February 8, 2010

Santo Domingo, DR - The first shipment of medical supplies and equipment has arrived at port in the Dominican Republic! We’ll be working to get the supplies on the road and into Haiti this week. Stay tuned for more details and thanks for the continued support!

We’ve also have received word from several supporters who will be holding various fundraising events this week and next. Thank you for your efforts! We’ve created this flyer detailing Infante Sano’s Help Hispaniola 2010 fund and the work we have done so far. Please feel free to print and use at our events!

February 1, 2010

Boston, MA - Fox25 News featured a story about a victim of the Haiti earthquake who received care at Mass General Hospital in Boston. As part of the story, Infante Sano’s Chris Daniel was interviewed via Skype about conditions on the ground.

To watch the story, click here.

January 31, 2010

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Our colleague Chris Daniel will soon be returning from Haiti where he has been volunteering as part of Catholic Relief Services’ multi-agency response. Read Chris’ latest dispatch below, offering a bit more context to the current conditions and continued need in Haiti.

It is reported that the number of people living in the areas affected by the earthquakes amounts to almost 4 million and that of this total there are an estimated 500,000 children between the ages of 0 and 5 years of age. The Government of Haiti indicated that up to 200,000 people were likely killed by the earthquake. With more than 600,000 displaced, the streets of Port-au-Prince are filled with people too scared to go back into their damaged homes, sleeping in the open night amidst the bodies of those killed in the disaster. The streets remain littered with debris and makeshift camps.

Based on the information recorded in assessments and available through multilateral coordination, the immediate priorities include:

• Medical services and supplies, including primary, secondary and public health
• Clean water and sanitation
• Emergency shelter
• Food
• Rubble and debris removal throughout Port au Prince at IDP camps, hospitals, etc., and street cleaning
• Logistics and telecommunications

We at Infante Sano wish Chris safe travels and look forward to discussing potential options for our longer-term support of the health and well being of women and children in Haiti.

January 29, 2010

Boston, MA - Thanks to all of your generous support, our second shipment of supplies bound for Haiti left this morning! In partnership with our friends at the International Medical Equipment Collaborative (IMEC), we are sending an additional $500,000 in medical equipment and supplies, primarily for surgery, for a fraction of the actual costs. This shipment will also be trucked to Belladere, Haiti through the Dominican Republic to be used at a Haitian hospital in collaboration with Partners in Health. We’ll let you know as soon as it arrives!

January 28, 2010

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Another early morning dispatch from Chris Daniel to share with you about conditions on the ground in Haiti. Infante Sano is donating Chris’ time and talents to the relief efforts, where he is coordinating logistics as part of Catholic Relief Services multi-agency response.

“The program I am supporting is now operating at 14 health sites throughout the city, including Leogane, and we’re at full capacity. One of the biggest things we’re seeing is trauma. From little kids who lost their parents to grandparents who lost the children and grandchildren, people are in need of counseling and support, which is happening but must be increased.

Everyone here is still very occupied with coordination of relief supplies - much stuff for ally agencies has come in without complete waybills and plans for warehousing are being made on the fly. Security remains a big issue for all supplies although there is not a significant increase in crime in general. Took an early morning assessment trip back through some of the most affected areas of PaP. People are living in make shift camps in every open area available. People sleep in the streets everywhere at night blocking portions of the road with small bits of rubble. ”

January 27, 2010

Boston, MA - Great news! The first shipment of medical supplies and equipment that we are sending to Partners in Health is on its way! Through our partnership with the International Medical Equipment Collaborative (IMEC) and contributions from supporters like you, we were able to send over $900,000 in medical equipment and supplies for a fraction of the cost. This precious cargo is now on its way to the Dominican Republic and, upon arrival, will be trucked to a Haitian hospital in Belladere along the border with the DR. Partners in Health is working hand-in-hand with the Haitian Ministry of Health to rebuild infrastructure in the area. This shipment of basic clinical necessities for patient exams and treatments will play a crucial role in the immediate efforts to strengthen service delivery in the region.

January 26, 2010

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Here is the latest dispatch from the field from Infante Sano Chief Operating Officer, Chris Daniel:

“Greetings from Delmas, Port-au-Prince, the center of CRS’ response. It’s truly an honor to be able to represent Infante Sano as part of this robust and multifaceted response. Our medical teams are working now in 12 sites including hospitals and IDP camps. The teams are treating hundreds per day and saving many lives. We provide medicines and medical supplies to the sites as well as water and food.

