Not every mission is going to make the headlines in national news, but our trip to Ethiopia uncovered important information for future missions of any volunteer organization providing health services in Ethiopia.
Physicians for Peace (PFP) is working with Family Health International (FHI) to assess how to better utilize volunteers in community outreach training programs. A team of two medical volunteers, Peg Matsen, a Public Health nurse from Delaware and Evelyn Tomaszewski, with the National Association of Social Workers, left on Saturday for a fact finding mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Their mission objective is to visit FHI programs and then identify needs that can be met through current Physicians for Peace programs - in particular, focusing on maternal and child health and an overall objective of incorporating volunteers.
Peg and Evelyn arrived in Addis Ababa and are texting us to say that all has gone off to a good start. Here is a synopsis of their recent report:
"The mission is significant to us both for our partnership with Family Health International as well for its incorporating social workers.
Returning to Ethiopia after 5 years, I see much improvement in society structure here. I know the "nurses" assigned to programs here are expected to handle everything. But I see with the Social Workers being graduated from the Addis Ababa University here that social work can now be more fully expanded, strengthen, and utilized.
We were met at the main office of HIV/AIDS Prevention Care & Support Organization (HAPSCO) by more than ten nurse supervisors and four Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) officers and the Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) program coordinator, Ato Tadios, and as a group, had a discussion about their work and what trainings in psycho-social issues they would find most helpful. They shared great ideas and issues most relevant to them at this time:
• conflict resolution
• communication skills
• counseling techniques
• depression and anxiety for those living w/ HIV / AIDS
• child counseling for those who have lost parents
• child development and stages thru age 18 yrs
• reducing burnout
• evaluating and measuring success
• concept of volunteerism
At the end of our session/discussion, a member spokesperson expressed their deep gratitude for all the help you have provided to them. It was the biggest heart felt "Thank You" I have heard in a long time. You [Physicians for Peace] are a great leader and your staff and beneficiaries feel your understanding of their work and greatly appreciate your technical support."
This social work initiative here in Ethiopia has great possibilities and the social work trainings proposed through FHI and PFP collaboration will make a difference in how these services can be provided. We will keep you posted on this fact finding mission.
Physicians for Peace is pleased to announce the recent employee matching gift offered by TowneBank. The Chairman and CEO, G. Robert Aston, Jr., stated in his company announcement, "You don’t have to look far to see the devastation in Haiti. We have all watched the events unfold in the media and asked ourselves, “What can we do to help?” Many are quick to recall events like Hurricane Katrina, or even closer to home, Hurricane Isabel. It is heartbreaking to see the destruction and need at the center of the chaos."
The TowneBank Foundation will match employee gifts in support of Physicians for Peace, up to $7,500. TowneBank will be accepting employee and director donations through February 19, 2010 at which time they will match the donation and give the money to Physicians for Peace to continue their efforts in Haiti.
Thank you TowneBank and employees for showing extraordinary compassion when disaster strikes. Your contributions will support our Walking Free program in Haiti, and provide amputee victims of the earthquake the chance to take an active role in building Haiti’s future.
Our Haiti effort continues at a fairly frenetic pace—particularly as we continue to receive Gifts in Kind donations from around the nation.We have collected 1250+ sets of crutches, 175+ wheelchairs, 500+ walkers and a warehouse full of materials high on the priority list for Haiti’s disabled.In fact, we have reached the capacity of our 10,000 square foot warehouse.But a solution is hand.
Adding to our growing partnerships, Arpin Van Lines, a Rhode Island-based, family owned industry leader and the nation’s fifth largest moving company, has now partnered with PFP and is providing additional warehouse space for us—at no charge—in their Chesapeake, VA warehouse.Additionally, they are providing us all the necessary shipping materials, to include specially designed boxes and the appropriate packing material, to help us ship items like wheelchairs, which are more difficult to pack for transport.
They’ve also joined with a regional furniture store, Cardi’s, also a family owned company in Rhode Island to collect and transport more materials on our behalf.
This is just one of thousands of stories portraying the devastation in Haiti. Yes, the support has been overwhelming but we must continue to help bring light and hope to those who are in need of medical aide.
A volunteer surgeon shares his experiences in Haiti and the ultimate shock of discovering there is no water, no basic technology, or equipment in the hospitals. Read this excerpt of his story about doctors building their makeshift operating rooms with no electricity, limited surgical equipment, and they still managed to save lives.
