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.
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!
Physicians for Peace volunteers, Dr. Keith Goss and Dr. Justin Faul, on a surgery mission in Eritrea in October. Without volunteers like these, Physicians for Peace would not be able to carry out its mission of building peace and international friendships.
Every month during this 20th Anniversary year, Physicians for Peace has honored special individuals who have given their time and talent to help treat those with little or no access to medical care and provide specialized training to countless medical professionals. This month, as the year comes to an end, and we reflect on the work we have done, it becomes clear that our "20 Years of Heroes" campaign would not be complete without honoring every single person who has contributed to Physicians for Peace as a volunteer.
At Physicians for Peace, all of our work in the field, touching people's lives and improving their chances for a better future, is done by volunteers. Every day, in faraway corners of the world, they continue to follow the example set by our founder, Dr. Charles Horton, of compassion and self-sacrifice. We could not accomplish our mission without them.
This year, 202 volunteers went on 49 missions in 20 countries, helping thousands of people in need. Our volunteers are truly heroes!
On behalf of the Physicians for Peace staff, THANK YOU for a great year, and have a healthy and happy Holiday Season!
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 ____________________________________________________________
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!
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.
Diane Strout (center), Chair of Physicians for Peace's Global Nurse Education Committee, making friends with nurses from Algeria, Philippines, Egypt and Libya during a recent mission to Libya International Medical University in Benghazi.
In honor of our 20th anniversary,we have been recognizing those whose work has contributed to the success of Physicians for Peace. It would be impossible to talk about the heroes of medical volunteer work without giving credit to the nurses who devote their time, hard work, and expertise to Physicians for Peace programs.
Nurses are a vital part of every surgery mission, but that is only the beginning of the important contributions they provide. As an organization focused on medical education, we could not do the work we do without the help of volunteer nurses. The Physicians for Peace Global Nurse Education Committee has developed curriculae for teaching a variety of medical skills in resource-poor settings. Creating these replicable programs in medical education has enabled thousands of medical professionals in the developing world to gain life-saving information which they have used to improve the quality of care in their communities. These training programs, which cover everything from midwifery skills to treatment of pediatric burns, have also allowed more volunteers to effectively teach around the world, reaching more people in need.
The Global Nurse Education Committee (GNEC), part of the Physicians for Peace Medical Operations Committee (MOC), is comprised of nurses practicing in a variety of fields, representing hospitals, universities, and medical schools throughout Virginia. But its members are not only concerned with training and academia. They are the ones on the ground in the developing world, working side by side with their in-country counterparts caring for patients, delivering medical supplies and medicines, and helping to establish self-sustaining clinics and treatment centers around the world. These ambassadors of international health education also exchange cultural awareness and develop valuable friendships.
Their on-going work is invaluable to the mission of Physicians for Peace, and we honor them as our heroes!
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.
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.
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
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.
The winners of this years Medical Diplomat Awards were announced at this year's "Celebrate the Nations" Gala Reception. We are proud to honor each of these volunteers for the amazing contributions they have made to Physicians for Peace programs, as well as their hard work and dedication, healing countless lives around the world.
The winners are...
Physician Category - Dr. Chris Walters
Dr. Chris Walters, who specializes in podiatric medicine, is a long time Physicians for Peace volunteer, leading missions to Eritrea since 2004. Dr. Walters has been the primary fundraiser, collecting over $1 million dollars in original retail value of in-kind donations of orthopedic equipment. Dr. Walters has also pioneered new surgical techniques for limb reconstruction of severe deformities which are not seen, well-understood, nor treated in the US. These novel techniques, which are safe, reproducible, and sustainable in the developing world are soon to be published for educational purposes for dissemination to other developing nations.
Dr. Keith Goss, who works closely with Dr. Walters on surgery missions, accepted the award for him at the Gala. (below)
Health Professional (Non-physician) Category - Gil Mejia, C.P.
Gilberto Mejia, a certified prosthetist, has guided the prosthetists in Dominican Republic towards higher standards of care, embodying the Physicians for Peace philosophy. When Gil first started providing training the clinic in Dominican Republic was making as few as 7 prosthesis a week, and not making them very well. Seven years later, the same clinic has a robust staff, is known for their quality of service, and is a self sustaining operation that makes over 30 prosthesis a week.
