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Canadian Medical Assistance Teams |
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Monday, July 12, 2010: Haiti earthquake - 6 months on. |
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 THANK YOU!  The seemingly endless line at triage.  CMAT Team members heading to Leogane.  CMAT Team Leader Kathy Harms and paramedic Kevin Sanford casting a lady's broken legs. |
The early days Arriving less than 72 hours after the disaster, I was part of the CMAT Assessment team which quickly set about surveying the areas in and around Port-au-Prince. While I established contact with the UN On-site Operations Coordination Centre (UN-OSOCC), UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), and WHO- Pan-American Health Organization (WHO-PAHO, my colleagues on the assessment team went about scouting the region and environs for a suitable location for our field hospital, where there was the greatest need. Utilizing the principles of Sphere minimum standards in humanitarian response, this need was found in the city of Léogâne, the city closest to the epicentre, and approximately 35km southwest of Port-au-Prince. While awaiting the imminent arrival of CMAT Trauma Team 1 and the field hospital infrastructure, we partnered briefly with SARAid UK, who were conducting searches of buildings in the city of Port au Prince, and our team provided medical back up and support at L’Hôpital de la Paix. CMAT Field Hospital in Léogâne Shortly after arriving, the 16-member trauma team established the CMAT Field hospital in Léogâne, a city of approximately 150,000, and the worst affected area with 80 to 90% of buildings damaged and no remaining government infrastructure. Nearly every concrete structure was destroyed. The damage was also reported to be worse than the capital. The military estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 people had died from the earthquake in Léogâne. People congregated in ad hoc squatter camps as relief took a long time to reach Léogâne. We set up camp in the school yard of the Louis Borno Primary School (GPS: 18.508363, -72.6286) along with an inflatable field hospital, pharmaceutical, medical and surgical supplies, and operating room capabilities. A generous donor donated a portable x-ray machine. CMAT volunteers were able to treat over 300 patients per day including at least 10 to 12 orthopaedic surgeries daily, including a variety of traumatic injuries, such as serious fractures and dislocations, major and minor lacerations, complications from acute infectious diseases such as dehydration. In fact, before we were even fully set up and ready to accept patients, our first little one couldn’t wait to make his arrival known, much to the surprise and delight of his exhausted mother and the CMAT team. The healthy little boy was the first baby ever delivered in CMAT’s history. From mid-January of this year, CMAT collaborated very closely with Canadian Forces, as we operated our field hospital in Léogâne. In the two short months that our field hospital was operational, our medical volunteers treated well over 10,000 patients, performed hundreds of surgeries, and delivered at least 10 babies. The provision of this medical care was possible only through the selfless undertakings of our volunteers, and with the unprecedented support and protection of the Canadian forces: sailors from the HMCS Athabaskan, and soldiers from the Royal 22e Régiment “Van Doos”, who significantly contributed to CMAT’s safe operations in Haiti. In late January, a group from Seattle arrived on-site, and assisted our volunteers in the CMAT Field Hospital. This was the birth of our new partner organization, International Medical Assistance Team (IMAT). Transition to Primary Care As the need for acute health care in Léogâne diminished in the months following the disaster, our responsibilities were successfully transitioned to partner organizations working in the community. CMAT and IMAT moved our operations to Pétionville (a suburb of Port-au-Prince), and into a partnership with the Jenkins/Penn Haiti Relief Organization (J/P HRO), staffing the health centre for an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located on a golf course ((GPS: 18.537244, -72.301551) which houses approximately 50,000 to 60,000 people. Our volunteers continue to collaborate with J/P HRO’s international staff of volunteers, to assess and treat an average of 200 patients per day, and together have delivered nearly 120 babies since March. Fundraising In the period from January 12 to February 12, 2010, generous donors donated over $125,000 in individual charitable contributions. This amount was officially submitted to CIDA, under its ‘fund matching program’ with the hopes of having these funds matched to continue our project in Haiti. CMAT submitted a formal proposal to CIDA for funding in February. Six months have now passed since the earthquake and CMAT has yet to receive a single penny in CIDA funding. Like the Canadian public, we believed that the individual charity is responsible for raising as much money as possible in a specified timeframe, at which point CIDA would directly match these funds back to the charity. The funds we raised over the last six months have covered just over half our budget. We have been forced to dip into our emergency contingency savings in order to offset the balance of the ongoing expenses. As a grassroots organization, we are in the challenging