Archive for category: News

Current world crisis news from CMAT

Meet CMAT Volunteer Aric Rankin, NP!

April 6-12 is National Volunteer Week.

Meet some of the inspring CMAT volunteers who help us fulfil our missions in communities around the world! 

CMAT Volunteer Aric Rankin carries a critically ill child to the CMAT Field Clinic in Léogâne, Haiti - January 2010.

CMAT Volunteer Aric Rankin carries a critically ill child to the CMAT Field Clinic in Léogâne, Haiti – January 2010.

April 6, 2014:  Aric Rankin, NP

CMAT volunteer Aric Rankin has always understood the importance of lending a helping hand, especially in times of need.

When the earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010,  Aric spent several weeks in Léogâne as part of the first CMAT medical team, providing medical care to earthquake survivors in the CMAT field clinic.

CMAT Deployment summary: Philippines Typhoon Yolanda

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CMAT Team Members gather in front of the field hospital tent in Ormoc City, Leyte.

CMAT Team Members gather in front of the field hospital tent in Ormoc City, Leyte.

CMAT is proud to provide a summary of our deployment to the Philippines.  In total, the deployment lasted one month, and the team treated nearly 2000 patients. Our work in the Philippines is far from over, though. CMAT continues to assess the needs for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as well as Mental Health and Psychological Support Services (MHPSS).  We are considering sending teams to address these needs in the coming months. If you  have experience working to support mental health and psychosocial needs, and are interested in a potential deployment, please contact us at [email protected].

CMAT’s assessment team was joined in the field by Medical Team 1 in Ormoc District, Leyte province, in response to the typhoon known locally as “Yolanda” which struck the Philippines on Nov 8, 2013. The 14 person medical team consisted of nurses, nurse practitioners, paramedics and physicians from across Canada, and joined the 4-member assessment team already on the ground. Major areas of Leyte were completely devastated by the powerful storm, and the destruction of infrastructure such as roads and hospitals impacted the population significantly.

 

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Team 1 Lands!

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Team 1 has landed in Cebu. Their cargo was delayed in Manila, but will be delivered later today. The team is now making their way to Ormoc, where they will get some sleep while they wait for the field hospital to arrive by military airlift.

CMAT Update November 17, 2013 1200 Hours Pacific Time

With the CMAT Team deployed to the field we have had to cancel our virtual Annual General Meeting. Please Join Rocco Lombardi and Kathy Harms of the CMAT Executive for an update via YouTube. Please click here to join at 1500 Eastern, or 1200 hours Pacific time.  http://youtu.be/W6sAn9XLkjU

CMAT Chair Dr. Rocco Lombardi and Vice Chair Kathy Harms provide a virtual briefing to members via Google Hangouts.

CMAT Chair Dr. Rocco Lombardi and Vice Chair Kathy Harms provide a virtual briefing to members via Google Hangouts.

 

Canadian Medical Assistance Teams Annual General Meeting Cancellation

Important Update to  AGM Webcast Scheduled for November 17, 2013 at 3pm ET

As you know, CMAT has deployed to the Philippines in response to Typhoon Haiyan. We currently have a four member Assessment Team on the ground near Cebu, Philippines, and a 14 member medical team departing to Cebu on Sunday, November 17th 2013. Two of our Board members, Deborah Exelby  and Valerie Rzepka are on the Assessment Team, and two more Board members, Kate Auger and Dr. J. Rashad Chin,  are leading Team 1 to Cebu on Sunday, November 17, 2013. As a result, much of the business of an AGM will not be able to move forward, and we will reschedule that business to a later date when the complete Board is back in Canada.

We would like to move forward with the broadcast at the scheduled time, however, and provide a general update on CMAT activity, and a specific update on this current deployment to the Philippines.

Please visit this website shortly before 3pm ET on November 17th, for a URL for you to follow to view our broadcast.

Sincerely,

Kathy Harms
Vice Chair
Canadian Medical Assistance Teams