Drs. Lindsay and Dan MacDougall volunteering in Haiti
The Group Health husband-and-wife team of Drs. Lindsay and Dan MacDougall are medical relief veterans with approximately 14 tours under their belt, returned last weekend from three weeks stationed just outside Port-au-Prince.
Dr. Dan MacDougall, who became involved in medical-relief missions after the 1986 Mexico City earthquake, asked me to share the following account and photos of their experience:
Dr. Lindsay MacDougall
“The areas of P-a-P (Port-au-Prince) and the surrounding towns and villages were destroyed to a degree that even the pictures we have seen on TV gave little justice to. The collapsed buildings, the piles of rubble and trash, and the aimless crowds of victims who had lost just about everything they had, including family, was almost overwhelming. Many people lived in 4×6 plastic wrapped shelters or just under bed sheets.
Our primary job there with Medical Teams International was to run “mobile clinics” where we would go out to smaller villages or tent camps, taking all our own gear and medications in duffel bags. It was not unusual for 3 or 4 of us to see over 200 patients a day.
The problems ranged from minor skin eruptions, to severe infections, dehydration, malaria, and starving babies. And, a major element in all ages was the fear that the earthquake and the strong aftershocks caused.
The work was stressful, tiring, but extremely rewarding as we knew that we were the only medical help these people were likely to have for some time. It was not, however, without its failures as we saw patients (especially babies) that we could not save from the consequences of such loss, injury, and disease.
Although Lindsay and I are experienced in disaster relief, this was the most desperate and disheartening place we have ever worked.
There will be plenty of need for more volunteers to go to Haiti and contribute whatever skills they have. We encourage doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel to consider volunteering with any of several organizations doing a variety of work there.”
Dr. Lindsay MacDougall
For more information on where to volunteer:
Thank you for the report and thank the doctors for their humanitarian efforts.
We have seen photos and reports from those who were there during and immediately following the quake:
The stacks of relief supplies at the airport ringed by soldiers, the Navy ships surrounding the island, soldiers guarding empty buildings while people dig into the rubble with their bare hands. Bodies everywhere. The presence of 9,000 UN troops and the US sends in another 12,000 troops.
We find the US government response to the disaster shameful and disastrous.
Comment by Barbara Evans — March 13, 2010 @ 10:19 am