position of trying to find a balance between the overall financial stability of our organization, and the overwhelming need in the communities we work with, and without the financial support of the Canadian government, it makes this challenge all the more trying. In addition to monetary donations, which have been used to purchase needed medical supplies, drugs and other equipment for Haiti, CMAT received several generous in-kind donations, including a pallet of ready-to-eat meals, several cases of surgical equipment, a portable x-ray machine, international cellular roaming airtime, and the use of a large private airplane which airlifted our field hospital and equipment, and CMAT’s Trauma Team 1 from Toronto Pearson Airport to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Words cannot express our gratitude to our generous donors for their ongoing support. Overview As National Chairperson of CMAT, I have never been prouder to be Canadian. Not enough is being said to give thanks to the first-responders to the Haiti disaster. Volunteers from our organization hail from across Canada. Members from Victoria, BC to St. John’s NF have taken time from their lives to help ease the suffering of the people of Haiti. They consist of a diverse group of doctors, nurses, paramedics, mental health workers, students and other non-medical volunteers who sacrifice their time to help others and in the case of the Haiti, expose their lives to imminent danger. To grasp the scope of CMAT’s response in Haiti, here are a few numbers I’ve compiled: • 10,000+ – The number of patients treated in CMAT’s Field hospital in Leogane. • 200+ - the number of orthopaedic surgeries conducted in CMAT’s Field hospital in Leogane • 14 – The number of babies born at the CMAT Field Hospital in leogane. • 105 – the total number of volunteers sent by CMAT to Haiti • 20 – The number of CMAT physicians and surgeons • 7 – The number of CMAT nurse practitioners • 41 – The number of CMAT registered nurses • 29 – The number of CMAT paramedics • 8 – The number of CMAT non-medical or student volunteers CMAT and our volunteers continue to be at the ready in the event of another global natural disaster. We will be hosting two training sessions this fall, in Vancouver and Toronto. We invite you to join our Facebook Fan page, and watch our website for more information. Click here to join our Facebook Fan Page! IMAT: International Medical Assistance Team SARAid UK [Back to top] |
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Friday, July 09, 2010: Kelowna paramedic returns from Haiti |
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Team 11 team leader Brad Fraser interviewed on AM 1150 - CKFR. Click here to read the story. [Back to top] |
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Wednesday, June 30, 2010: CMAT Team 11 returns from Haiti |
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 CMAT Team 11 arriving in Port au Prince. L-R Eva Bennett - student intern from Brockville, ON, Brad Fraser, PCP and Team Leader from Kelowna, BC, Anastasia Bennett, RN from Brockville, ON Jacqui Stuart, NP from Woodstock, ON and Dianna Cleland, NP from Strathroy, ON.  CMAT Team 11 members Jacqui, Brad and Dianna, brushing up on their Haitian Creole.  CMAT Team 11 Team leader Brad Fraser, assessing a patient in Petionville, Haiti.  CMAT Team 11 members Brad Fraser and Dianna Cleland, caring for one of the smaller patients in Petionville. |
June 29, 2010 – Canadian Medical Assistance Teams' eleventh team of medical volunteers recently returned from their rotation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. CMAT, in collaboration with International Medical Assistance Team (IMAT) and the JP HRO (Jenkins Penn Haiti Relief Organization) have been working in the earthquake-affected region for just over 6 months now. CMAT’s Team 11 members were working in Petionville, at the JP HRO camp, and include: Brad Fraser, PCP from Kelowna, BC (Team Leader) Jacqui Stuart, NP from Woodstock, ON Dianna Cleland, NP from Strathroy, ON Anastasia Bennett, RN from Brockville, ON Eva Bennett, student intern from Brockville, ON [Back to top] |
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Monday, June 21, 2010: CMAT Team 10 returns from Haiti |
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: Aysha Ebrahim, RN from Toronto, ON Carrie Mines, RN from Hamilton, ON Christina Coambs, ACP from Edmonton, AB Erin Clarke, RN from Scarborough, ON Rose Stone, RN from Oakville, ON (Team Leader) Amy Heffern, PCP from Sandringham, NF Luke Palmer, PCP from Vancouver, BC) CMAT Team 10 (L-R): Aysha Ebrahim, RN from Toronto, ON Carrie Mines, RN from Hamilton, ON Christina Coambs, ACP from Edmonton, AB Erin Clarke, RN from Scarborough, ON Rose Stone, RN from Oakville, ON (Team Leader) Amy Heffern, PCP from Sandringham, NF Luke Palmer, PCP from Vancouver, BC |
June 21, 2010 – Canadian Medical Assistance Teams' tenth team of medical volunteers recently returned from their rotation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. CMAT, in collaboration with International Medical Assistance Team (IMAT) and the JP HRO (Jenkins Penn Haiti Relief Organization) have been working in the earthquake-affected region for just over 6 months now. CMAT’s Team 10 members were working in Petionville, at the JP HRO camp, and include: Rose Stone, RN from Oakville, ON (Team Leader) Carrie Mines, RN from Hamilton, ON Aysha Ebrahim, RN from Toronto, ON Erin Clarke, RN from Scarborough, ON Christina Coambs, ACP from Edmonton, AB Luke Palmer, PCP from Vancouver, BC Amy Heffern, PCP from Sandringham, NF [Back to top] |
