Second CMAT team arrives in Haiti to continue treating earthquake victims

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CMAT Field Hospital

CMAT Volunteers hard at work.

Thursday, February 4, 2010 – Léogâne, Haiti: CMAT Team 2 arrived Saturday, January 31 to relieve the outgoing first medical team, who headed back home to Canada after three weeks in the field. Canadian volunteers working at the CMAT Field hospital continue to see upwards of 150 to 200 patients per day, though the health needs of the patients are beginning to change.

CMAT volunteers hard at work.

CMAT volunteers hard at work.

“The level of traumatic injuries which need surgery is diminishing,” reports Kathy Harms, CMAT Team Leader by satellite phone from the field. “We are seeing a lot more patients with primary care needs, and communicable diseases like diarrhea and children with dehydration coming in.”  The second CMAT Medical team departed for Haiti on January 29th.

CMAT Volunteers hard at work.

CMAT Volunteers hard at work.

Team Two members are as follows:

  • Kathy Harms, ACP Paramedic, CMAT Director and Team Leader from Coquitlam, BC
  • Dr. Peter Ely, Anaesthesia
  • Kelly Hughes, Nurse Practitioner from Battleford, SK.
  • Rita Jacques, Registered Nurse from Windsor, ON.
  • Dr. Tim Kostamo, Orthopaedic Surgeon from Vancouver, BC.
  • Kirsty Robertson, Registered Nurse from Toronto, ON.
  • Anne Ross, Nurse Practitioner from Battleford, SK.
  • Dr. Patrick San Agustin, Emergency Physician from Edmonton, AB.
  • Kevin Sanford, Logistics, from Vancouver, BC.
  • John Stone, Registered Nurse from Oakville, ON.
  • Rose Stone, Registered Nurse from Oakville, ON.

On Saturday, the CMAT Field hospital also welcomed a generous donation made by the False Creek Surgical Centre from Vancouver of a portable (C-Arm) x-ray machine, to aid in the assessment and treatment of earthquake victims.

The centre’s generous contribution, which included air delivery to Haiti, flown to the devastated region by a private donor, will help the team to better assess and treat the complicated fractures and injuries presenting to the hospital.

CMAT continues to rely on the generosity of our donors to help facilitate the functioning of our Field Hospital in Léogâne.

CLICK HERE to view additional photos from the field, taken by Bill Coltart, CMAT Director.