John Knight has worked with Physicians for Peace for many years and is the founder and champion of the Seeing Clearly Program, one of the many sustainable programs in the Philippines. The program, first launched in the Philippines, has been a huge success due to John’s leadership and hard work and is now being replicated in Haiti and other countries around the world. In addition, Mr. Knight serves on the Physicians for Peace Medical Operations Committee and has gone on five PFP missions to the Philippines with his sixth mission scheduled for this October.
Congratulations to the winners and to all our volunteers who help support them in the work they do, and who make our medical missions possible every day.
As Physicians for Peace marks its 20th Anniversary, we are proud to honor our founder, Dr. Charles E. Horton, the man who had the vision of using medicine as an instrument of peace around the world. He was, and always will be, our hero as we strive to carry on his dream of building peace and international friendships by caring for those in need...
A native of Missouri, Dr. Horton gained a worldwide reputation for his genius in plastic surgery and his role as a civilian diplomat. He received his undergraduate degrees from the Universities of Arkansas and Missouri and his medical degree from the University of Virginia. In 1955, following his plastic surgery residency at Duke University, he and his young family moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where he became the first to set up a plastic surgery practice.
In the 1960s, Dr. Horton embarked on one of his first medical missions – a trip to Haiti as a public service project for his Rotary Club. After the Haiti medical mission, he continued to develop personal contacts in medical schools in many parts of the world, and this network of friends formed the basis for Physicians for Peace. Dr. Horton and his colleagues were a group of humanitarians who believed that sharing their talents with others in order to heal the sick and wounded was more important than political or cultural differences because “when you hold a sick child in your arms, there are no politics involved." Through Physicians for Peace, Dr. Horton was confident that more doctors and medical professionals would carry on his important work of building peace and international friendships.
In an interview with Horton shortly before his death in 2006, he asked that “…everyone be reminded that Physicians for Peace was founded for one main purpose – the exchange of medical education between Physicians for Peace and the countries hosting our missions. Networking among medical professionals who became friends as a result of working together was the secret to the early success of PFP and remains my primary vision and goal for Physicians for Peace.” Physicians for Peace has continued to partner with hospitals and global health organizations throughout the world, sending more that 500 medical missions to over 50 countries.
All of us at Physicians for Peace are proud to be a part of the vision and legacy of Dr. Horton, as we remember him on this special anniversary. Come join us as we honor 20 years of healing work of Physicians for Peace at our "Celebrate the Nations 2009 Gala Reception!"
According to the Global Health Council, each year 10.1 million children under the age of five die; many because of lack of access to medical care.
Baby Hazel was almost one of those statistics.
It was the end of a long day of medical volunteer work for the Physicians for Peace doctors in Metro Manila, Philippines, when a mother carrying her two year old daughter came through the doors of the My Children’s House of Hope medical clinic. This two year old child quickly became affectionately known by Physicians for Peace volunteers as Baby Hazel.
Baby Hazel had a tumor on her back the size of a watermelon and her head was swollen with excessive fluids. The tumor was so large that Baby Hazel could not sit up.
My Children’s House of Hope was a dream of Rev. Joe McGourn to provide medical care to some of the most impoverished children in the Philippines. Several Physicians for Peace doctors and nurses volunteer their time to operate the clinic and care for the patients. The clinic, which sits right next to the largest dump in Asia, truly offers a house of hope to those that enter the doors. The doctors at House of Hope are accustomed to seeing patients with serious medical conditions due to inconsistent access to proper medical care.
But, Baby Hazel was different. “The kid was a fighter,” witnessed Rev McGourn.
Her mother wept as the doctors told her that Baby Hazel needed a shunt or she wouldn’t make it. The $5,000 price tag of the shunt was an impossibly mountain for this impoverished family to climb. Where would they get the money to save Baby Hazel?
“It was Physicians for Peace to the rescue again,” McGourn excitedly and passionately exclaimed.
Physicians for Peace Board Member, Dr. Juan Montero and Physicians for Peace Philippines Chairman of the Board, Dr. Ted Herbosa knew exactly what to do. Physicians for Peace would provide Baby Hazel with the life-saving shunt.