Original Message from:
Dean G. Lorich, M.D.
Associate Director
Orthopaedic Trauma Service
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:11:38
Subject: Haiti
"I believe we went in with a reasonable comprehensive service plan. We wanted to provide acute trauma care in an orthopedic disaster. Our plan was to be at a hospital where we could utilize our abilities as trauma surgeons to treat the acute injuries involved in an orthopedic disaster. We expected many amputations, however, we came prepared with a philosophy that we would reasonably start limb salvage in what we thought was a salvageable limb.
Our equipment including a huge amount of anesthetic medications and equipment, operating room equipment including scalpels etc, OR soft goods, splint material, and prep material.
We also had a plan of physician and equipment replacement that was dynamic where within 24hrs we could bring in what was necessary on a private jet.
We thought the plan was a good one. We were incredibly naïve.
Disaster management on the ground was nonexistent. We started out Friday morning, got a slot to get in Friday evening that was eventually cancelled when we were on the runway to be rescheduled the next day. We diverted to the Dominican Republic and planned on arriving in Port-au-Prince Saturday.
The General Hospital was severely damaged in the earthquake and was not capable of running a functioning OR as there was no running water and only a limited electrical supply on generator.
We quickly took our second option - Community Hospital of Haiti. We found approximately 750 patients in the hospital. Upon our initial evaluation, the hospital had running water, electricity and two functional OR's. We did not expect that two anesthetic machines would not work, there would be only one cautery for the hospital, no sterile saline, and no local staff - only a ragtag group of voluntary health providers who like us had made it there on there own.
We also previously had seen daylight in the remaining patients Monday night after having completed approximately 100 surgeries. However on Tuesday morning we found another crowd of new patients. The hospital was forced to undergo lockdown, closing its gates to prevent entry of additional patients.
We also noted Tuesday morning that many of the patients we were operating on were becoming septic. We finished operating that afternoon with the last surgery assisting an obstetrician on a caesarian and resuscitating a baby that was not breathing.
To summarize it all - we had no clue the medical infrastructure of the country was so poor."
Physicians for Peace is sending medical volunteers in partnership with Operation Smile, Inc. in response to the critical need for medical and surgical care for victims in Haiti. You can help by giving a person the ability to walk again with a prosthetic limb donation or provide support to our relief efforts and medical training missions in Haiti by donating online. To find out the many ways you can contribute to our medical volunteer work, please visit us on the web at Physicians for Peace.
Big news: Next Tuesday (Jan. 26), ONE will host an interactive conference call to talk about Haiti and what we can do.
Joining ONE President & CEO David Lane on the call will be Rep. Maxine Waters, a debt relief champion and driving force for legislative solutions; former Senate Majority Leader Dr. Bill Frist, a trained surgeon just returned from operating in a Haitian field hospital; Dr. Joia Mukherjee, medical director for Partners in Health, who is in Haiti right now; and David Meltzer, senior vice president for International Services for the American Red Cross, also just back from Haiti.
On the call we’ll talk about the crisis, the rebuilding, and the long-term development solutions. You can RSVP here to join us Tuesday evening at 8PM EST.
Yesterday’s event exceeded everyone’s expectation. We estimate more than 250 cars dropped off donations at our Old Dominion University site. From yesterday’s 3 hour drive, we collected enough materials to fill one 40 foot container… which, when eventually sent, will change the lives of hundreds of disabled Haitians.
Every donor had a story.
· “My grandmother recently died and we had her wheelchair. We’ve written a note on the back of the wheelchair sending our love to the people of Haiti.”
· “I represent the largest maritime law firm in Hampton Roads. We sent out an email to all our attorneys and are donating these dozens of walkers and crutches.”
· “I wanted to do something for the people of Haiti and went around to every thrift store in the area and bought all of their crutches to donate.”
· “I work for the school system and we had these sitting in a storage area. I hope these crutches will help someone in Haiti.”
· Sobbing: “My wife died last month. This donation will help me to know that she was really able to help those in Haiti.”