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Thursday, June 10, 2010: CMAT Team 9 returns from Haiti |
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 Kim McCann, RN from Port Perry, ON., Rebecca Stevens, RN from Surrey, BC., Janie McCabe, RN from Napanee, ON., Margaret Hyslop, Mental Health worker from Merritt, BC, Julie Roberts, PCP from Vancouver, BC and Dr. Mark Hyslop, MD from Merritt, BC.) CMAT Team 9 (L-R) Kim McCann, RN from Port Perry, ON., Rebecca Stevens, RN from Surrey, BC., Janie McCabe, RN from Napanee, ON., Margaret Hyslop, Mental Health worker from Merritt, BC, Julie Roberts, PCP from Vancouver, BC and Dr. Mark Hyslop, MD from Merritt, BC. |
June 10, 2010 – Canadian Medical Assistance Teams' ninth team of medical volunteers recently returned from their rotation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. CMAT, in collaboration with International Medical Assistance Team (IMAT) and the JP HRO (Jenkins Penn Haiti Relief Organization) continues to provide medical assistance in the quake-ravaged region. CMAT’s primary health care team members were stationed in Haiti from May 24 to June 1 include: • Dr. Mark Hyslop, MD (Emergency) and Team Leader from Merritt, BC • Margaret Hyslop, Mental Health Worker from Merritt, BC • Kim McCann, RN from Port Perry, ON • Janie McCabe, RN from Napanee, ON • Rebecca Stevens, RN from Surrey, BC • Julie Roberts, PCP from Vancouver, BC Canadian Medical Assistance Teams continues to appeal for aid and asks for your help and generosity by making a donation to support our medical teams in their efforts to assist the Haitian people. www.canadianmedicalteams.org. [Back to top] |
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Saturday, May 08, 2010: Toronto Star Nursing Week 2010 Feature |
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 Toronto Star Nursing Week feature on CMAT |
Toronto Star Nursing Week 2010 Feature Helping Haiti heal and rebuild Out of the Factory into the heat. [Back to top] |
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Tuesday, May 04, 2010: CMAT Team 8 arrives in Port-au-Prince. |
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 CMAT Team 8 in front of the J/P HRO Medical Centre. |
TORONTO, May 4, 2010 – Canadian Medical Assistance Teams' eighth team of medical volunteers departed Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport Tuesday morning and arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti early Tuesday afternoon. CMAT continues to provide medical assistance in the quake-ravaged region, and has established an ong...oing partnership to provide medical volunteers to staff the JP HRO (Jenkins/Penn Haiti Relief Organization)’s medical centre located at The Pétionville Club. Over the coming weeks CMAT expects to rotate additional medical teams in and out of the area. CMAT’s primary health care team members who are now stationed in Haiti include: • Dr. Mark Hyslop, MD (Emergency) and Team Leader from Merritt, BC • Margaret Hyslop, Mental Health Worker from Merritt, BC • Julie Airth, Registered Nurse from Burlington, ON • Dr. Jane Pegg, MD (Paediatrics) from Nanaimo, BC • Dr. Raza Khan, MD and former CMAT Vice-Chairman from Ancaster, ON • Dr. Rashad Chin, MD from Edmonton, AB • Dr. Warren Ma, MD from Edmonton, AB • Amanda McIntyre, RN from Toronto, ON • Jaimie Ratcliffe, RN from Saskatoon, SK • Marcia Meijaard, RN from Sioux Lookout, ON • Alexander Wong, RN from Burnaby, BC • Renee Babin, ACP from Calgary, AB • James Juras, Student Intern from Toronto, ON • Christina Nguyen, Student Intern from Toronto, ON • Aisha Van Der Loo, Student Intern from Hamilton, ON. Canadian Medical Assistance Teams continues to appeal for aid and asks for your help and generosity by making a donation to support our medical teams in their efforts to assist the Haitian people. www.canadianmedicalteams.org [Back to top] |
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010: CMAT Team 7 arrives in Haiti |
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 In this photo: Top Row L-R: Yasmeen Jabbar, Marcie Harrison, Nathan Kelly. Bottom Row, L-R, Dr. Joanne Perry, Christina Coambs, Robin Parfitt, Melissa Glen, Dorothy McEachern, Ruby Dyall. Front: Imran Jabbar. |
TORONTO, April 20, 2010 – Canadian Medical Assistance Teams seventh team of medical volunteers departed Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport Tuesday morning and arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti early Tuesday afternoon.CMAT continues to provide medical assistance in the quake-ravaged region, and has established an ongoing partnership to provide medical volunteers to staff the JP HRO (Jenkins/Penn Haiti Relief Organization)’s medical centre located at The Pétionville Club. Volunteers continue to treat a significant amount of primary health and maternal/ newborn health care concerns. “The Internally Displaced Persons' [IDP] camp which is situated on the golf course of The Pétionville Club has an estimated population of 60,000 to 90,000 people.” reports Valerie Rzepka, Registered Nurse and CMAT Chairperson, who participated as a member of CMAT’s assessment team to Haiti in January. “The clinic sees between 200 and 300 patients needing medical treatment for a wide range of illnesses and injuries, and delivers as many as 3 or 4 babies each day. The people