Haiti: One year later

12 January 2011

Today marks the anniversary of the magnitude seven earthquake in Haiti that impacted millions of people both in Haiti and around the world. On Jan. 12, 2010, lives were changed forever, including those who responded to the overwhelming need in Haiti for help. When the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation (MSVF) Executive Director Beth Bortz spread news of the need for medical help in Haiti and quickly reached out to our Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) members for aid, hundreds of you replied and provided invaluable contributions.

Due to the high level of interest, MSVF made contacts and organized volunteers based on the needs of different organizations who were working in Haiti. A huge thank you goes to everyone who has contributed to Haiti relief efforts.

Although it’s been one year since the catastrophic earthquake, Haiti and its people are still in need of assistance in order to recover. People continue to suffer and there is an extreme need for medical supplies, shelter and sanitation improvement. As the country continues to rebuild, there are still opportunities for you to help.

John Kenerson, M.D., FACC and Lisbet Hanson, M.D., who have been providing medical services to Haiti for eight years, obtained a grant and formed Colleagues in Care, a clearinghouse specifically for Haiti volunteer activities. Please visit the Colleagues in Care Web site at www.colleaguesincare.net for more information.

In March, volunteer opportunities are available at St. Damien/St. Luc, a pediatric hospital currently serving as a cholera treatment center. To learn more about St. Damien, please visit http://saintdamienhospital.nph.org/. There will also be volunteer opportunities at the Batise clinic where they have built a mother/baby unit. To learn more about these volunteer activities, with specific needs for support of the cholera clinic and hospital services, please call 800 | 677-0635, or e-mail volunteer@colleaguesincare.net or info@colleaguesincare.net.

MSV has created a new medical volunteer opportunities discussion page on MSV Connect, MSV's new social network for members. Please visit this page to post any volunteer activities you would like to share with members or to find volunteer opportunities you would be interested in.

If you are interested in other ways to help with Haiti efforts, please contact MSVF at foundation@msv.org and MSVF staff will be happy to get you connected.

Additional information on some MSV members’ Haiti efforts will be featured in the January issue of Virginia Medical News.