These are but a few of the hundreds of stories we heard yesterday. My thanks to staffers Mary Kwasniewski, Monika Bridgforth and Ken Hudson and long time PFP volunteer and ODU professor Gail Grisetti for organizing this event in just a few short days. Thanks also to MOC member Dr. Raouf Gharbo and ODU MOC student rep Patricia Birungi who were there from beginning to end helping to unload the donations. And a special thanks to the students and faculty of Old Dominion University’s School of Physical Therapy who did the yeoman’s work managing the hundreds of pieces of equipment we collected.
All the local media covered the event. We are particularly indebted to CBS’s WTKR Channel 3 here in Norfolk and to NBC 4 in Washington DC for their extensive pre-coverage of the drive. (See the Pilot’s article at: http://hamptonroads.com/2010/01/medicalsupply-drive-nets-huge-ourpouring-haiti.) We expect further coverage on Larry King tomorrow night.
This is only the beginning. Couple this, and future collections with Hanger’s generous donation of $125,000 in cash and equipment, and our Walking Free program is poised to have a significant impact on the reconstruction phase of Haiti’s people.
Best,
Ron
Brigadier General Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.) President and CEO, Physicians for Peace
Physicians for Peace is honored to have been chosen by Brighton again this year to participate in their Dream Peace Bracelet fundraising campaign. People who wish to purchase this collectable bracelet can find a list of local retailers on the Brighton web site by clicking above. When purchasing the bracelet, you will be given a choice of four charities. We encourage all of our supporters to buy their bracelet between now and February 14th and choose Physicians for Peace as their charity beneficiary!
Get one for yourself and one for a friend! We can make this fundraiser a big success - last year Brighton raised over $50,000 for Physicians for Peace! This year we can do more!
Tell your friends about this great opportunity to support Physicians for Peace. Thank you for your support!
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.
Dr. Lisbet Hanson is a friend of Physicians for Peace and a Virginia-based Ob/Gyn who has done much work with partners in Haiti to improve women's health. She was in Haiti when the quake struck and has been sending us her updates since last week. The above slideshow displays photos she was able to send from her phone. Below is her latest report. (Warning: graphic content.)
Thank you for all the help from Physicians for Peace. Dr. Ramon Lopez has been so generous with his time, meeting us at the border, driving us to Santo Domingo, showing us his beautiful city and helping us decompress. Interestingly, we saw only one large fuel truck crossing from the Dominican Rebublic to Haiti in Eleas Pina. I had expected to see many convoys on the way. On the road in the DR we saw one convoy of about 7 cars and trucks clearly headed to the border and last night a group of about 50-60 people that appeared to be a large medical group from Europe and the Caribbean, preparing to head to Haiti. A physician from the DR living here in Santo Domingo with ties to Hampton Roads contacted me to tell me she was collecting supplies to take to the border hospitals as they had begun accepting patients from Haiti. Another physician in Hampton Roads said she was collecting supplies to send to the doctor in the DR.
I can confirm that several open fractures were transferred to the DR early Friday morning from Cange, including a 7 year old boy with an open compound fracture of his right lower leg and a large gaping wound of the calf. I had helped remove his cast on Thursday night that had been placed in Port-au-Prince the day after the earthquake and was struck by the horrible smell of the wound. I don't think they can save his leg but hopefully his life. I cannot imagine how painful the ride to the border was for him on those deeply rutted roads from Lascahobas to Elias Pina. I had trouble even though our driver, Domek, was experienced and careful. It will take some time to digest all that has happened. I am concerned that there will be a lot of "stupid deaths" to quote Paul Farmer. I am especially concerned about a little boy brought in by his father missing a large portion of his scalp down to the bone on the back of his head and a large gash on his forehead that I cleaned up and stitched. He would only eat a few M&M's that Mike Kammermier gave him. We took turns sitting and rocking him when there was a lull in patients arriving. His father left to return to Port-au-Prince to collect his mom and bring her to Cange. The rest of the family were all dead.
Again, thank you for your help.
Lisbet
If you would like to contribute to ongoing efforts to address the urgent need in Haiti, you can make your donation here.
News continues to come in from our partners in Haiti about the incredible devastation and the challenges of treating those in need. Dr. Lisbet Hanson, an Ob/Gyn who has done extensive work in Haiti to help expectant mothers, sends these reports from her Blackberry:
"Internet out today. Too busy anyway. Going to lie down for a while, then head back to help. Delivered twins, have set bones, helped with amputations, sutured, started IVs, washed wounds, done emergency ultrasounds... So much trauma, not enough of us to go around. Mirabelais standing room only. Patients are leaving Port-au-Prince any way they can. We are triaging patients in ED and church here in Cange. Stepping over people in shock with arms dangling, bones exposed.. It's unbelievable..."
