Snapshots of Haiti: a physician's relief work in a country in crisis.
On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. All told, more than 240,000 perished; another 200,000 were injured; and one-half of the city's 2,000,000 residents were left homeless. In March I volunteered with Medishare to help with the relief effort. Being a family physician, broadly trained in all aspects of medicine, I knew many of my skills would be needed. In the 7 days I was in Haiti, I worked excruciatingly long hours, witnessed the sorrow of death and joy of birth, and was continually confronted with the challenge of giving adequate and meaningful health care in a broken country. I learned that the physical and emotional toll on those who provide care in a crisis like Haiti is immense and unrelenting. But most importantly, I left Haiti with a renewed belief in what humans are able to accomplish when we all work together for a common purpose.
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Lawrence, Lawrence, MA 01841, USA. dejadog@hotmail.com
Robert C
RC
McKersie
D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003906:Developing Countries; D055866:Earthquakes; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012066:Relief Work