St. Damien Update
contributed by Cassandra Chapman, volunteer coordinator from NPH DR and Robin Schwartz
The St. Damien Hospital is looking more and more like its pre-quake self (except for the very visible reminders cracking through the paintwork of most walls). The patients have now been moved inside or transferred to other hospitals. The percentage of children is continually rising, and there are less and less families camping on the ground. Those families that remain are all living together in one section of the garden.
Today 58 new patients arrived, of which 17 were admitted. We continue operating two surgery rooms inside the hospital and today 13 major surgeries were completed. Four patients, (2 children and 2 adults) were sent to the USS Comfort for treatment.
Volunteers have come and go. One large group of Americn surgeons left this afternoon, and a new group of Italian professionals arrived. We still have a severe shortage of nurses and we are confronting those issues the best we can and searching for nursing backup both in and outside of Haiti.
Today we opened a brand new neo-natal ward. We currently have five mothers and six babies (one set of twins!) in the ward, and another young soul is probably being born as I write this. The babies in this new ward are aged between minutes old up to around two and a half weeks. The smallest weighs in at less than 3 pounds! The Israeli medical team donated the incubators. Other additions to the hospital are a palliative care room, seven post-op tents to receive patients on the property, and the grounds and entire hospital was disinfected by a Slovakian volunteer team.
Who We Are
We are a group of returned volunteers living in Ireland who have worked mainly with Nos Petites Freres et Soures NPFS (Our Little Brothers & Sisters - Haiti).
If you would like to donate funds directly to the Irish branch of NPFS the bank account details are below:
Account Name:
Our Little Brothers and Sisters
6 Brookwood Avenue
Artane
Dublin 5
Sort Code: 900746 Bank of Ireland, Dublin Airport
Account No: 42863621
Since our return we have all shared a hope and passion for Haiti and her people, keeping in contact with our friends and colleagues there and at home.
These past few days have shocked us all. We are so thankful for all those who are safe and well and continue to keep everyone in our thoughts and prayers.
Our Aims Are Simple
To help to keep the spirit of hope alive by offering support and encouragement to our friends and colleagues in Haiti
We wish to create a hub of communication between friends and colleagues with shared experiences working in Haiti
Background
Irish and International Aid Agencies have worked alongside many dedicated local people on sanitation, communication, health, education childcare and environmental / shelter programes.
The Irish have always been well represented working away quietly and diligently – with help of funds raised in various parishes, clubs, communities and private donations in Ireland.
Practical Things You Can Do
Send a message of support and love by posting a message on this blog or emailing it to us and we will post it for you. Our email address is : irishresponse@gmail.com
Donate money or organise a local fundraising event
Keep yourself informed
Spread the word
Donate money or organise a local fundraising event
Keep yourself informed
Spread the word
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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