Haiti, report from a doctor at the main hospital

[TxRider]

"The first day we arrived at the abandoned hospital save for Dr. Lassegue and Mrs. Thompson, the director of the General Hospital and his administrator. Our small group of seven, the first to arrive, built five operating rooms and with the help of a few other small groups who arrived the next day, we created a functional, if primitive, surgical hospital. We have now seen every one of the 1000 or so patients that were strewn about the hospital grounds under the hot sun, amidst flies and maggots, and we have operated on about 200 of them.

But yesterday was a watershed. There were no drapes, supplies, gloves, masks, and surgical bandages when we started in the morning two days ago. But yesterday we received a flood of supplies and people. To build the hospital infrastructure with 1,500 employees, volunteers and workers with systems for personal, supplies, food, water, sanitation, power in less than a week is monumental task."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/progress-catastrophe-to-s_b_433420.html

[ensho]

1. hope somebody there is keeping a history of this hosp.

should be interesting

[jwirr]

2. Veteran's units often have books describing their action in war zones.

I am hoping that these workers will come home and write their stories, even if it is just for their local historical society. Someday a historian will pull this all together and write the whole story. The news is doing a fairly good job of keeping us informed but they cannot be everywhere.

[ensho]

6. yes, that is what I meant

nt

[TxRider]

5. It's quite interesting, that the military had to get permission to help

"After the setback from the second quake, yesterday we made progress. Claire Pierre and I and Dr. Benjamin from Mount Sinai, met with the Minister of Health and the head of disaster relief. There are poor communication systems all across the country, most destroyed by the quake, with email or cell service often down. So we drove to their new headquarters in an automotive parts building to explain the needs of the patients and hospital. I have been coordinating with General Keen and Colonel Gibson and the Joint Task Force Surgeon, Dr. Ellison, to get support from the military for medical evacuation and logistics and support. I explained to the minister that the military was willing to give their full support but needed a helicopter-landing zone near the hospital and approval for full logistical support for humanitarian aid.

I pulled out my iPhone and gave the General's email address to the Minister of Health and he composed an email giving him full permission to help. I read the email and wept with relief, knowing we could save hundreds more patients."

I wonder if that's what Amy Goodman ran into, the military showing up to help after the minister of health gave his approval.

It's nice to hear from doctor who showed up first with a small team and has been building the hospital up from nothing to save as many lives as possible. And nice to hear him speaking about receiving a flood of supplies.

[jwirr]

7. I think our troops have been very careful to not step on toes. They

want it clear that we are not occupying Haiti. We are there to help. I really like that because it is so different than the booosh era.

[Fumesucker]

3. If I wore a hat it would be off to these people..

Job well done..

Damn, now I'm starting to leak..

[EFerrari]

8. Partners in Health have been simply amazing.

And they're ability to organize and coordinate with the community is outstanding.

[TexasObserver]

4. Recommend

[WolverineDG]

9. Kick

and now we know why the Marines showed up with no aid...they had to get permission first. Hopefully aid will keep on flowing to the hospital & conditions there can improve.

dg

[TxRider]

10. More on Dr, Hyman, the first doctors to arrive at the main hospital

CBS interviews them in part of this report in the early days.

As well as the 82nd airborne arriving and delivering aid.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6108550n&tag=api