HAS Responds to Earthquake
Morning Report Wednesday, 13 January 2010
The halls are filled with people who have come in overnight; all nurses and residents were called in to handle a large number of new patients - traumatic injuries, mostly. Hard to get a social history, but several reports of collapses of multi-story buildings in Petite Riviere.
The influx has been handled professionally by the all-Haitian medical staff and nurses - although all available gurneys and benches are occupied, patients are triaged and staged along the corridor to the operating suite and lab/radiology.
Families and friends wait anxiously outside, while the necessary care is provided calmly and quietly.
Among the most serious impacts has been the loss of communications as the cell phone towers collapsed; everyone in this area has family in Port-au-Prince, with no contact. Several people left last night for PauP, taking public transport as far as possible, and then prepared to walk several miles into town to check on family members and to report back to anxious relatives.
Unfortunately, Haiti has a long experience with natural disasters, including floods, hurricanes and mudslides; each one reinforces our awareness of the fragility of the formal social service system, and the strength of the informal systems, where communities and families come together to care for victims and to ensure that the most seriously injured come to HAS and other facilities. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT as HAS continues to provide the highest possible care to the earthquake victims.
We are grateful for the many messages of support; time and demands don't allow for personal answers, but be assured of our appreciation. We appreciate your concern, and will continue to offer updates as time allows.
Ian Rawson, Managing Director
and the HAS staff