here have ongoing medical needs, including dehydration, wound infections, and other primary care needs, and CMAT is proud to be able to coordinate medical volunteers to provide them with the best care we can possible give.” CMAT teams have been working closely with our American partners, International Medical Assistance Team (IMAT), and the Jenkins/Penn Haiti Relief Organization (J/P HRO). Over the coming weeks CMAT expects to rotate additional medical teams in and out of the area.CMAT’s medical volunteer team members who are now stationed in Haiti include: CMAT Primary Health Care Team 7: • Yasmeen Jabbar, Registered Nurse and Team Leader from London, ON. • Dr. Joanne Perry, Physician from Ottawa, ON. • Ruby Dyall, Registered Nurse from Grand Banks, NFLD • Robin Parfitt, Registered Nurse from Vancouver, BC • Marcie Harrison, Registered Nurse from Abbottsford, BC • Melissa Glen, Registered Nurse from Vancouver, BC • Nathan Kelly, Registered Nurse from Grimsby, ON • Dorothy McEachern, Registered Practical Nurse from Fergus, ON • Christina Coambs, ACP Paramedic from Calgary, AB • Imran Jabbar, Student Intern from London, ON. CMAT - Canadian Medical Assistance Teams continues to appeal for aid and asks for your help and generosity by making a donation to support our medical teams in their efforts to assist the Haitian people. [Back to top] |
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Tuesday, April 06, 2010: CMAT Team 6 to arrive in Haiti on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. |
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 The medical centre of the Jenkins/ Penn Haiti Relief Organization in Pétionville. Clinic staff see between 200 and 300 patients daily, and deliver an average of 3-4 babies.  camp at the Pétionville Golf Club. This camp holds approximate 60,000 to 90,000 people.) Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camp at the Pétionville Golf Club. This camp holds approximate 60,000 to 90,000 people.  Sandy Scott, PCP Paramedic from Kalso, BC; Catriona Convey, PCP Paramedic from Sidney, BC; Jean-Evens Cheridor, Nursing Student and CMAT Translator from Leogane, Haiti; Janice Stirling, RN from London, ON; Shandra Doran, Physician from Edmonton, AB; Dawn Anderson, RN from Saskatoon, SK; Guinevere Rolls Dorward, RN from Vancouver, BC; Huguette Ray, RPN from Gore Bay, ON. L-R (Top Row) J. Rashad Chin, Physician from Edmonton, AB; John Rich, ACP Paramedic from High River, AB; Mark Hyslop, Physician from Merritt, BC; Sharon Morgan, CMAT Administrator from Comox, BC; Nathan Blackstock, PCP Paramedic and Team 5 Team Leader from Vancouver, BC; Skye Nicolson, RN from Toronto, ON; Bill Coltart, PCP Paramedic and CMAT Regional Chair for Western Canada, from Comox, BC; Justin Law, PCP Paramedic from Langley, BC.){kind=spacer} CMAT Teams 4 and 5 at the J/P HRO Medical Centre in March 2010. L-R (Bottom Row) Sandy Scott, PCP Paramedic from Kalso, BC; Catriona Convey, PCP Paramedic from Sidney, BC; Jean-Evens Cheridor, Nursing Student and CMAT Translator from Leogane, Haiti; Janice Stirling, RN from London, ON; Shandra Doran, Physician from Edmonton, AB; Dawn Anderson, RN from Saskatoon, SK; Guinevere Rolls Dorward, RN from Vancouver, BC; Huguette Ray, RPN from Gore Bay, ON. L-R (Top Row) J. Rashad Chin, Physician from Edmonton, AB; John Rich, ACP Paramedic from High River, AB; Mark Hyslop, Physician from Merritt, BC; Sharon Morgan, CMAT Administrator from Comox, BC; Nathan Blackstock, PCP Paramedic and Team 5 Team Leader from Vancouver, BC; Skye Nicolson, RN from Toronto, ON; Bill Coltart, PCP Paramedic and CMAT Regional Chair for Western Canada, from Comox, BC; Justin Law, PCP Paramedic from Langley, BC. , Jean Evens Cheridor, Local Translator, Catriona Convey, PCP, Justin Law, PCP, Dr, Rashad Chin , MD, Guinevere Rolls Dorward, RN.){kind=spacer} CMAT Team 5 in their final day at the CMAT Field hospital in Leogane L-R Skye Nicolson, RN, Nathan Blackstock, PCP, Sandy Scott PCP, Huguette Legendre Ray, RPN, Martin Metz, PCP (Team Leader), Jean Evens Cheridor, Local Translator, Catriona Convey, PCP, Justin Law, PCP, Dr, Rashad Chin , MD, Guinevere Rolls Dorward, RN. |
TORONTO, April 6, 2010 – The Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT)’s sixth team of medical volunteers departed Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport Tuesday morning and will arrive in Port-au-Prince, Haiti early Tuesday afternoon. CMAT continues to provide medical assistance in the quake-ravaged region, and has established an ongoing partnership to provide medical volunteers to staff the Jenkins/Penn Haiti Relief Organization’s medical centre located at The Pétionville Club. Though the acute phase of the earthquake recovery has been over for several weeks, volunteers continue to treat a significant amount of primary health and maternal/ newborn health care concerns. “The Internally Displaced Persons' [IDP] camp which is situated on the golf course of The Pétionville Club has an estimated population of 60,000 to 90,000 people.” reports Valerie Rzepka, Registered Nurse and CMAT Chairperson, who participated as a member of CMAT’s assessment team to Haiti in January. “The clinic sees between 200 and 300 patients needing medical treatment for a wide range of illnesses and injuries, and delivers as many as 3 or 4 babies each day. The people here have ongoing medical needs, including dehydration, wound infections, and other primary care needs, and CMAT is proud to be able to