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CMAT ALERT: Donation of emergency PPE stockpile for COVID-19 response

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TORONTO – March 31, 2020 – Canadian Medical Assistance Teams is responding to the needs of our colleagues in health who are on the front lines fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Heeding their plea, CMAT is doing our part in this ever-changing situation by emptying our warehouse of all our stockpiled Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and donating it to healthcare providers on the front lines. 

On March 31, CMAT will deliver protective masks and examination gloves, as well as isolation gowns and suits to Michael Garron Hospital, where one of Toronto’s largest COVID-19 assessment centres is located. 

Additional supplies will be donated to Toronto Overdose Prevention Society and Inner City Health Associates, both organizations which assist vulnerable people experiencing homelessness and addictions in Toronto, who are at very high risk in this pandemic. 

CMAT maintains an emergency stockpile of medical equipment and supplies, which is called upon when deploying medical teams to disasters and emergencies around the world.  CMAT is proud to now be able to support our colleagues in the COVID-19 response efforts here at home by donating our stockpile of PPE.  

Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT) is a Canadian disaster relief organization made of medical professionals and non-medical volunteers who selflessly give their time and resources to assist and provide relief aid to the victims of natural and man-made disasters around the world. Established in January 2005, CMAT has earned a reputation as an important partner agency of the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization. 

CMAT teams have responded to numerous global disasters including earthquakes in Pakistan, Haiti and Nepal; tsunamis in Indonesia and Japan; and typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.  CMAT has accumulated a database of over one thousand skilled health professionals from across Canada.

For more information please visit www.canadianmedicalteams.org; theppedrive.com; twitter.com/torontoops;  www.icha-toronto.ca

Canadian Charitable Registration #  851226498 RC0001

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For further information, please contact CMAT by email at: [email protected]

or by phone at: 1-855-637-9111

CMAT Response team in Haïti: Arrival in Jérémie

CMAT has safely arrived in Jérémie! A big thank you to our transport team.

CMAT Response Team has safely arrived in Jérémie! A big thank you to our transport team.

November 5, 2016 – Jérémie, Haïti:

CMAT Response team visited several areas in the vicinity of Port au Prince, to scout potential locations for the Nomad water purification unit.  One of the areas visited was Léogâne, where CMAT ran a field hospital in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 Earthquake.   (click on thumbnails to view larger images)

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BC Paramedic and CMAT Team Leader Martin Metz discussed possible locations for Nomad Water Purification Unit. There are many NGOs on the ground working together to ensure all areas are properly assessed and obtain the appropriate support. CMAT prides itself on ensuring strong collaborative partnerships with local groups and other international responders.

Meanwhile, Kate Auger (NP, Ontario) and Marc Dupuis (Firefighter, Quebec) met with several local groups to learn of local initiatives and discuss potential collaborative projects.

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Kate Auger met with FDS Haiti (el Fuego del Sol) to discuss potential long term medical projects in the Dominican Republic, to help meet the primary needs of displaced Haitians. Stand-by for updates on this potential project and how you may get involved. Shown here is just one of many sustainable development projects FDS Haiti has been working on. These cooking stoves extend the flame and heat by 60-90mins and convert briquettes into charcoal. Thank you to Kevin Adair, President of FDS Haiti for the wonderful demonstration.

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After lengthy discussion with the Canadian Embassy in Port au Prince,  representatives of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) cluster, and Logistics cluster, it was decided that the team would venture out to the remote region around Jérémie, estimated to be approximately 8 hours drive south of Port au Prince.

CMAT loaded up its medical supplies and Nomad Water Purification system for the journey to Jérémie, and once in Jérémie, CMAT will meet with the local WaSH cluster representatives to finalize its final deployment location.

CMAT continues to appeal for donations to help offset the cost of this project.  Please donate generously.

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CMAT is thrilled to receive donated portable vaccine fridges!

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CMAT Board members Pat San Agustin and Martin Metz carrying CMAT’s newly donated portable refrigerator!

CMAT is thrilled and grateful to accept a major donation of two medical-grade portable refrigerator/ freezers.

The addition of these two units to our equipment roster not only helps CMAT meet its World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Medical Team Accreditation requirements, they will help people affected by disaster from acquiring vaccine-preventable illness by carrying vaccines for diseases like Tetanus and Measles, as well as allowing access to medications like Insulin which need cold-chain refrigeration.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONOR!!!!

CMAT Rapid Assessment Team deploying to Philippines Wednesday

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CMAT Volunteers check equipment, including the field hospital tent, in anticipation of deployment to the Philippines.

CMAT Volunteers check equipment, including the field hospital tent, in anticipation of deployment to the Philippines.

ASSESSMENT TEAM DEPLOYMENT: 

CMAT has mobilized its Rapid Assessment Team, which will depart for the Philippines early Wednesday morning in response to the catastrophic typhoon which struck the island nation on November 8th.  The four-member team will conduct a needs assessment on the islands of Cebu and Leyte, and the environs, to ascertain the level of devastation, destroyed infrastructure, and health needs of cyclone- affected persons, in order to prepare for the deployment of CMAT’s field hospital and medical personnel.

CMAT needs your help to assist those impacted by the typhoon in the Philippines. Please donate generously by clicking:

Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

 

or by donating your Air Canada Aeroplan miles:

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For those who wish to download a fundraising poster, to print out and post in their community,  please click here:   CMAT Philippines Fundraising Poster

VOLUNTEERING WITH CMAT: 

We thank all interested individuals for their overwhelming offer to volunteer with our organization.  At the present time, we are awaiting the findings of the assessment team, in order to deploy the first medical team.  These findings are key in building the professional profile of our teams of volunteers, as well as to decide the most appropriate equipment and supplies so send to the area.

Minimum Requirements for Volunteering: (Medical and Non-Medical Volunteers)

*A preference will be given to volunteers with disaster experience, and training in Sphere Minimum Standards for Humanitarian Response.  (course is being offered November 16-17, 2013 in Toronto.  Click here to send an email to register!)

– Canadian Passport with minimum 6 months left from expiry.

– Medical volunteers must provide proof of Canadian Professional Registration or Licensure.

– A minimum availability of 3 weeks duration

– Willingness and ability to fund their own travel (fundraising is encouraged through our website, and volunteers can be recognized by submitting their name “in honour” during the donation process).

– An understanding that this is a hardship mission, and will be exhausting.

– Interested volunteers are encouraged  to visit the Canadian Government’s Travel Health website to ensure your vaccinations are up to date.

 

DEPLOYMENT UPDATES

While we strive to distribute regular information to our mailing list and keep our website as up-to-date as possible, other sources of information from CMAT which would be updated more frequently would include Facebook and Twitter.  Please follow us there for rapid up-to-date information!