Before Baby Hazel could go in for surgery, she had to fight a lengthy battle of fevers and infections. But, finally the long-awaited day came.
Three days after her surgery, Baby Hazel was out of the hospital. Now, she’s a smiling, laughing, happy and vibrant 4-year-old.
“If it weren’t for Physicians for Peace, she [Baby Hazel] would not be alive today,” McGourn proudly expressed.
Baby Hazel’s story is one of many written by Physicians for Peace mission teams around the globe. In our 20th Anniversary year, we are celebrating the completion of over 540 teaching and healing missions in 50+ countries.
We’d like to extend to you a special invitation to help the next Baby Hazel by joining us as a Partner for Peace. The Partner’s for Peace monthly giving program was developed for friends like you. By joining the cause as a Partner for Peace, you can help provide quality medical care and training to those in need around the world.
Your monthly pledge is important to Physicians for Peace as it provides a guarantee of steady and predictable funds at a much lower cost than other methods of fundraising. Your monthly gift of $15, $25, $50, $100 or more will help ensure those with unmet medical needs will receive access to quality medical care.
Every $1 donated to Physicians for Peace generates $8 in additional cash and in-kind essential medicines and supplies to help those in need and improve third world health care.
Won’t you please support our international health programs by joining this very special program as a Partner for Peace? Monthly giving is easy, convenient and saves lives!
Above: Kissairis Rodriguez (left) proudly wears her "Madre Tutelar" vest as she pays a visit to
one of the young girls she mentors as a Resource Mother.
In light of today's New York Times article, "Saving the World's Women" I thought I would share with you a first hand account of how Physicians for Peace maternal and child health programs are healing and empowering women around the world. It is the story of Kissairis Rodriguez, a young woman in the Dominican Republic who evolved from a scared teenage mother, trying to make a life for herself and her child in the barrios of Santo Domingo, into a mentor for other young mothers living in poverty...
"When I was 15 years old I got pregnant and had my baby at the age of 16. When I find out I was pregnant, I felt that the world was coming apart. I experienced all the difficulties and dilemmas of being a pregnant teenager. Four years ago, when leaders of my community talked to me about a program for pregnant adolescents, and invited me to attend a meeting, I went to the maternity hospital and received all the information about the Resources Mothers Program. I got very excited thinking about the possibility of being a part of it, because I knew there were other pregnant teens out there, and I wanted to be sure they could receive the help they needed. I was selected and trained by the Physicians for Peace staff, who offered me employment as a "Resource Mother."
As Resources Mothers, we are part of our barrios - we live there and share our clients’ needs. Thanks to our training we can help young women keep away from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco - things so common in our community. We help them take care of themselves during their pregnancy, accompany them to prenatal check ups, and visit their homes, advising them and their families on how to have a healthy pregnancy. We also advise them how to eat well, even when there is so little to eat. We teach them how to nourish not just their bodies, but also their souls, so they can deal with all their worries and fears.
My experience as a Resource Mother has inspired me to go to the School of Medicine, and in a few years I will become a doctor. I am grateful to God and to Physicians for Peace for the opportunity to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel, but most of all for the opportunity to become a better human being."
Kissairis' story shows how women around the world are making a difference in their own communities. Global health organizations are realizing that supporting maternal and child health programs is the most effective use of their resources. Physicians for Peace is part of this movement. Please help us to empower mothers in poverty with our Resource Mothers Program, Midwifery Training Program, VVF Surgery Program, and Prenatal Lifesaving Program.
Since 2006, Physicians for Peace volunteers Dr. Chris Walters and Dr. Keith Goss, have been traveling to Eritrea to perform limb salvage and limb reconstruction surgeries. They have devoted their time, skills, and resources to these surgery missions, helping people with limb deformities and injuries from accidents and disease and giving them the freedom to live normal lives, support their families, and care for their children.
Now Drs. Walters and Goss and their team are on a mission to bring a type of equipment to Eritrean hospitals which will dramatically improve treatment capabilities and help many patients avoid painful disabilities. When they return to Eritrea in October, they hope to establish a SIGN surgical system, which will allow physicians to radically improve the way they treat patients. Instead of putting fracture patients in traction, potentially causing permanent disability, the SIGN model provides education, training, and orthopedic implants to surgeons, improving the quality of care and allowing patients to heal properly. help us donate medical equipment -
Help us donate medical equipment. This system will help countless people avoid needless suffering, but it is not free. Our volunteers need $20,000 to bring this much needed technology to Eritrea.
