X-rays and The Walking Wounded

Dr. Amer Shoaib from the UK has been meeting with many Haitian doctors. He reports that although many medical areas are 'secure' with the presence of US military personnel, he describes the atmosphere as tense - and frustrations are increasing.

There are long queues outside medical areas, yet  people are walking the streets despite obviously being in need of medical attention. The walking wounded.

Despite rumors that Haiti is flooded with medical aid, demand way outstrips supply. It is inevitable that  untreated injuries, or poorly treated wounds will become infected unnecessarily leading to swathes of the Haitian population with lifelong and irrevocable physical damage.

MiST specialises in limb fixation and amputations. We worked in Pakistan during the 2005 earthquake developing prosthetics that can be manufactured 'in the field' at less than a tenth of the cost of modern Western prosthetics. It is MiSTs' aim to help Haiti with quality treatment and limb fixations. Yet on initial assessment there are no X-Ray Machines available in Haiti. It is likely that treatment will be faulty if diagnosis is inaccurate.

One X-Ray Machine costs $80,000.

MiST are seeking funds for such equipment. It will make a long term difference, ensuring some of the countless people with crush injuries to limbs will be able to walk, write, lift, hug and work in the future.

We hope that those with resources do not tire of funding the reconstruction of Haiti and providing essential  aid to its people. Professional journalists, doctors and aid workers with decades of experience report that Haiti is suffering the worst devastation they have ever witnessed.

Donate to MiST Haiti fund here.