Bud Simon (Field Coordinator in the Dominican Republic) and the medical team that went into Haiti stayed inside the compound area for the Haitian National Police across from the Palace in Port-au-Prince. This is where many of the police that lost their homes now live. There is electric for a couple of hours a night provided by generators. Bud slept outside in a sleeping bag. Don’t ask about the rats or the toilets. People are continuing to be cared for at about 500-600 people a day at this one site.
People are now being seen with stomach disorders, many with respiratory problems from living on the streets with so much concrete dust and dirt everywhere. Medical staff are preparing for the “second wave of death” where the toll taken by epidemic diseases, infection, dehydration and waste-born illnesses occur.
Part of what Bud did while in Haiti was to take those needing more advanced medical help or surgery to the hospital or Miami University’s, four-tent compound at the edge of the Port-au-Prince airport. He transported them in the bed of our truck!
That team left on Saturday, January 30th and we are now preparing for the next trip. We just got a huge donation of baby formula, tarps and medical supplies. Haiti needs a lot of ongoing care. Many amputees will need limbs when they heal and orphans need a safe place to stay. We are headed to Petit Goave (where Ed Lockett – Field Coordinator lives), past the capital of PaP. They need a lot of help.
We cannot thank all of you enough for your prayers, support, and financial contributions. We are in this for the long haul and we believe that “greater things are yet to be done in this city!”….country!