I am late and not sure where to start today. Yesterday was enormously successful
just like the last ones. Its just getting more difficult to remember and report
on what all has happened because so much has.
Let me begin by again thanking Rotarians around the world for the incredible
support and the trust they have imparted in the rest of the people that have
supported us. A special thanks to our District and Zones 33 and 34. They are
doing so much and in most instances it goes un reported because it jest gets
done.
I met with the Red Cross in the Bahamas yesterday and we are trying to
coordinate the shipping of their donated stuff with ours. Our warehouse is now
full of folding beds, mattresses, blankets, cushions, food, clothing and the
like. If we do not source a local vessel in the next day or so we will trans
ship through the US. We have a Haitien Rotarian that can handle the clearing and
receiving of the goods and will distribute to where we want.
My classmate Phil Lustig and Larry Labadie have shipped great quantities os
supplies to us through Missionary Flights International and hare working with us
to coordinate the filling of volunteer flights that are coming down. Yesterday a
friend of ours (Corky) from Normans Cay Exumas flew from his home in Kentucky
with a friend in another plane to spend a week airlifting for us. They were
filled with medical supplies in Vero Beach and will offload in Pignon tomorrow
There are 35 Orthopedic surgeons on standby to come from Kansas. We are trying
to coordinate that around, the need, the supplies and the transportation. At
this point the pressure on the surgical team has stopped growing, but still is
beyond the capacity we have down there.
I was very excited to here from my good friend Nessim yesterday. There is
limited fuel now and he can get around and run his generator to send emails etc
sparingly. He is still sleeping in his car so my compassion goes out to Nessim,
Marine, and his son. The Shelter Boxes got delivered to Carrefour and Leogane
yesterday. Things are starting to move with our on the ground Rotarians as they
get settled into the situation. God Bless them.
We delivered an X-Ray machine in Port de Paix yesterday and 2 doctors to Pignon.
They are being transported into PaP to Claude's house today by Caleb.
We have a big shipment donated to the Albert Switzer Hospital which we are
coordinating the delivery off into Nassau and then by ground to HAS. Not sure of
the exact arrival time but keep you all posted.
We have a couple of Dialysis machine offers that we are coordinating. I am
waiting on Dr. Claude Surena's advice as to where it needs to go.
We have a doctor inbound fro caiman on Sunday to help. He will come through
Nassau late Sunday night
I urgently need an Autoclave and a Dermatome. The Autoclave is the tool
sterilization piece of equipment, and the Dermatome is used to lift the skin for
the skin grafting. Can anyone help with this?
As the relief machine continues to move in country we are beginning to be more
focused on our Rotary Communities as we develop a longer term strategy. I posted
some thoughts for you which Michael Terrelonge will post to the blog. I look
forward to your comments on the blog.
Going forward I will begin to report every couple of days or as developments
require.
Thanks
PDG Dick