The ER and ICU were housed in tents on roads within the hospital complex. The grounds were also occupied not only with patients, but also with family and friends who actively participated in caring for their ill relatives. ER triage was initially outside and procedures such as suturing were performed by having a patient lay on a metal box under a tarp with less than sterile conditions. Under an adjoining tent there was a stretcher for resuscitations and additional cots for longer ER management. The cots are pieces of mesh attached to metal poles. Medications and supplies were on old shelving or in drawers of an old wooden cabinet. The ICU was in a separate tent.
Patients are constantly exposed to the exhaust of cars and ambulances. All volunteer medical staff not only provide direct patient care but function as stockers, clean and wash patients, mop floors, empty trash, hand sterilize equipment, and "whatever is needed to maintain a somewhat reasonable environment for the patients," the American doctor told us.
There are no sufficient toilet facilities so the family and friends of ill patients will assist their family member outside to urinate or transport a bucket or empty water bottle to and from the patient to outside. Often family members bring blood specimens to the lab, transport patients to x-ray, and retrieve blood (often scarce) from the blood bank, Winslett said.
Hospital Courtyard
Yet, USAID maintains on its website:
The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. Information on organizations responding to the humanitarian situation in Haiti may be available at ReliefWeb and USAID. USAID encourages cash donations because they allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, and warehouse space)....
Draw your own conclusions about why HUEH is still struggling four months after the earthquake. Money is flowing into the coffers of international aid organizations and bypassing Haitian medical workers and institutions.
Haiti is not waving at America. Haiti has the professional expertise to help itself, if only given the opportunity and monetary support to do so. Yes, accountability is needed, but for USAID to suggest that "aid professionals" are the only entities that can accomplish this is not true. Haiti is not an abandoned infant, needing a savior. Abandoned by the international banking community, yes, but fully capable of taking care of her people if given the resources to do so.
To date, USAID is reporting that $1,059,050,150 has gone to Haiti since January 2010 through "implementing partners."
The international donor community's "implementing partners" must stop feeding on Haiti's suffering.####
Please Check out Mac McKinney's excellent photo series on Haiti.
Cross posted at Huffington Post and LAProgressive
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