 

This is proof once again that the Physicians for Peace team and our great volunteers such as Doctor Montero and Lyne Abanilla continue to do great work.

 

After visiting the “Walking Free” area, Penny and Pipo decided to give us a tour through the rest of the hospital. 

 

What I saw was something that I have never witnessed. I saw a hospital that is bursting at the seams. Wherever I went there were extremely long lines of sick people waiting for help.  As soon as you walked into the main screening area you could see that the system was overwhelmed. 

 

One of the scenes was of a woman leaning over her mother who was laying on a cot in pain.  She was busily trying to use a paper fan to try to cool her while her tears were falling as she wondered what illness she was suffering from. I came upon another family that was trying to comfort a young girl that they had barely saved from slipping into a coma. Her supply of insulin had run out, and they were not able to get to Manila in time because of the recent flooding and landslides that had been caused by Typhoons Ondong and Ppepeng. The young physician in training assured me that her patient would probably recover, but that she had suffered a great deal.

 

Particularly troublesome were the number of very young children that I saw that were waiting for treatment. It is hard to say how many there were but virtually all available space was occupied.  The illnesses of these children could range from the common cold to more serious illnesses. 

 

Through all of this, the hard working and dedicated medical professionals like Penny and Pipo and our great volunteers Doctor Montero and Lyne Abanilla impressed me with their great attitudes and their hard work. This is the one piece of the thread that keeps things running at this hospital.

 

Additionally what was perhaps the most inspiring part of what I saw was to witness the strength and courage of the families that stood watch over their loved ones while waiting for help without a single complaint. I will never forget what I saw today, and this experience makes me want to do everything that I can to help the people of the Philippines."

You can join Ken in supporting our medical missions in the Philippines - Donate medical equipment or donate medical supplies to our Gifts in Kind Program, or make a monthly gift by becoming a Partner for Peace... To find out the many ways you can support our medical volunteer work, visit http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/ways-to-give.html