CMAT Assessment Team to depart tomorrow for China

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Friday May 16, 2008 – TORONTO/ VANCOUVER: Canadian Medical Assistance Teams will hold a news conference on Saturday May 17, 2008 at 9:30am to announce the departure of the first of several medical teams headed to aid in the relief effort of earthquake ravaged Sichuan, China.

Due to deploy tomorrow, are:

  • Paramedic Dave Deines (Team Leader)
  • Dr. Dave Ratcliffe,
  • Dr. Haibo Xu,
  • Dr. Charles Jiang,
  • Paramedic Chris Kaley

Valerie Rzepka, Executive Director of Canadian Medical Assistance Teams stated, “They will conduct an in-depth assessment of the region, partnering with our contacts on the ground, in order to make the best plan for our teams to implement. Medical volunteers from across Canada have stepped up and offered their skill s and expertise to the people of Sichuan. We aim to send rotations medical staff to work in our field hospital for several weeks to come.”

Volunteers pay their own way to travel to the disaster zone. Donations toward the cost involved would be greatly appreciated, and can be given through our website www.canadianmedicalteams.org 

Press Conference: 
Where: Vancouver International Airport, (YVR) Centre Court adjacent to the Jade Carving
When: May 17, 2008 at 9:30 am PST
Who: Bill Coltart, CMAT Director, and CMAT Assessment Team.

For further information on the CMAT Chinese response, or for media inquiries, please contact:

In Toronto – Valerie Rzepka
[email protected]
(416)450-4270

In Vancouver – Bill Coltart
[email protected]
(250)338-3219