Help them reach their goal! This is a great opportunity to make a difference!
Dr. Fred Ward, a long-time Physicians for Peace volunteer, recently traveled to Libya to visit several hospitals and a medical school to identify education and training needs in a variety of medical fields. The following is part of Dr. Ward's report from Libya on the places he visited and the people he met along the way...
This morning we first go to Jamhouriyh (Republic) Hospital. The hospital in Benghazi is a 260 bed facility and the director is Dr. A. F. Zaied, a nephrologist. He was most gracious and made several phone calls to set us up to see others who he thought needed our help. He expressed needs for help in the following areas: pediatric nephrology, emergency medicine, congenital anomalies, and pediatric advanced life support.
Then off to LIMU, Libyan International Medical University. There we were greeted by Dr. Mohamed Saad Ambarek, an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Ambarek was trained in England and Scotland. We have a very detailed tour of the campus. The organization is a private not-for-profit institution. They have had teachers from Italy, Germany and England. He says he would be most happy to add the U.S. to their list of those helping them to provide international health education. The school is of the finest quality and has all the basic laboratories, etc. He admits they have a lot of growing to do. They are in just their second year. In talking with Dr Ambarek we concluded that the best way to reach the largest number of physicians would be with a conference. They have a beautiful space which will accommodate 250 physicians. Their desires are: general medicine, medical curriculum, advanced life support, and nephrology. He presented me with a medallion for the humanitarian work that Physicians For Peace does.
Our first appointment on Wednesday is at Elfateh Children Hospital. We are greeted by the Director, Dr. Abdussalam A. Elshakmak. All the departments are well covered, but with minimal equipment. For instance, in the microbiology laboratory they only have two microscopes. They seem to have a rather high incidence of birth trauma, about 6:300 births. We saw three children in physical therapy who had upper extremity nerve damage. Two had had nerve transplant surgery and were doing very well. The PT people seemed very dedicated to their work. The doctor expressed an urgent need for teaching in genetic defects, especially metabolic defects. Also, there is a need for pediatric surgery, hematology, and nephrology.
On to Tobruk, our next visit is The Medical Center Batnan, a large complex which incorporates an older unit with a releative new section. The most impressive thing about the place is how clean it is in every respect. The medical director is Dr. Saeed H. Ali, a Koln University trained pediatrician and EEG specialist. The staff is very enthusiastic and we had a very long conversation with the head of the department of Obstetrics. They have about 45,000 births per year, which is astounding. They have many staff, but not enough and not well enough trained. We met a pediatrician who is from Egypt, who comes over about one a month for one week. The areas of interest at Medical Center Batnan: hematology, pediatric surgery, nephrology and genetic defects.
Thanks to Dr. Ward's visit, plans are now in the works for future medical mission trips to provide education for medical students, as well as specialized training to help doctors in Libya better care for their patients.
You can support the medical volunteer work of Physicians for Peace, improving medical care and building friendships around the world... Give today!
The first photos are coming in of our specialized surgery mission to the West Bank earlier this month. This volunteer medical mission broke new ground in many areas for local medical professionals, including Advanced Trauma Life Support training and reconstruction surgery. Our volunteers were also able to perform plastic surgery operations for many patients in need. Here are some of the amazing children they were able to help...
Eenas, 5 year old girl from Barjas Village - pharangeal flap surgery and lip revision.
Hala, 11 month old girl from Hebron-Aroob refugee camp - wide cleft palate.
Tarek Abdul Khaleis, 14 year old boy from Bait Reeman village, injured by a grenade on his way to school - revision and graft surgery.
More photos and stories to come from this important mission...
