On the ground in Cange: filled wards and dedicated staff

The floor of a nearby church in Cange was quickly converted into a patient ward.		Patients in Cange.

Dr. Jon Crocker is currently working at our hospital in Cange since Sunday, where he emailed us the following report:

We arrived at Cange, in the Central Plateau, the heart of operations for Partners In Health/Zamni Lasante, yesterday. As we expected, things are incredibly busy. People are still arriving from Port-au-Prince. Those who have been fortunate enough to survive their injuries this long are now running into complications of wound infections, some of which have turned septic, and venous blood clots (from immobility and trauma). Patients have completely filled the hospital and we have set up makeshift wards in a nearby church and school. Both surgical and non-surgical personnel are working tirelessly. 

Patients are dazed. The disruption to their families and lives is beyond description. Many of our injured patients are not mobile, have few resources, have no home to return to, and many have lost their entire families. We care for their wounds. We listen. We grieve with them.

PIH Women's Health Coordinator Sarah Marsh with a 1-day-old infant who was born on the street in Port-au-Prince.

And yet amidst this darkness, there are rays of hope. Today a one-day-old baby girl was brought in. She was born on the streets of Port-au-Prince with clubbed feet. Her mother suffered lower extremity fractures in the quake and couldn't really move, but labored successfully, lying adjacent to the rubble of her home. The parents were so worried about the baby that the baby’s father made his way to Cange with the child because he knew he could find care here. He did. The baby will be casted and staff here will show how to recast her as she grows.

The Haitian medical staff of Partners In Health/Zamni Lasante and survivors of the quake are working with unimaginable valor and dedication. Many of them have lost members of their own families. And yet they remain here, working tirelessly to provide care for others. They are the true heroes. Those of us fortunate enough to be here to contribute to the immediate relief efforts labor by their side with complete humility. We are in awe of their strength, compassion and dedication.

In solidarity,

Jon

Up until this fall, Dr. Crocker served as Director of Clinical Services at PIH's partner organization in Malawi.