coordinate medical volunteers to provide them with the best care we can possible give.” CMAT teams have been working closely with our American partners, International Medical Assistance Team (IMAT), and the Jenkins/Penn Haiti Relief Organization (J/P HRO). Over the coming weeks CMAT expects to rotate additional medical teams in and out of the area. CMAT’s medical volunteer team members who are now stationed in Haiti include: CMAT Primary Health Care Team 6: • Maxine Bowerman, Registered Nurse and Team Leader from Union Bay, BC • Marion Willms, Registered Nurse from Rockwood, ON • Brandon Duncan, Registered Nurse from London, ON • James Atkinson, Registered Nurse from London, ON • Evan Bruce, Registered Nurse from Kamloops, BC • Ryan Sinden, PCP Paramedic from Vancouver BC. CMAT continues to appeal for aid and asks for your help and generosity by making a donation to support our medical teams in their efforts to assist the Haitian people. International Medical Assistance Teams: Jenkins/Penn Haiti Relief Organization [Back to top] |
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Saturday, March 13, 2010: York Region District School Board collects $59,000 for CMAT through their “Helping Hands” campaign. |
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 CMAT National Chairperson Valerie Rzepka facilitates a phone call between the team in the field in Haiti, and students at Donald Cousens Primary School in Markham, Ontario.  Mr. Jeewan Chanicka, teacher at Donald Cousens Primary School, and Director of the Helping Hands program from York Region District School board presents CMAT National Chair Valerie Rzepka with a cheque for $55,000 on March 10, 2010. |
The Helping Hands Haiti Relief project ran from January 13th – Feb 12th 2010. What initially began as a school project at Donald Cousens Public School in Markham, Ontario was expanded to include other schools in the York Region district school board after Jeewan Chanicka, Director of the Helping Hands campaign sent a message out to the system encouraging schools to do what they could. It eventually grew to include 31 schools. Fundraising events included personal donations and collections from events held at schools such as 'hat day'. As an added surprise, CMAT was presented with an additional $4000 collected since the end of the campaign, totaling $59,000! Helping Hands developed as a component of an integrated Geography and English Language program at a public school in York Region District School Board in 2003. This initiative sought to tie the board’s 'Character Matters' program with its commitment to inspire and prepare learners for life in our changing world community. It was based on a practical approach to learning and a desire to impart humanitarian values to all students. Over the past seven years, Helping Hands has continued to provide opportunities for students to understand relationships between the “have" and "have-not" communities around the world and provide students and school communities with opportunities to directly assist those less fortunate. Each year this initiative continues to grow as more schools become involved and participate. The January 12th earthquake in Haiti and the resulting devastation led to calls from many schools and communities who clearly wanted to come together and immediately begin to assist with relief efforts. This response was, in part, a reflection of the need to help students and families who were directly affected – students who needed to cope with the loss of family members. Through direct involvement young people were helped to begin the healing process by having an immediate opportunity to assist. Students not directly affected by the tragedy could better understand how to begin to support their friends and neighbours both through emotional support and direct financial contribution. Schools had the choice to lead the Helping Hands campaign and donate to a charity of their choice or directly to Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT). CMAT extends its sincerest gratitude to the York Region District School Board, all of the participating schools, and Mr. Jeewan Chanicka in particular for coordinating this fundraising campaign. Without the support of our generous donors, CMAT volunteers would not be able to provide the level of care that is needed in this time of crisis. On behalf of all CMAT volunteers, THANK YOU!! [Back to top] |
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Tuesday, March 09, 2010: CMAT to stand down deployment to Chile, medical team headed to Haiti |
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 A boat is washed ashore as a result of the localized tsunami after the February 27th 8.8 mW earthquake near the coastal city of Talcahuano, Chile.  CMAT Assessment Team members go over maps of the affected region in Chile. L-R Chris Kaley, David Johnson, IMAT member Jennifer Dearman, Michael Lowey. |
After meeting with Chilean officials, in Concepción, the decision was made to re-deploy CMAT volunteers to Haiti, where there continues to be a great need for medical assistance. This decision was made as a direct result of the Chilean Government and Military's exceptional response to this earthquake. The assessment team found that the need for medical aid was decreasing on a daily basis, any victims with traumatic injuries had been evacuated to major medical centres in other regions of the country, and thus the recommendation to stand down was made. This fifth CMAT medical team to Haiti arriving Thursday will work in collaboration with our partner organization IMAT, and the Jenkins-Penn Haiti Relief Organization at its project in the capitol. Information on CMAT partner organizations can be found below. Donate now for this Disaster IMAT: International Medical Assistance Team Jenkins-Penn Haiti Relief Organization [Back to top] |