"Unbelievable day and its just getting started as people find their way out of Port-au-Prince to other hospitals. So many traumatic amputations, open fractures, puncture wounds and crush injuries.... We need orthopods and anesthesia people, lots of them. And more mattresses as wards full and churches filling. Will try to send photos when I can. If Partners In Health team can get here to replace us we are thinking of heading to DR end of the week. Will stay in touch. Thanks for support."
_______________________
This report is also in from Eric Doubt, Executive Director of Healing Hands for Haiti International, one of our Walking Free Program partners in Haiti:
To all, Lisa and I finally heard from our operations manager, Antonio. First of all, thank goodness, Antonio and his whole family are all fine. His home, car, property, all okay. He has a generator power, water, internet and VOIP telephone communications. Antonio has personally seen the following staff members who are okay: Siltane (who is living at the guest house), Noel, Joel, Jean, Soeurette, Caseus and the security guards. All of these people are unharmed. Noel unfortunately has not yet found his young daughter. Jean’s wife is injured. Antonio confirmed that Dr. Lalane and family are okay. His is the only home standing in his neighbourhood. We have no news from any others yet.
I’m sorry to report the following news: in terms of our property, the main apartment building facing the guest house is completely destroyed. Antonio does not yet know the fate of two survivors still buried alive under the rubble. As far as he knows, the other apartment dwellers got out. Our clinic and administration building are damaged with cracks and the two staircases leading to them are impassable. The clinic entrance to the physiotherapy area has collapsed. Security are ensuring nobody goes near or enters. The small private house past the pool across from the administration steps has been destroyed. The guest house is intact, but Antonio stresses it needs to be assessed. Siltane is safe in her apartment which has a locked door. There is generator electricity. Not sure about water yet.
Antonio reported that, on his walk from Petionville to our headquarters, it was as if the entire city was out in the streets. When I asked about the mood, he said very quiet because they are counting their dead. Three of the Unibanks he knows of collapsed with people inside. There is no banking, no gas available and the airport is closed except for emergency missions right now. We have asked Antonio when he returns tomorrow to take detailed photographs, to locate and report on other staff, to further assess the guest house, to secure the compound, to locate the water purification system in the guest house and make it operational for our use and the public’s if necessary. He is going to be calling Lisa and I twice a day as communications are possible to report and to take our questions. Antonio and his home are going to be the communications centre for HHHI in Haiti for the time being.
We told Antonio to communicate to his family, our staff and all our associates that we are setting up an emergency relief fund for staff and families and that we are planning for deploying an emergency response and reconnaissance mission as soon as it is humanly possible. We assured him of the massive worldwide support that we are witnessing in the media. We told him to be safe and take no chances and thanked him on everyone’s behalf for his calmness and compassion. This news came in after our emergency board meeting tonight. We are holding a second such meeting tomorrow, Thursday night and will provide you more details as we receive them on a regular basis. You may, of course, have received some of this information already. Feel free to pass any of it on to others.
On a positive note, donations via the web site and in person are substantial and rising and we are flooded with material and volunteer offers which we are coordinating. The best advice we have is to tell everyone the most important thing we need is money and to go to the web site. Regarding material donations, people can be thanked and asked to hold onto them until we can get back and coordinate. Major donations can be referred to Physicians for Peace. We advise volunteers to fill out the form on the web site stating their specialties, as we will be requiring numerous teams to be deployed throughout the year. We’re also categorizing specialties and providing contact information to the Canadian and U.S. Red Cross and MSF."
Physicians for Peace is currently collecting donations to help with the relief efforts of our partners in Haiti. 100% of these funds will go directly to help Haitians in crisis -
Dr. Lisbet Hanson, an Ob/Gyn who is in Haiti working with Partners In Health, sent this update to Physicians for Peace last night to report on conditions on the ground:
"Many many thanks for your help. we are fine, trying to work with PIH to help in any way we can. Cange seems fairly calm and no major destruction here, though a lot of panic initially. Patients may be mobilized to Cange and Hinche: There is only one general surgeon and the Haitian ob/gyns are anxious to leave to check on their families in Port au Prince as they have had no contact. Sometime today I will have a better idea of what is happening. Thanks for your prayers and all that you do. I hear the devastation in Port au Prince is huge.