Thanks to your donations, Physicians for Peace volunteers were able to provide these children with much-needed care they may otherwise not have received. Thanks to your support, this surgery mission helped dozens of patients and provided important training for local medical professionals, enabling them to save more lives. Your gift helps us bring peace and healing to children like these all over the world -
The country of Eritrea, in the horn of Africa, suffers from a severe shortage of doctors, especially pediatricians and surgeons. With close to half of the population under 14 years of age, and only a handful of pediatricians to serve them, many children remain without access to proper medical care. Yet great strides have been taken to remedy this problem, thanks to the dedication of the Eritrean people and the help of The George Washington University Medical Center, Physicians for Peace, and the Eritrean Ministry of Health.
As part of our 20th Anniversary series honoring the exceptional work of our medical volunteers, we would like to put the spotlight on five women who have been devoted to establishing post-graduate medical education in Eritrea, and who have worked to make the The Partnership for Eritrea an example that others can follow...
Dr. Jennifer Egelseer (above), the first pediatrician of the group to visit Eritrea, had very little experience in medical mission work, but was quickly won over by the people of Eritrea and recognized the needs in the country.
Dr. Margot Anderson (above) became involved in the project following years of work in health care in the developing world, particularly in Laos.
Dr. Fatima Khambaty (above), a surgeon with mission experience in Ghana and Liberia, also decided to help with the project.
These three women developed post-graduate medical education programs in surgery and pediatrics to be conducted at the Orotta School of Medicine in Eritrea’s capital of Asmara. In a country where the health care system has been wracked by a war of independence and no medical school existed until 2004, they became the first post-graduate faculty as part of the Partnership for Eritrea, a collaboration between The George Washington University Medical Center, the Eritrean Ministry of Health, and Physicians for Peace. In conjunction with these new partners, they built new residency programs from the ground up to address the urgent need for doctors.
In the United States, two other heroes are the glue that makes this Partnership work -
Dr. Ellie Hamburger (above), in the Department of Pediatrics at George Washington University and an attending physician in the Pediatric Residency Program at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., has gone above and beyond the call, totally committing to making the pediatrics residency program in Eritrea the benchmark for Africa.
Dr. Huda Ayas (above), Executive Director of The George Washington University Medical Center’s International Medicine Programs, whose passion for this project has helped it become what it is today - a program which provides care for thousands as it serves as a model of workforce development and international health education.
The Partnership has seen great success and plans to graduate the first class of pediatricians in December, 2009, and surgeons in 2010. They have also expanded to new medical specialties, adding an Obstetrics and Gynecology program this year with the help of Columbia University. There are plans with Yale University to launch an Internal Medicine program in 2010. We congratulate the women who have worked so hard over the last several years to make this dream a reality for both the medical students and the people of Eritrea who need their care. Find out more at www.partnershipforeritea.org
You can be a part of this exciting opportunity to build the future of medical care in Erirea - Your gift to the Partnership Program helps an Eritrean medical student receive training in his own country and gives the people of Eritrea a chance to get the medical care they need...
For more information about Physicians for Peace medical volunteer work and international health programs visit our web site at www.physiciansforpeace.org
This year Physicians for Peace was fortunate to have Dr. Duffy Casey of Global Brigades working with us in his last year at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Having extensive medical mission experience, Duffy was an excellent correspondent and brought back great stories and videos of his Honduras medical mission with Physicians for Peace. The following is an excerpt from his travel journal:
Duffy Casey
Trip Diary
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Plastic Surgery Mission
Monday Jan 19th, 2009
I arrived in Honduras a couple of days ago. It’s been almost a year since my last trip down here, and more than three years since I left after living here. This is my first medical mission trip with Physicians for Peace, and I’m looking forward to working with Dr. Brody and the plastic surgeons at La Hospital Escuela. During my third year of medical school I spent several months in the operating room rotating with general, vascular, and pediatric surgeons, but I’ve never had the opportunity to work with plastics so this week is sure to be filled with new experiences and learning opportunities.
Dr. Brody’s plane touched down at noon and I was waiting for him at the airport with a sign but the arrival area is so packed these days we missed each other. After calling the in-country host and director of the plastic surgery residency program, Dr. Luis Gonzales, I arrived at La Hospital Escuela and met with Dr. Brody in the doctor’s lounge outside of the OR. After spending only a few minutes with the man I can tell his wealth of knowledge is only matched by his caring and generous nature. This is his second trip here in the last year. In the doctor’s lounge he introduces me to the 2 plastic surgery residents who insist on being called by their first names, Oscar and Carlos. We spend about 15 minutes together talking about our trips and sharing stories of international medical adventures around the globe before heading off to the floor to meet our patients for the week. Dr. Brody’s been awake for nearly two days straight getting here but is just as bright and anxious to get to work as I am.