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Thursday, February 18, 2010: Team 3 arrives in Léogâne. Haiti; Prime Minister Harper meets CMAT Team in Léogâne. |
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 Team Leader Kathy Harms briefs Prime Minister Stephen Harper at Leogane camp, Haiti  CMAT team member treats young girl. |
1. Team 3 arrives in Léogâne. Haiti 2. Prime Minister Harper meets CMAT Team in Léogâne. LÉOGÂNE, HAÏTI – CMAT Team 3 arrived early on Tuesday, February 16, to relieve the outgoing Team 2, who are returning to Canada this week. CMAT volunteers are seeing more than one thousand patients per week in our Field Hospital and are continuing the treatment of remaining Trauma patients and an increasing number of Primary Care needs. There has also been an increase in the level of infectious disease transmission, which is not uncommon in post-disaster regions. The team has been able to secure a refrigerator to store the much needed vaccinations which CMAT Medical volunteers are now providing to the patients in an effort to prevent the spread of infectious disease, such as tetanus and measles. According to the World Health Organization, Infant mortality in Haiti increased from 73.8 per 1,000 live births in 1996 to 80.3 in 2000. The rise is associated with increased poverty, deficiencies in the health system, and the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Acute diarrheal disease is the number-one health problem in children. Other leading causes of death include infectious diseases, maternal/child infections of pregnancy, malnutrition and acute respiratory infections. Half of the children in Haiti are unvaccinated and just 40% of the population has access to basic health care. CMAT Team 3 members who will be working in Léogâne for the next three weeks are as follows: * Dr. Dave Ratcliffe, Physician from Comox, BC. * Dr. Bill Pegg, Physician from Toronto, ON. * Dr. Rocco Lombardi, Physician from Port Perry, ON. * Dave Farr, Nurse Practitioner from Ancaster, ON. * Kate Auger, Nurse Practitioner from Bolton, ON. * Judy Nevett, Registered Nurse from Comox, BC * Jill Blacklock, Registered Nurse from Comox, BC * Gerry Campbell, Paramedic from Comox, BC * Shaun Rivard, Paramedic from Tecumseh, ON. CMAT Teams will continue to rotate every three weeks as continued assessments take place. The ongoing need for personnel, equipment and supplies are relayed to CMAT’s Disaster Response Coordinator on a daily basis. Discussions regarding CMAT’s ongoing role in Haiti are continuing with our Board of Directors, Foreign Affairs Officials and CMAT’s United Nations Partners. Prime Minister Harper meets CMAT Team in Léogâne. Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with CMAT medical team members working in Léogâne Tuesday afternoon, spending 10 minutes discussing the challenges and rewards of working in the field hospital. He encouraged them to continue their important work in treating the multitude of people in the post-quake devastated area who are still seeking medical attention. Team 2 leader and CMAT Director Kathy Harms also briefed the Prime Minister on the unprecedented level of collaboration and cooperation between CMAT and the Canadian Forces. Donate now toward this project [Back to top] |
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Friday, February 12, 2010: Over $96 Thousand Raised to Date for CMAT program in Haiti |
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 A little girl with a head injury and broken arm being treated at the CMAT Field Hospital in leogane.  The operating room in the CMAT field hospital continues to see several patients daily.  Paramedics Kevin Sanford and Kathy Harms treat a woman with two broken legs.  Tent city in leogane. |
Toronto ― The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Federal Minister of International Cooperation, announced that nationwide, over $113 million in eligible donations have been raised to be matched through the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. The Minister also reminded Canadians that there were only a few days left to see their donation to eligible organizations matched by the Government. "The generosity of our donors is unparalleled," said Valerie Rzepka, Chairperson of Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT). "Through a range of small scale, medium and large fund raising initiatives across our country and through the efforts of our volunteers, CMAT has raised $96 thousand toward our program in Haiti. We will be submitting a proposal for fund matching through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). These funds will help us to continue to provide much needed medical care to the Haitian people in our field hospital in Léogâne." In addition to monetary donations, CMAT has received a generous donation of a portable x-ray machine from the False Creek Surgical Centre in Vancouver, BC, as well as a portable ultrasound machine. CMAT was on the ground in Haiti within 72 hours after the January 12 7.0 mW earthquake, conducting a needs assessment and scouting locations for the establishment of a field hospital. CMAT medical volunteers staffing the field hospital in Léogâne continues to see upwards of 200 patients per day, though there has been a recent shift from traumatic injury treatment to primary care needs. CMAT continuously assesses the needs of the population and builds its teams to reflect these needs. A third medical team is set to depart for Haiti this coming weekend. CMAT's medical assistance teams are working closely with the Canadian Forces and other organizations in the Léogâne region. [Back to top] |
