On Friday, September 9, 2012, a large team of volunteers from Haiti Clinic arrived in Wharf Jeremy, Port au Prince, to offer medical care to the community’s impoverished residents.   During the next three days, the team provided medical services to nearly 1600 men, women, and children, including many patients who had never before seen a doctor.

The September team of volunteers included medical specialists in the area of emergency medicine, family medicine, dermatology, obstetrics/gynecology, gastrointestinal medicine and pediatrics.   In addition to the medical specialists, the team included two premed students who provided support in the pharmacy and several nonmedical volunteers who provided critical logistical support.

The team was joined by competent, caring, and well organized Haitian ground support.  Working in collaboration with these Haitian team members, (who provide everything from airport transportation to translation services), the clinic was able to successfully reach a record number of patients during the weekend including several critically ill infants and at-risk pregnant women.  The outpouring of patients lined up hours before the clinic opened each day underscores the fact that Haiti Clinic provides the only medical care available to most of the population in Wharf Jeremy.

The volunteers included a physician from England who joined us for her third team trip. While many volunteers were veterans, Haiti Clinic was pleased to welcome several “first time” volunteers, who we hope to will join us in the future.

Patients ranging from newborns to the elderly were treated for free and given free medications to treat their health problems.  In addition, more than 400 pairs of eye glasses were distributed to the visually impaired.  Despite the great numbers of patients seen, the clinic was well organized and ran exceptionally smoothly thanks in large part to our Haitian team members.

We would like to especially thank the volunteers who made the September trip such a success:  Larry Kaplan, MD, Kevin Browngoehl, MD, Shelly Chvotzkin, DO, Neil Heskel, MD, Ron Williams, MD, Leo Alonzo, MD, Trish Gretzenbach, ARNP, Reagan Alonzo, RN, Al Alonzo, Matt Williams, Kristie Preston, RN, Cathy Henderson Jones, Marcia Wilson, Jeneane Ryan, Kathryn Johnston and Dr. Alison Beadsworth (who came all the way from England).

Haiti Clinic is extremely grateful for the generosity of all donors and volunteers whose support is needed in order to render medical aid to the community we serve.