Our group consists of three medical students, Carlos and Oscar, Dr. Brody and myself. We move from bed to bed and the residents and medical students take turns introducing each patient to us. The floor is divided into two sides, one for the men and one for the women. We start on the men’s side and find that of our 15 patients, 2 of them have facial cancers, 2 have broken jaws from gun-shot wounds, many have severed tendons from machete wounds, a teenager lost his arm in a coffee processing machine, several have burns on various parts of their bodies, and still others have broken facial bones from trauma. At the end of the men’s hall lies an elderly man, now 79 years old, missing half of his nose. He gets excited when he sees Dr. Brody, and when Dr. Brody comes to his bedside he greets him with a warm hug; his name is Don Filepe. They met in September of last year when Dr. Brody removed a very large Basal Cell Carcinoma from the man’s cheek and grafted the affected area. He knew the man would need follow-up surgery and Physicians for Peace and the Honduran physicians arranged appropriately. Dr. Brody is happy with the results of the first surgery and assures Don Filepe the follow-up surgery will yield even better results. On the women’s side most suffer from burns, some from cooking, others from fires, and one who had an accident with battery acid. After each patient is introduced, Dr. Brody asks us several questions about the diagnosis and treatment options. He’s patient when we don’t know the appropriate answers and encouraging throughout.
After talking with a few of the patients on both sides of the floor it becomes obvious that they all share one thing in common, they’ve been waiting for days or weeks for surgery. The residents explain that there just aren’t enough plastic surgeons for all the patients who need their help. They also explain that the X-ray machine in the hospital has been broken for some time now and that any images the patients have at their bedside were taken at a private facility outside of the hospital, paid for by the patient out of pocket. For the ones who need X-ray images prior to surgery but lack the funds for the private facility, they sit and wait in limbo while their friends and/or family search for a way to get the money together.
After a few hours on the floor Dr. Brody asks which patient we’re going to start on. It’s already starting to get late but you can see he wants to waste no time while he’s here. He understands the value of his time here just as much as the residents and wants to make sure he’s done all he could with the time he’s had. We head to the operating room together and begin working on the long list of surgery patients. When we get out, the sky is dark, we are all tired but happy knowing that this was just the beginning of what is sure to be a good week.
Tuesday January 20th, 2009
It’s 6am and I’m trying to build up enough courage to douse myself with another bucket of cold water. I’m staying in the same house I used to live in between 2003 and 2005. There is only running water a few hours of the day and I use a trash can to collect as much of it as I can, then in the mornings I dip a small bucket into it and toss it over my head as my make-shift shower. The water is colder then I remember it being and I transition from my state of still waking up to an adrenaline rush the moment it hits my back. By the time I’m through I’m wide awake and ready for another day at the hospital. I catch a taxi and arrive at the hospital at 7am. Dr. Brody has just arrived and is ready to get back to the OR.
Our first patient today is a 25 year old man who was shot in the face several days ago. His jaw is fractured in several places. Dr. Brody motions for the resident to stand close to him as he examines the panorex X-ray of the man’s jaw. They each go through pointing out where the injury is, which parts of the bone are most affected, and suggest ways to approach the repair. We continue the conversation as we scrub in together. Dr. Carlos acts as the primary surgeon and Dr. Brody carries the conversation throughout the surgery. He asks a range of questions from possible complications, anatomical structures, and post operative care. Dr. Carlos’s knowledge is extensive and he doesn’t miss a single question.
During the lunch break Dr. Brody and I pause to watch Obama be sworn in as the next president of the United States. It’s a historic moment in our country’s history and we’re celebrating in Honduras. The physicians coming in and out of the lounge each cheer or share words of support and encouragement as CNN broadcast continues.
The day continues and we are able to repair another patient’s broken jaw and place a much needed skin graft on a woman’s burnt leg. Each patient we work with is so grateful for the help we are trying to bring it makes the work fly by and encourages us to continue to strive to do more. After operating for 4 hours on a man who severed several tendons of his arm, we finish the day and leave the hospital around 8:30pm. The sun went down a long time ago, and Dr. Brody is still operating on a minimal amount of sleep, but you’d never know it by looking at him. He looks just as energized, excited, and happy as he did this morning.