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Thursday, February 04, 2010: Second CMAT team arrives in Haiti to continue treating earthquake victims |
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 CMAT volunteers at work  CMAT volunteers at work  CMAT volunteers at work |
Léogâne, Haiti: CMAT Team 2 arrived Saturday, January 31 to relieve the outgoing first medical team which headed back home to Canada. Canadian health professionals 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. "The level of traumatic injuries which need surgery is diminishing," reports Kathy Harms, CMAT Team Leader from the field. "We are seeing a lot more patients with primary care needs, communicable diseases like diarrhea and children with dehydration coming in." The second CMAT Medical team departed for Haiti on January 29th. Team members are as follows: Kathy Harms, ACP Paramedic 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. Photos from the field - Haiti (Courtesy Bill Coltart - Western Canada CMAT leader) Please Donate [Back to top] |
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010: CMAT team members submit field Photos - Haiti |
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 CMAT team members group photo  CMAT teams at work. CMAT team members are treating a large number of infected wounds, fractures, and crush injuries. . CMAT team members are treating a large number of infected wounds, fractures, and crush injuries.) CMAT field hospital (Leogane, Haiti). CMAT team members are treating a large number of infected wounds, fractures, and crush injuries.  CMAT physician checks xrays. CMAT team members are treating a large number of infected wounds, fractures, and crush injuries. |
CMAT released photos of CMAT volunteers in the field today. As many as 300 patients per day have been seen and treated. CMAT team members are treating a large number of infected wounds, fractures, and crush injuries. [Back to top] |
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010: Haiti hit by Second Quake 6.1 magnitude - team confirmed safe |
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Haiti was hit by another strong earthquake, just eight days after the previous one in Port-au-Prince which left up to 200,000 dead. The quake was registered by the US Geological Survey reports at 6:03AM ET and had a magnitude of 6.1. CMAT officials in Canada have been in contact with teams on the ground and all members are reported safe and continue to operate in Leogane alongside Canadian Forces. On a happy note, CMAT team members successfully delivered a baby boy last night at 22:10 hrs. [Back to top] |
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010: Canadian Medical Assistance Teams arrive in Leogane, Haiti |
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Orthopedic Surgeon and Anesthetist among medical volunteers setting up field hospital in 80% devastated region TORONTO, January 19, 2010 – The Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT)’s second team of medical volunteers arrived safely in Port-au-Prince, Haiti late Monday evening. The team departed Toronto’s Pearson International Airport early yesterday en route to Santo Domingo and was transported by bus to the earthquake affected area of Port-au-Prince. An Orthopedic surgeon and an Anesthesiologist are among the medical volunteers deployed yesterday. CMAT’s initial assessment team greeted the incoming volunteers last evening and both teams traveled this morning from the Port-au-Prince airport base with the field hospital arriving early this afternoon in the Leogane region, approximately 35 minutes from Port-au-Prince with security escort. “The city of Leogane, which has a population of 134,000, is about 80% devastated, including a 5-story nursing school” reports Valerie Rzepka, Registered Nurse and CMAT Chairperson, who is a member of CMAT’s assessment team stationed in Haiti. “The people here are experiencing many fractures and wounds. Supplies are very limited. There are many amputations which we hope we will able to treat within the field hospital.” CMAT’s medical assistance teams are working closely with the Canadian Forces in the Leogane region and secured a permanent location for the field hospital this afternoon. Over the coming weeks CMAT is expecting to rotate medical teams in and out of the area. CMAT’s medical volunteer team members who are now on-the-ground in Haiti include: CMAT Initial Assessment Team: Valerie Rzepka: Registered Nurse and CMAT Chairperson from Toronto, ON. Bill Coltart, Paramedic and CMAT Regional Chair (Western Canada) from Comox, BC. Sandra Hodge, Registered Nurse from Jasper, AB Chris Kaley, Paramedic from Squamish, BC Ryan Thorburn, Paramedic from Comox, BC. Dave Johnson, Search and Rescue, Air Traffic Control and general logistics, Vancouver, BC. CMAT Deployment Team #1 Carolyn Davies, Nurse Practitioner and CMAT Team Leader from