Very bizarre, surreal experience sitting here in the Friendship House listening to the ZL (Zanmi Lasante, Partners in Health, Haiti) staff roll out their plan and hear as news trickles in about the airport tower collapse, the palace destruction, the UN destruction with many unaccounted for, the prison collapse, etc. Have heard that Loune and Louise in Port au Prince are OK. Everyone is very emotional, there is a lot of passion. 23 people from ZL including Paul and Ophelia are having a skype conference trying to figure out how to get in through the Dominican Republic and bring helicopters into Port au Prince to begin triaging patients, then airlifting them to Cange or Hinche where teams of surgeons will be wlling to care for them. Cange is worried that they don't have enough fuel for the generator. The dam is down, there is no power so everything is running off the generator. The water purification system requires electricity to work. And there is only so much fuel. I have offered to scrub, hold retractors, donate blood, help in post op. I think in a few days there will be many people here as volunteers stream in but in the first few days perhaps I can help and not just be in the way. Thinking of you all."
Physicians for Peace has set up a special relief fund for the victims of yesterday’s earthquake in Haiti:
Physicians for Peace has been providing medical education and training in Haiti for several years, particularly in rehabilitation for trauma victims through its internationally recognized Walking Free program.
Through Physicians for Peace’s partner network of Healing Hands for Haiti and St. Vincent’s School for Handicapped Children (and others), both in the capital city of Port au Prince, donations will go directly to provide immediate trauma relief as well as longer term assistance for amputees.
Healing Hands for Haiti has been providing Orthotic and Prosthetic services to the people of Haiti since 1998 using both US and Haiti specialists. St. Vincents School for Handicapped Children is a multi-service facility that provides preschool through high school education, vocational training, physical therapy and medical care. The medical clinic, which includes a small surgical suite, sees over 1000 patients a month for primary care, developmental evaluation and 20-30 corrective surgical procedures.
“Obviously, such a devastating force of nature has caused incalculable loss of life as well as countless traumatic injuries, particularly amputations,” said Physicians for Peace President and CEO, Brig Gen Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.). “Because of our experience in working with amputees around the world, and particularly in Haiti, and our close alliances there with highly capable medical partners on the ground, we are in a position to give some immediate medical help.”
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 . . .
Like that of Tarek, a 14 year old from the West Bank who was injured by a grenade on his way to school. He received a revision and skin graft surgery from Physicians for Peace, allowing him full use of his hand again.
Like that of Kissairis from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Drawing on her experience as a once scared and pregnant teen, the now young adult mom is a “Resource Mother” in the Physicians for Peace Resource Mothers Program, mentoring young pregnant women on the importance of pre- and post-natal care, as well as the first year of childhood. She plans to go to medical school to become a physician because of her training with Physicians for Peace.
There are so many Physicians for Peace stories like these. Many that we don’t even hear. As you know, Physicians for Peace not only provides primary and specialty patient care, but promotes sustainable health programs in our partner countries though medical education and training, as well as the medicines and equipment we leave behind.
This means that many of these life-changing stories will continue to happen, even after we’ve gone.
The global health crisis can only be solved if we create self-sustaining medical programs in the regions of the world that need it most.
By the end of this year, Physicians for Peace will have completed nearly 50 missions in 20 countries, changing countless thousands of lives along the way. You can help send the next Physicians for Peace medical mission team to a developing nation that desperately needs training and supplies to create a sustainable healthcare system.
We ask you to help us create the next story.
Your donation can save a life like that of Maryam’s, or inspire a life like that of Kissairis, or heal a wound like that of Don Filepe’s.
As 2009 comes to a close and you look to make your year-end charitable gifts, please consider Physicians for Peace. Your donation will create a story that will change someone’s life forever. Please take a moment to fill out the form and send your tax-deductible gift in by December 31. With your help, we can combat the global health crisis, one mission at a time.
To support our medical mission trips and international health education programs, make your donation here.
From all of us at Physicians for Peace, we thank you for your support during 2009, our 20th Anniversary year. Mostly, we wish you and your family a joyous holiday season!
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.
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.