Wed, Jan 21nd, 2009
I toss the first bucket of cold water over my shoulder at 6am and am instantly 100% awake. A triple shot of espresso couldn’t have done a better job of washing away any feeling of still being tired. I want to get to the hospital a little earlier today, so I scarf down my breakfast of fried plantains, beans, and tortillas and quickly hail a cab in front of my house in La Colonia Kennedy.
I head straight for the lockers and jump into my scrubs then walk over to the check-out counter where we get our face masks, hair nets, and shoe covers necessary to enter the area outside the operating room. After getting everything on I walk into our assigned OR for the day and get ready for a long list of patients.
Our first patient is a 22 year old male who was beaten in the face with a rock. The gang problem in Tegucigalpa has increased with the global economic collapse and with it injuries like this one are becoming more and more common amongst the hospital’s patient population. Dr. Brody goes through the educational process of question and answer, and brainstorms the options for repair with the residents, then begins with the surgery. The case is difficult and takes several hours to complete. By the end, however, the team seems satisfied with the results and Dr. Brody congratulates the residents on a job well done. As we head out to the hallway for a few minutes break, we see Don Filepe sitting patiently at a desk. Dr. Brody quickly makes his way over and greets him with a warm smile and hand shake. Don Filepe smiles as best he can when he sees Dr. Brody and me walk over. He’s been waiting since 7am and is anxious for surgery. Dr. Brody comforts him and lets him know he’ll be next.
Don Filepe’s surgery lasts the majority of the afternoon. His condition is unusual and the approach to repair his nose and lip is difficult. With the guidance of Dr. Brody, both Dr. Carlos and Dr. Oscar move from one step of the surgery to the next without much difficulty. It’s difficult to imagine how much this man has had to endure in his life and what would happen to him without the help of these dedicated physicians and organizations like Physicians for Peace. After hours of surgery everyone is pleased with the outcomes, and Don Filepe moves to the post operative care ward. We discuss the case as a group for another hour before each heading home. It’s past 8pm, and we’re all tired after another long day in the OR.
Thursday Jan 22rd, 2009
I arrive at the hospital at 7am and meet the team of medical students, residents, and attending physicians in the lecture hall. Dr. Brody has prepared several lectures for the group, and everyone sits with notepads ready, listening attentively and taking notes. They ask questions throughout, and Dr. Brody does his best to explain the intricacies of plastic surgery technique.
When the lecture ends, we head together as a group to the operating room. The first patient suffered from a burn to her leg more than a week ago. She’s been waiting for a skin graft and smiles as we enter the room. She thanks us before the surgery begins then again as she is wheeled out to the post operative care ward.
Today, Dr. Brody and I are surprised when Dr. Carlos and Dr. Oscar take us out for lunch. Dr. Carlos drives us in his car to a new restaurant in town and treats us to a wonderful Honduran meal. We sit around the table sharing stories from our experiences with patients in operating rooms around the world, and they tell us about patients who have stood out in their mind here in Honduras. We’ve all gotten closer during our hours together as a group in the operating room, and it’s nice to sit together and talk like friends outside of work.
After lunch we quickly return to the hospital and the operating room. Patients are waiting, and although we all needed the short break, everyone is ready to get back to work. Our next two patients are both men in their late 20’s with broken jaws. The surgeries are complex but Dr. Carlos and Dr. Oscar get better with each repair they do. It’s late by the time we’ve finished the second repair but the group isn’t ready to call it a day yet, so another patient is brought back and we do a quick skin graft before leaving for the day.