Amherstburg, ON Kelly Churchill, ACP Paramedic, from Burnaby, BC Ray Markham, MD, from Valemount, BC Aric Rankin, Registered Nurse, from London, ON Martin Metz, PCP Paramedic, from Courtenay, BC Josef Owega, Medical-Physician, from McBride, BC, Olivia June Soukup, Registered Nurse, from Camrose, AB Maida Mrakovic, Medical-Nurse, from Mississauga, ON Donna Eileen Johnson, Medical-Physician from Vancouver, BC Kathryn Emma Bennett, Anesthesiologist, Vancouver, BC Media Interview Opportunity: Members of the CMAT team in Haiti are available for interviews via satellite phone or on location. To request and coordinate an interview, please contact Shari Balga, CMAT Media Relations at 416-727-4101 / sbalga@canadianmedicalteams.org CMAT is urgently making an appeal and asking for your help and generosity by making a donation to support our medical teams in their efforts to assist the Haitian people. To make a donation, please visit: www.canadianmedicalteams.org For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact: Shari Balga Media Relations Canadian Medical Assistance Teams 416-727-4101 sbalga@canadianmedicalteams.org Please donate now [Back to top] |
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Saturday, January 16, 2010: CMAT Assessment Team arrives in Port-au-Prince |
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CMAT reported that at approximately 6:45pm (Eastern time) the first CMAT assessment team safely arrived at Port-Au-Prince. The team is the first of many that will rotate through Haiti to provide much needed medical assistance and support to the local Haitians affected by the devastating quake. It is estimated that as many as 200,000 persons have died. Over 3 million Haitians are in need of assistance - food, water, shelter and medical support. CMAT Team #1 is stationed at the UN compound and will coordinate relief efforts with other local and international NGOs. Some members of Team #1 also rotated through Muzzaffarabad, Pakistan in that quake of 2005 which killed more than 90,000 persons. The team arrives ahead of a second 9-member team who will arrive via donated charter aircraft from Toronto Pearson International airport direct to Port-Au-Prince departing Monday morning. Team #2 will arrive with a full cargo of medical supplies and the CMAT inflatable field hospital. CMAT urgently appeals to all individuals to generously donate to support the team in its efforts to help the Haitian people. Please donate now [Back to top] |
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Saturday, January 16, 2010: CMAT team scheduled to arrive in Port-Au-Prince Saturday |
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CMAT members are scheduled to arrive in Port-Au-Prince Saturday afternoon. The team includes the following members: Valerie Rzepka, RN - Toronto, ON. Bill Coltart, PCP Paramedic, Comox, BC Sandra Hodge, RN - Jasper, AB Ryan Thorburn, PCP - Comox, BC Chris Kaley, ACP - Squamish, BC Dave Johnson, Search and Rescue, Air Traffic Control and general logistics, Vancouver, BC. A second team of 9 medical volunteers will be departing from Toronto by a charter flight generously donated by a Canadian company direct to Port-Au-Prince. Cargo on this flight will include medical supplies, equipment and the CMAT inflatable field hospital. CMAT appeals for your donations to support the team on the ground. CMAT is fully registered by the Canada Customs Revenue Agency. Please donate now YouTube video of Assessment Team [Back to top] |
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010: WORST EARTHQUAKE IN A CENTURY HITS HAITI |
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 Map courtesy of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: www.reliefweb.int ) People carry an injured person in Port-au-Prince after the largest earthquake ever recorded in the area rocked Haiti on Tuesday. (Radio Tele Ginen/Associated Press) |
Port-au-Prince, Haiti: A magnitude 7.0 quake with more then 20 aftershocks to date struck shortly before 5 p.m. the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It could be felt strongly in eastern Cuba, more than 200 miles away. The capitol has been largely destroyed. CMAT continues to monitor the progress and is assessing the need to deploy an assessment team to the impoverished nation. In the highly populated Caribbean nation, (Population: 10 million+) the vast majority live in extreme poverty and in shantytowns. The earthquake, centered 15 km from the capitol of Port-au-Prince, leaving thousands of fatalities, and countless homeless and injured. The former French colony which has seen more then its share of disaster, Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. CMAT’s Disaster Assessment Team response has been activated, and remains on standby pending further developments. Skilled and experienced CMAT volunteers who have previously responded to disasters in Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China are ready to be sent depending on need, including search and rescue and critical care paramedics, Emergency/Trauma physicians and surgeons, and experienced Emergency Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. CMAT has the capability to deploy a fully equipped, inflatable field hospital anywhere in the world within 24 to 48 hours. Donate now for this Disaster [Back to top] |
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Canadian Medical Assistance Teams |
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