As of yesterday, the number of people confirmed killed in the earthquake by the Haitian Government is 111,400 and the number of people who are displaced is estimated at 609,000.

Food distributions at IDP camp sites are proceeding well with 3,500 people served yesterday.”

January 25, 2010

Boston, MA - We received word that all of the medicines we recently procured for aid workers from Relief International have made it to Port-au-Prince. We sent additional Morphine, Ketamine and Lidocaine that will be immediately put to use.

Thanks for your continued support!

January 22, 2010

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - We continue to receive updates from Infante Sano staffer Chris Daniel, currently on the ground working with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as part of their multi-agency response. Chris is coordinating medical and feeding programs in the locations established by CRS throughout the city. Here are several photos that Chris was able to send up that show some of the effects of the quake.

Click here to see the photo gallery.

January 21, 2010

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - We received this dispatch from Chris Daniel, reporting from Haiti. Chris is currently working with Catholic Relief Services coordinating medical and public health relief as part of their multi-agency response.

“From the moment our chartered plane touched ground at the Toussaint L’Ouvrature Airport in Port au Prince on January 20, 2010, things began to move quickly. Bags were unloaded by volunteer responders, aid workers and US search and rescue teams in a disorganized human chain where lots of supplies ended up all over the tarmac in big piles. In short order, trucks of all sizes and shapes programmed to pick up all the equipment and supplies arrived next to the various piles designated for different sites, were loaded and moved on.

The trip from the airport to CRS’ office at Delmas 81 showed lots damage to structures and many people circulating in vehicles and on foot. We arrived at the office, held introductions and received briefings on roles and responsibilities and mapped out a quick plan for the next day.

Dinner consisted of cold MREs, but we were amazed to be able to have access to around the clock electricity and intermittent Internet connectivity. Given the circumstances we were installed far better than we had hoped and quite lucky.

The morning of January 20 began with an alarm at 6 AM and an earthquake of 6.1 at 6:02 AM. I rocked back and forth on my bedroll in the tent and was standing in the middle of the courtyard very quickly afterwards. Fortunately, given the size of the quake, there were no reports of substantial damage.

The day was filled with moving people and materials around Port au Prince and some of the more affected environs, such as Leogane, to serve those affected by last week’s quake. Needs for treatment, food, relief supplies, shelter and water are still substantial.

Coordination between the Haitian Government, US Government, UN, other multi-laterals and NGOs seems to be improving and the assistance being routed through the Dominican Republic is causing traffic jams all the way from Santo Domingo to Port au Prince (which is actually a good thing, because it means the relief pipelines are wide open).”

We will continue to post more here as we have further updates on the relief efforts. Thank you for all of your support.

January 20, 2010

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - As news poured in this morning of another earthquake in Haiti, we received an update from Chris Daniel, our Chief Operating Office, who landed in Haiti yesterday to help with relief efforts.

“Rooster alarm went off at 3:25 AM. He is tied up in the courtyard.  Real alarm went off at 6 AM and an aftershock hit a couple of minutes later. It was strong enough to rock me back and forth in the tent and make people cry out. Everyone’s fine and nothing crashed or fell in our area.

Stayed up talking to former colleagues and a couple of partners. Haitians working on relief operations are highly motivated to save lives, help others heal and rebuild livelihoods. Most I spoke with seemed resigned to dealing with the tragedy and moving forward. As many of the personal losses are substantial, these outlooks are a testimony to a people with enormous resiliency.

Going to get ready. Hope to write a more after I come back from work.”

We’ll post more as the day goes on.

UPDATE: Boston, MA - We received a call from Relief International today asking us to help procure critical supplies for doctors working around the clock in Port-au-Prince. Morphine, Ketamine and Lidocaine were at the top of their wishlist of critical supplies and have been very difficult to come by in Haiti. We were able to secure the supplies for them in the Dominican Republic and they will be sent to Haiti first thing tomorrow morning on a 6:00am flight.

From Relief International’s VP of Operations, “A thousand thanks again to you and all your staff on the ground who made this miracle happen.” We’re honored to support the efforts in this small, but important, way.

