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Medical assessment team hits the ground running in Haiti

Haiti's hospitals collapsed in Tuesday's devastating quake. Primitive conditions are making medical treatment almost impossible for the thousands of survivors, reports MNN.

The International Red Cross estimates a third of the country's 9 million people may need emergency aid.

On Thursday, a spokesman for the American Red Cross says the aid organization ran out of medical supplies in Haiti.

There are reports of people dying from injuries that are easily treated. Bodies are piled in the streets, adding to what may become a fight to stave off disease before the crisis is over.

Steve Bostian, executive director in the Dominican Republic with CURE International, is leading a 5-member surgical team in the area. Including Bostian, the team consists of: Dr. Scott Nelson, orthopedic surgeon; Dr. Dielika Charlier, a Haitian pediatrician; Lucia Hernandez, a nurse; and Susan Beemer, nurse anesthetist.

The CURE team will establish a base at the home of Dr. Charlier's mother and coordinate with organizations on the ground to provide medical care to Haitians. Bostian explains why it's so strategic. "We have located a home that apparently has minimal damage, and it's only five houses down from the pediatric hospital that collapsed."

Thousands are buried in the rubble. Understanding that people want to help, Bostian says, "We first want to go in with the professionals that have done this, do the assessment, and then we'll know how many doctors and nurses we can bring down."

Their plane will be carrying 500 pounds of medical equipment. The AES Electric Company in neighboring Dominican Republic stepped in to help CURE. "They're donating an electrical generator, food, clean water, and medical supplies." Arrangements are currently being made to get this equipment into the county.

The hope of the Gospel doesn't go unnoticed by those who receive help. "They really understand the spiritual impact that 'God must have sent you.' When the dust settles, people start to ask those questions, 'Why did you do that?' then you have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them."

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TAGS: Haiti Haiti earthquake medical treatment International Red Cross emergency aid medical supplies CURE International

[01/17/2010]

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