We recently received the news that Gail Kelly, long time friend and supporter of Physicians for Peace, passed away peacefully over the weekend at her home in Alabama. Gail served as Director of Medical Programs at Physicians for Peace from 1989 to 2005 and then moved on to join the Peace Corps. During her time at Physicians for Peace, she worked hard to build the organization and was well-known and respected by volunteers and staff alike. She was a friend to everyone she came in contact with and loved helping others through Physicians for Peace. She will be greatly missed.
To make a gift to Physicians for Peace in memory of Gail Kelly, you can donate online or send your gift by mail to:
Physicians for Peace Gail Kelly Memorial Fund 229 W. Bute Street Norfolk, VA 23451
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.
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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.
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.
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
This blog comes from Diane Strout, one of our amazing volunteer nurses who is also a member of the Physicians for Peace Medical Operations Committee and Chair of our Global Nurse Education Committee. She arrived in Libya on October 3rd as part of a medical mission team whose goal is to continue the work begun by Dr. Fred Ward on his trip in July, providing training for local doctors and nurses where needed, as well as making plans for future medical education missions and programs:
Got to Benghazi last night at 9pm. Met with director of one of the hospitals and the director of the medical school until 11pm...
This morning we met with directors from 2 hospitals at the medical school - Libyan International Medical School - LIMU, toured the medical school and got an overview of the health system here - although I must admit there are still large gaps in my knowledge. In the afternoon, one group went to the pediatric hospital, one group to the Jamhouriya (Republic) hospital. We are warmly welcomed. The nursing leadership speak some English so we are able to work together without translators. Plans are made for rounds, case presentations and lectures for the following day.
Will be making daily rounds at the pediatric hospital - challenging cases - presentations from 10:30pm - 2pm at the peds hosp as well. The nursing situation is very poor - I will be going back to the peds hospital tomorrow to make rounds and gather additional information
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Greetings! All is going well! Our group met with the director of the public medical school today, and I have meetings set with the faculty and leadership of the public university nursing schol tomorrow. The team has continued to offer education at LIMU - the private medical school -- and the pediatric hospital.
I will be meeting with nursing leadership at the peds hospital tomorrow to plan our next steps to support the implementation and exection of some basic programs - infection control, process improvement activities and orientation/ nursing internships. There is an Egyptian nurse charged with this work (she is master's prepared, very rare level of education in Libya) who has asked for support - she has only been in the country for a month or two. I hope to be able to connect her with resources at the university as well. We'll see how it goes. Everyone acknolwedges the nursing crisis - in one unit there were 2 nurses for 52 patients. In addition, the nurses that are working function at a very basic level.
We will be leaving Benghazi on Wed afternoon for Tobruk. There are 2 hospitals where we will consult on Thursday.
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Good morning!
We had another productive day yesterday - physicians working at 3 different hospitals. I worked with the nursng leadership at the peds hospital and the two nursing schools. In the afternoon, Dr Ward led our wind-up meeting with LIMU (the private medical school) and then Dr. Dow conducted a telemedicine conference. Approx 30 physicians were in attendance and 3 cases were reviewed with specialists at VCU/MCV. It went very well. In addition, a surgeon from El Jala University hospital, Abdel Karlm Kbaili, will be coming to the States for the American College of Surgeons meeting. HD put him in contact with a VCU surgeon who will be attending the meeting as well - great networking and support. Half the team drove to Tobruk last night and the other half is in al Bayda - last day to visit hospitals.
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During the week, Fred Ward was teaching at the medical university, Chris and Joann did case studies and rounds at the Peds hospital, Renee and HD went to the trauma hospital and provided consultations. I was at the Jamahiriya Hospital. They deliver 23,000 babies each year - the hospital is incredibly overcrowded. I see two patients in one bed, babies sharing bassinets. New moms stay in the hospital on average 6 hours after delivery.
Lots of work to be done here. This has been a fantastic trip! ________________________
We look forward to hearing more about the progress our volunteers are making to improve medical education in Libya and address the shortage of nurses there. To find out more about our volunteer medical missions and support our efforts in international nursing education, visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org
Physicians for Peace mourns the loss of our friend and colleague Saleh Meki, former Minister of Health for the nation of Eritrea. Saleh was a great friend and champion of our Partnership for Eritrea. We will miss him and extend our condolences to his family.
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