This is the second post in Maria Bello's continuing series from Haiti. Read Part I of the series now.
St. Damien's is the calm in the midst of a storm. Arriving here
yesterday with Sean and Diana's team of incredible doctors, we were
surprised at the lack of chaos and the efficiency of many volunteers
and aid groups working together. The teams of doctors who have been
embedded here for the last week were more than relieved to see a new
set of faces so they could finally get some sleep. Many of the teams
here were immediately deployed by Partners in Health the day the
earthquake hit.
Partners in Health, founded by the brilliant Paul Farmer, has been
working on the ground in Haiti for 20 years. They bring modern medical
support to poor communities in the countryside and manage free
community health clinics all over the country.
Lack of medication is still a huge problem here. In the childrens'
ward yesterday a six year old girl with a newly amputated arm was
being treated for pain with nothing more than Tylenol. Dr. Delatre
Lolo, a Haitian doctor now living in the States is a team member of JP
Haiti relief organization. He told me this morning after working
through the night, "we are seeing mostly amputations and it is very
sad because most of them could have been avoided with quicker response
and medication."
The urgent needs here: narcotics, morphine, Vicodin, basic
surgical equipment and an airlift out for 20 spinal cord injury
patients who will die without neurosurgery.
We are off to the slums today to check the damage on our 22
street schools, maternal clinic and greenhouse. Will keep you all
updated and send photos with that.
A tent city in Haiti, home to over 40,000 people.