Medical Volunteer Work

Shortly after the earthquake ripped open the heart of Haiti, Physicians for Peace responded with a fundraising drive to support its two partners in Haiti, both of which were reduced to rubble. This week, Physicians of Peace sent checks of almost $27,000 each directly to Healing Hands for Haiti and St. Vincent's School for Handicapped. These funds represented the donations collected by Physicians for Peace in the direct aftermath of the earthquake and were intended for immediate relief operations in Haiti.

Prior to the devastating earthquake, there were an estimated 800,000 disabled people in Haiti. This population was disproportionately underserved and in many cases, shunned as outcasts. To meet the needs of Haiti’s disabled, Physicians for Peace, a Norfolk, VA-based nonprofit that provides medical training for health care providers in the developing world, began working in Haiti in 2005 as part of its Walking Free program—one of a very limited number of agencies with a sustainable track record in Haiti working with amputees. 

Physicians for Peace has now strategically shifted its focus from the initial relief operations to the long term rebuilding effort in support of Haiti's disabled population. All cash and material donations will be used as part of Physicians for Peace’s Walking Free program in Haitito organize, train and supply prosthetic and orthotic production and training facilities.

Walking Free—An Initiative of Hope for Haiti’s Disabled   

Amputee and celebrity Heather Mills publicly launched the campaign on Larry King Live. Physicians for Peace also enlisted the aid of Hanger Orthotics and Prosthetics, the nation’s largest manufacturer, to use its 670+ sites across the nation as collection points. Dozens of cities, agencies and companies are now sponsoring local drives and Physicians for Peace has become the “go to” agency to donate desperately needed mobility equipment. Our 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse is now overflowing, and we have partnered with Arpin Van Linesand  Hampton Roads Moving and Storage for additional storage capacity. These items will be shipped via container to Haiti over the coming weeks.

Physicians for Peace has formed two coalitions to ensure that amputee victims of the earthquake will soon walk again and play an active role in Haiti’s recovery. The first alliance is the Hispaniola Prosthetics and Orthotics Education Coalition with Healing Hands for Haiti and the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics-US. Healing Hands for Haiti has been  our long-term partner in the devastated capital city Port-au-Prince and is settin up temporary (and eventually, permanent) work space in the city and will soon be  able to begin prosthetic production. There are vital equipment, medical supplies and professional medical volunteers we need to send. With your generous donations, we can mobilize these efforts quickly.

Second, recognizing that considerable activity is focused in the capital city, Physicians for Peace has joined Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc., Shepherd Spinal Center, and the Harold & Kayrita Anderson Family Foundation to launch the “Haitian Amputee Coalition” to support the central plateau region. This coalition is creating a long-term prosthetic production center at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, an undamaged local hospital 60 miles from Port-au-Prince. 

You can help Haiti’s disabled.

Your monetary donations will help restore the production, training and rehabilitation infrastructure for Haiti’s disabled and will give Physicians for Peace the leverage to adequately organize, train and supply our Walking Free program.

 Thank you for all you have already done for the people in Haiti and for supporting our work.