January 19, 2010

Boston, MA & Miami, FL - This morning, one of Infante Sano’s staff, boarded a plane headed to Port-au-Prince. Chris Daniel, our Chief Operating Officer, is on a leave to volunteer with Catholic Relief Services on their disaster response team in Haiti. Chris has extensive experience working in Haiti and in emergency response and will be a major asset on the ground. We’ll post updates from Chris as information becomes available.

Here is his first post from Miami Airport earlier today:

“The scene at the check in for the chartered flight is hectic. Multiple groups on multiple missions with more relief supplies than the plane can hold. All are prepared to help and the atomsphere is one of shared purpose to assist the Haitian people.”

UPDATE: Chris reported back again once his flight landed safely in Port-au-Prince.

“Arrived with staff and volunteers and enough medical supplies to fill a 5 ton truck. Here is a pic from the tarmac of our plane. The airport is like a scene from a movie with all of the relief workers and military. The earthquake devastation is remarkable, but it was already too dark for me to take pics as I moved up the hill to basecamp.  Will write more if I have Internet where I am going.”

Please join us in wishing Chris well as he volunteers his time in Haiti and works to identify new ways that Infante Sano can continue to support the relief and recovery efforts.

Contribute today! Help Hispaniola 2010

January 18, 2010

Boston, MA - We are please to announce a new collaboration with the International Medical Equipment Collaborative (IMEC), a trusted partner with whom we have worked to equip hospitals and clinics in the DR. With IMEC, we will be sending a shipping container full of critical medical supplies to the Dominican Republic. The container will hold medical supplies and exam suites, as well as materials for physical therapy and special care for the wounded. We will be sending this estimated $900,000 in equipment and supplies for a fraction of the cost. These supplies will then be trucked from the DR across the border into Haiti to be put to good use by Partners in Health (PIH) in Belladare. We are honored to assist with PIH’s efforts. With their long history of work in Haiti, they were uniquely positioned to respond immediately after the earthquake hit and continue to provide desperately needed services.

The supplies are being packed in MA and will soon be on their way! Check back for more updates.

January 17, 2010

Boston, MA - We worked to secure critical medical equipment and supplies for a group of aid workers with Relief International. This team, headed into Haiti from the Dominican Republic, was given a donation of $4,000 worth of equipment and supplies from Infante Sano. Most of the supplies were for basic emergency first aid needs that the team would be confronting immediately upon their arrival. We’ll post stories from the field as soon as we receive them.

To read more about how the trauma kit supplied by Infante Sano was used by Relief International, read the BBC Aid Worker Diary of Carlos Miranda Levy.

Thank you for the continued support. Keep it coming. We have a lot of work still ahead.

January 15, 2010

Boston, MA - Thanks to all who have contributed to the Help Hispaniola 2010 initiative already. We are turning your generosity and concern into action with immediate assistance on the ground.

We have boots on the ground in the Dominican Republic who are gathering supplies for aid workers headed into Haiti this evening. We are also working with aid organizations currently in Haiti and working along the border in the Dominican Republic to determine their immediate needs for medical supplies and equipment. We are hearing reports of difficulty with aid moving too slowly into Haiti and across the border. Given our experience in the Dominican Republic and successfully shipping down supplies to our partner sites, we are working to help get these critical materials to where they are needed most as swiftly as possible.

Please continue to support this effort. 100% of all contributions to Help Hispaniola 2010 will go directly, and quickly, to the relief initiative.

We’ll post more information here as soon as we have more news to share.

Please continue to keep the people of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as everyone involved in the emergency response, in your thoughts and prayers.

January 13, 2009

Boston, MA - Infante Sano is launching a special initiative in response to the recent, catastrophic earthquake on the island of Hispanola. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the people affected, including those with whom we have worked with over the years.

We are still gathering information from our friends and colleagues on the ground in Haiti and the Dominican Republic to determine how we can best help in the areas most affected, but are creating a special initiative to support relief efforts. If you are moved to action, please consider making a donation to this cause.

Donate now to Help Hispanola 2010.

100% of all funds donated to this special effort will go directly to emergency assistance in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

We will update our site regularly as our plans develop to send support directly to ensure that the immediate needs of women, children and families are being met.

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