Haiti Relief Effort
The Cuban Association joins the relief effort in Haiti
Dear confreres,
We would like to inform you of the progress, so far, of the efforts by the Cuban Association of the Order of Malta, led by our Hospitaler, our Vice-Treasurer and a group of dedicated volunteers, to assist the Haiti Relief Effort and cooperate with Malteser International in their work in this country. The Cuban association was given the task of coordinating the relief efforts of the North American Associatons with Malteser International.
There were ten teams of doctors and nurses who spoke french and creole rotating visits to the Hospital that Malteser International has setup at Leogane, in the vicinity of Port Au Prince. Our association has been able to ship more than 160,000 pounds of food, medical supplies and clothing donated in South Florida, thanks to donations of more than $55,000 and in-kind supplies. Overall, four containers were shipped, plus some medical supplies which were shipped by air.
Haiti Relief Effort
These donations were stored during the first four months of the relied effort in two warehouses, one offered by our fellow Knight Manuel Menendez, and the other one by our friend Mr. Daniel Tormo from Marble and Stone, who acted as a drop-off center for the Order and collected, prepared, palleted, transported to shipping sites and stored donations from January to May of this year.
During the month of March 2010 Malteser International, led by the Grand Hospitaler Dr. Hans Bosselager and other representatives, held a meeting in Florida to review the progress of the Order's relief effort in Haiti, and later gave recognition to the more than 50 volunteers that had participated from the Cuban Association.
As a pictorial illustration of this effort, we want to show the pictures taken by our volunteers in Haiti. It also depicts the most recent photos of the education campaign for children to prevent cholera.
They show our workers, plus the rebuilt church of Father Anistus Chima CMF, a Claretian Missionary and local priest in charge of the Nazon Parish, which we have supported in the past and has helped us during this relief effort. They also show the meeting attended by the Grand Hospitaller in Miami at the awards ceremony, attended by members of the Governing Council of the Cuban Association.
Cholera outbreak, October 2010
More recently, after the outbreak of Cholera during the month of October, the team of Malteser International at Leogane, has been teaching and distributing hygiene kits for the children of the area, in Darbonne, at the orphanage "L'enfant de L'Espoir".
During special hygiene education sessions in schools, nurses explain what cholera means, how the children can protect themselves and what to do when they fall ill. The most efficient protection against an infection is clean drinking water and hygiene. Therefore, Malteser International also provides clean drinking water for the population. In addition, 1,800 hygiene kits for cholera prevention will be distributed to the families in Darbonne.
In the hospital Sacré Coeur in Milot, supported by the Order of Malta for several years, the medical staff is prepared for the treatment of up to 1,000 cholera patients. Fortunately, no cholera cases have been registered in this region up to now.
Video from Haiti one year after the earthquake, January 2011
Following is a recent video from Malteser International after the first 100 days in Haiti:
We are also posting a report to Rome by Dame Bunny Centurion of February 3, 2010
"As of today we have sent in 4 teams of doctors and nurses. The first team of 3 Haitian nurses went from Jan. 14 to Jan. 20. This team traveled via Santo Domingo and went into Haiti with the first team from Malteser they worked in Port au Prince.
The second team went from Jan 20 to Jan 27 and was comprised of 2 doctors (an intensivist and an emergency physician) and three Haitian nurses. This 2nd team worked in Port au Prince and then transfered to Leogane to work with Malteser and members of teams from Argentina and other countries.
The third team traveled from Jan 27 to Feb 2 and was made up of one doctor (emergency physician) and two Haitian nurses this team also worked all week in Leogane. Our fourth team is made up of one nurse mid-wife and two Haitian nurses. They will also be working in Leogane with the Malteser team. All of the Haitian nurses are experienced in critical care.
On Monday Jan 25 we were able to ship 8 pallets of donated medical supplies including surgical supplies for amputations, wound care, I.V. antibiotics, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers etc. Last Friday we were able to send a supply of pediatric medicines and supplies. Up to this moment all medical supplies sent to Haiti have been donated to the Order. Also transport of volunteer medical personnel and medical supplies to Port au Prince has been donated.
The Cuban Association has also set up an office to use as our Haiti Relief Center which will be staffed by volunteers to provide information to those wishing to make donations or to volunteer to work in Haiti.
Best Regards,
Bunny Centurion"
Cuban Association of the Order of Malta
From the Hospitaler
January 14, 2010
Dear All,
The French Association should be reaching Santo Domingo as I write this. The German Team will arrive around midnight. The volunteers from the Cuban Association are coming in through Santiago de los Caballeros and will be going to the capital tonight.
HE Hans Rothe, Ambassador to Haiti, SMOM, HE Jose Vitienes, Ambassador to Dom Rep, SMOM, have been coordinating from Sto Dgo.
The Dominican Association of the Order of Malta is mobilizing relief efforts to Haiti by land tomorrow, organizing the associations. They have a large warehouse "Almacaribe" where all donations are currently being delivered as cargo delivery to Port au Prince by sea is nearly impossible secondary to the destruction. Unfortunately, at present, all will be delivered by land through the Dominican Republic or by air into Port au Prince when the airport is cleared.
Volunteers to work will need to e-mail me josejcenturion@aol.com , the personnel will be chosen and cleared by and work through Malteser International. Staggered shifts of at least 7 days a must, longer stays better. Initially medical personnel will required. Ability to speak Creole, French preferred. We are currently receiving names and contact information I will keep you posted on progress.
Jose Joaquin Centurion, MD
Hospitaller
Cuban Association of the Order of Malta
josejcenturion@aol.com
Donations in cash are welcomed at this time to assist in the relief effort.