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February 12 2010
One devastating earthquake, four weeks later, one surgical theater, two operating tables, four ward tents, 47 medical emergency experts, hundreds of patients, 33 tons of medical supplies for 70,000 people, over 100 life-saving operations.
This is Merlin in Haiti one month after the earthquake.
Emergency surgery
Our field hospital, nicknamed ‘Wimbledon’ as it is set up on a disused tennis court, contains a fully equipped operating theatre, two operating tables, and four ward tents which can provide 24-hour care for 40 critically ill patients. Our Wimbledon work is mainly saving limbs, as well as concentrating on plastic surgery, follow-up operations and primary health care.
We’re also focusing on post-operative care, especially for amputees, as without ongoing treatment and infection prevention, serious complications can develop. To date, our emergency team has performed over 100 life-saving operations.
The team
Merlin’s 47-strong team of Haitian and international emergency experts includes surgeons, trauma specialists, anesthetists, A&E and specialist nurses. On an average day the team performs up to 10 surgeries and sees around 90 patients. The team is also referring patients to hospitals and specialized facilities where necessary.
Dianna’s story
Orphaned before the earthquake, eight-year-old Dianna was at home when the earthquake struck. Her right hand was badly crushed by a falling block of concrete. Her brother, 15-year-old Cal, took her to the local hospital only to find it was so overwhelmed no one there could help.
Cal heard about Merlin’s hospital, and immediately took Dianna there. As soon as they reached Wimbledon, our doctors realized Dianna’s hand was in a serious condition but fortunately were able to successfully operate. Still at the hospital, she has become a source of inspiration for our doctors. “We will really miss her when she leaves. She has become the camp princess,” says Emergency Nurse Deborah Milner. Read more about this remarkable eight-year-old girl.
Coordination
Merlin is working with local partners to set up mobile clinics in the Carrefour area, reaching people living in slums and displacement camps.
We are also working in coordination with:
- Haitian Ministry of Health to collect medical and contaminated waste
- World Food Programme (WFP) to provide food for our inpatients
- World Health Organization (WHO) are supporting us with finding appropriate facilities for those patients with specialist needs
- Heartline Hospital, with whom we refer and receive surgical cases and those needing continuous physiotherapy
- GOAL and International Faith Mission to provide support to outpatients, surgical dressings, as well as pre- and post-operative care
- Handicap International to support those patients requiring physiotherapy and rehabilitation
- Thomas Cook, the travel company, who allowed us to ship over 33 tons of medical equipment completely free of charge
Herbie’s story
"Yesterday was my first day as Merlin’s Health Coordinator here. We’ve set up a huge surgical tent in Port-au-Prince, complete with a fully operational theatre, x-ray machines, patient bays – the works.
"I triaged 50 patients in my first four hours: directing the people who needed urgent surgery to the appropriate tent, while ensuring the ones suffering from less life-threatening injuries and trauma were also treated.
"I’m actually meant to be studying for my PhD in Canada. But I was born in Haiti, my family is in Haiti, my heart is in Haiti. Leaving now isn’t an option. And like Merlin, I will stay for as long as it takes to get my country back on its feet."
Medical relief
Merlin’s relief supplies are getting to Haiti by air, sea and road. 33 tons have so far been delivered, sourced from all over the world, including tents from Italy and Norway, an x-ray machine from the UK, emergency health kits from the Netherlands and an ultrasound machine from Germany. Enough medicines have been delivered to treat 70,000 people over the next three months.
Sergiene’s story
Seven months pregnant with her first child, 22-year-old Sergiene was referred to Merlin’s specialist facility for the treatment of a fractured arm. In a magical moment, Dr David Southern and the team used one of Merlin’s portable ultrasound machines to give pregnant Sergiene her very first glimpse of her unborn baby.
We’re here for the long term
Merlin will be working in Haiti for as long as we are needed. As the needs of Haitians move from acute trauma to more long term health needs, we’ll adapt our work accordingly.
The immediate work will be running two mobile clinics in Port-au-Prince and Carrefour to bring health care to people in the city and outlying areas.
We will also be running two mobile clinics in Petit Goave, a small town to the south-west of Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas, where access to health care is very limited.
To ensure sustainability we will set up long-term clinics where appropriate as well as working with the Ministry of Health to support existing health structures and train and supervise local health workers to help ensure everything we do is geared towards rebuilding Haiti’s health system.
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Read more about our work in Haiti
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