Cholera Update in Pignon,Haiti!     

(These numbers are updated weekly. Studies show that it will take a long time to eradicate this illness.)   Please note: These numbers continue to increase!  

 As to date, the 65 bed hospital has treated 4,114 patients in total at the Cholera Treatment Center. 4,056 patients have been discharged while 32are now hospitalized.      

The deceased total is 26.    

(Sadly, we have lost 1 more person.)

Meet our Executive Director, Denny Brand!  

Praises to all Volunteers!

HHRI team receives nourishment as they continue their work.

A Trip Report from Houston Haiti Relief Initiative Team!

 A volunteer stated, 

"Miraculously, all of the 1000 lbs. of supplies arrived with us and our truck and driver to Pignon were waiting for us. Most of us did not know each other before this trip and handled the challenges thrown our way without stressing out.  Richard, our team leader, could not have dreamed up a better team building exercise!"

Dr. Richard Caplan gave this report about their trip and future plans:

HHRI is a 501(c) 3 formed after the 2010 earthquake to help coordinate local assets toward

toward Haitian relief.  It has long term goals to find a specific Haitian center to support and develop for upgrading the medical care for the Haitian population. It has focused initially on two areas, medical teams and biomedical repair and training. The latter is spearheaded by a group of Rotarians. The medical teams are organized by physicians and non physicians with a large cumulative experience in Haiti and in mission work.

The latest mission had a surgical emphasis and brought a 15 member team to Hopital de Bienfaisance in Pignon in the northern Central Plateau, 4/30-5/7/2011.  The team included physicians, nurses, nurse anesthetist, physical therapist, biomedical technician, radiation technician and administrative support.  About 40 cases were performed.  General surgery, orthopedics and ophthalmology were the represented surgical disciplines.

 Two of the members were associated with Jewish Health International based in Atlanta, an organization with which I traveled last to Haiti in November. Two were from Ohio and I knewthem from work done in the field hospital that served the Port au Prince population for 6 months after the quake.  The pharmacist has spent 15 months in Haiti since the quake. The radiation technologist was from Dallas.  The rest were from the Texas Medical Center and represented St Luke's, MD Anderson and The Methodist Hospital.  

Major accomplishments included:

• Successful funding went to offset supply and medication costs, lodging and part of the volunteers travel expenses.
• Multiple organizations helped with grants, supplies and medications including Americares, Medical Bridges, Memorial Hermann, the Methodist Hospital, and the Methodist church, Caring Friends, the Freedman fund and the Merfish Fund.  Multiple individuals generously half of all funds raised.   
• We brought about 1000 lbs of supplies and medications. All surplus not used supplies as well as a lot of personal goods were left for use at the hospital.  The vast majority of this hospital's care is on a charity basis. 
•  All patients were treated for free and came from Pignon and a draw of a population of about 140,000
• Approximately 40 cases were preformed.
• Especially in the OR and clinics, we worked with local physicians and health care workers in a collaborative fashion.
• The team was all volunteers.
•  The patients are cared for by local staff after we leave, follow up though is inherently spotty.
•  The therapist modeled physical therapy concepts and, with local talent, supervised fabrication on site of equipment for inpatient  rehabilitation. 
•  Ophthalmology treated over 200 patients and is assessing a screening program for glaucoma using multiple teams from multiple institutions.
• The Biomedical technician assessed repair versus replacement recommendations for hospital equipment, repaired of the hospital's only EKG machine to a functional status, and  with  our radiation technology repaired of the hospitals x-ray machine targeting system.
• CPR and ophthalmic drop administration classes were taught. 
• OR supplies were organized
• Pharmacy instruction by the pharmD modeled modern and more efficient medication administration options and brought compounding techniques that helped several patients
•  An assessment of the birthing agent training program served as a possible prelude to a Baylor maternal fetal medicine physician's formal evaluation for opportunities to reduce maternal and fetal mortality.
• Efforts are being made by the staff anesthesiologist to facilitate the care two pediatric burn victims, hospitalized in Pignon, to go to Boston Shriner's Hospital for care
• Multiple assessment by specialty are forthcoming.

 There was also great 'downtime' in the Minnesota dorm care with lively discussions on varied topics by many on the team. Dr. Guy Theodore was present at multiple dinners and discussions and provided his lifelong experience with Pignon as a child and as its health and education promoter for the last 25 years. Team members ate communally and enjoyed daily reviews of the highlights and opportunities each day of our week.  The tropical sunsets, occasional rainbows, and pleasant weather and star gazing with Google sky were an unexpected  and value added. Likely, Pignon has seldom seen such a diverse group of talented health care practitioners.

Additional missions are planned in 2011. A Port au Prince mission to Bernard Mev is planned in the late summer.

All team members are aware of those who have supported the mission. Many have done so themselves and all worked collaboratively to exceed by far my initial vision for this trip. Local relationships have been started and are ongoing.  Formal presentations are available by request and the website and Facebook pages of the HHRI will tell a visual story of the trip.

Thanks to the supporters and especially to the brave volunteers who gave of the time with big hearts to help the poorest neighbors we have.   

Richard Caplan, MD, FACS

Team leader.  

                                           Many services were rendered by HHRI volunteers!