Friday Jan 23th, 2009
Today is Dr. Brody’s last day. His flight leaves around 1pm so we start operating early. Today we have one patient. The man in his 30’s is another patient Dr. Brody operated on in September. Apparently, he was kicked in the face by a horse 2 years ago and has received several surgeries since. Much of his tissue has been replaced by scar tissue which is currently preventing him from closing his mouth. We take him back to the OR, and after a couple hours of surgery Dr. Brody is convinced he will no longer have to suffer from this problem. He still has a little bit of time before he needs to be at the airport and schedules a meeting with two of the directors of the pediatric burn unit across the street. It’s amazing to see that he is always willing to do more, to see one more patient, to try and help one more person, regardless of how late it is, how little he’s slept, or if his plane is leaving shortly. This is the attitude I’ve found is at the heart of Physicians for Peace, and one of the elements of the organization that makes them so successful. It has been an amazing experience working with the talented and dedicated people at PFP, and I look forward to working with them more in the future as a medical doctor.
Natalie Lee, a Masters of Public Health student at Eastern Virginia Medical School, recently traveled with Physicians for Peace on a surgery mission to Jos, Nigeria, where she wrote about her experience:
When I stepped on the plane to embark on my first surgical mission trip with Physicians for Peace, I had no idea what to expect. I was anxious, nervous, slightly scared out of my mind, and excited all into one. Leading up to the trip, I had little time to mentally prepare for the challenge I was about to take on, so when I boarded the flight, every emotion in the book started to rush over me. Once I saw the team members, which would eventually become my family for the next ten days, all the anxiety and nerves began to melt away. It was strange to me that you could board a plane, sit there for 11 hours, and end up in, what felt like, another planet. The terrain, the language, the mannerisms, the clothing, the driving etiquette, the list of differences goes on and on. After about 15 hours of traveling, the team and I made it to our final destination of Jos, Nigeria.
We almost immediately got to work and went to The Plateau State Specialist Hospital, where the subsequent days of surgery would take place. It was nighttime on our first visit to the hospital, there was no electricity at the time and it seemed like patients were coming out of every corner. This first encounter was a bit overwhelming, I immediately noticed the poverty, and malnourished children, but the most striking and exciting observation was the hope in the eyes of all the patients, as if they knew their lives were about to be changed for the better.
We were able to change the lives of 43 beautiful patients and the gratitude that they showed us could fill the entire atmosphere. It was amazing to see a deformed baby go into surgery and in about an hour, come out even more beautiful than before. You could almost see how the path of their lives had been changed right before your eyes, as often children with such deformities live a life of ridicule and judgment. Cleft repair surgeries are very expensive for the citizens of Nigeria, and the quality is not always as high as one would like, so to be a part of an organization that was able to provide this procedure at top quality and at no expense to the patients is an experience that I will carry with me forever and the memories will never fail to bring a smile to my face.
Being thrown into a culture that is so different than the one you are accustomed to, is something that everyone should experience. For me, I grew to respect the culture, love the people, and become more appreciative of everything that I have been blessed with. I sincerely hope that many more PFP teams will be able to reach the forgotten cities with more medical mission trips to Africa, and many more patients will be transformed in the future. Medical volunteer work is one of those rare win/win situations, where the team, the patients, and every citizen of the world benefits.
Eritrea, which borders Ethiopia in the horn of Africa, is a country suffering from a severe shortage of physicians. Until recently, the country of 4.9 million people was served by only 5 pediatricians. Physicians for Peace has been working with the local government and hospitals in the capital, Asmara, to help train doctors and treat patients in this country recovering from years of war and instability. During the latest medical mission to Halibet Hospital in Asmara, a team of specialized surgeons from Chicago and Arizona spent two weeks performing limb reconstructive operations to help those suffering from deformities as they also trained Eritrean orthopedists in new techniques.
Team leader Dr. Keith Goss reported that many of the patients suffered from manifestations of polio, clubfoot, cerebral palsy, and cerebral injuries. Others had post-traumatic limb deformities from chronic infection, land mine injuries, gunshot wounds, and motor vehicle accidents. The team was able to help both children and adults with the goal of creating a functional, pain-free, end-bearing limb that could maximize the patient's ability to work and participate in the activities of daily life.
The team worked diligently 10 hours daily for 9 days, ultimately performing 59 major reconstructive surgeries on 34 adult and 25 pediatric patients. Eritrean orthopedists also received training and gained full competency in state-of-the-art techniques for deformity correction and fracture repair.
Thank you to all the volunteers for their hard work in making this a successful medical mission trip. There is still much more to be done, as we continue to work with the Eritrean people to enhance their capacity to provide medical care to their population.
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