Efforts in Haiti

Haiti is a proud country located south of the Florida coast and has been subject to political unrest and instability for decades. Throughout the years, many volunteer organizations have committed resources to assist the resilient citizens of Haiti who have very poor access to healthcare, food, water, and shelter. Haiti is a home to people rich in culture and eager to get back on their own feet.

 

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck 20 miles west of Port au Prince, the nation's capital and home to over 3 million of Haiti’s population of 9 million. Between 250,000-300,000 people were killed and millions more were left homeless. Most of the already meager healthcare facilities were destroyed and the country was left in shambles. The need for help rose even more in an already desperate country.

 

Matt Dvorak, PT had been to the Hospital Albert Schweitzer a year prior to the earthquake to assist Dr. Dan Johnson and Jim Frerk, PA-C as an orthopedic team, and to help train personnel who would eventually staff a developing, but not yet established physical therapy department. They were anxious to return to Haiti following the earthquake to assist under the incredible circumstances. They did return within a month following the devastating earthquake to help treat a large number of orthopedic patients as part of a seven-member medical team. Matt continues to assist the newly established physical therapy program at this facility.

 

Michelle Tieszen, PT traveled to Haiti for the first time in April 2010 with "Mission Haiti", an organization housed in the small village of Ti-Riviera. She was part of the first mobile medical team in this area. Their mission was to provide medical care, healthcare education, organization of supplies, and to work as contacts for future medical teams to four different sites in that area. Michelle plans to return to the same area in November 2010 to help establish a permanent medical station, provide health and wellness screens for infants, and to help address the needs of the children living in the mission’s orphanage.
  

  

Matt Dvorak is pictured with a double amputee victim at the Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelle, Haiti. 

 

 

Matt Dvorak is pictured with a burn victim from the Port au Prince earthquake during a treatment at the Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelle, Haiti.

 

  

The Physical Therapy staff at the Hospital Albert Schweitzer.

  

  

Kenneth Schroeder and Danielle Dvorak assisted with the shipping of over 250 pieces of medical braces and equipment sent to the Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti, to assist with patient care efforts following the massive January 2010 earthquake in Port au Prince.