Sunday, January 17, 2010

Our team is based in Jimani, a small, dusty town on the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The small hospital that we have supported and helped to staff for the last ten years is here in Jimani. Since the earthquake, it has become a gateway for relief efforts and a safe haven for Haitians who cross the border.


The town's hospital is small and is now overflowing. There are patients everywhere; mattresses are on the floor and in the hallways. Doctors and nurses move quickly from one bed to another, doing their best to attend to the wounded. The injuries of the victims are mostly trauma to the limbs, the result of fallen debris during the earthquake, and many amputations are taking place.

From the Haitian side, ambulances stream in at a steady pace. Cars are also coming through, loaded to full capacity with Haitians bringing in the injured. Many have a dazed look on their exhausted faces.

This is just the beginning, we are told that many more are heading this direction, some on foot and many in overloaded trucks and cars.

We are sending a Medical Team made up of some core volunteers that will be lead by Dr Dale Betterton and Dorothy Davison FNP. Josh Koehl will be with the team in the Domnican and Haiti providing logistical support. We are going to need a great deal of support.


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