To All,

      I am sending an attachment [see below Tim's portion] which includes an initial "road map to assisting in Haiti."

Dan Snyder

Dear  Friends and Members of the Free Methodist Medical Fellowship,

I am writing to give an update regarding Dan Snyder's effort to organize emergency medical teams to go into Haiti.  The attached will give you the information you will need to respond to this medical and humanitarian crisis. 

I spoke with Dan tonight.  He is presently in Spring Arbor, MI.  He and DeeDee are doing well, though deeply touched by the events of the past week.  He requested that I give you some additional information.  

1.  Medical teams are being organized urgently and will be sent out as soon as the teams can be formed.  The first team led by Jerry Rusher is going out Thursday, the 21st, arriving at Dessarlines January 23.  Dan suggests that team size should be limited to about 6 members.

2.  Travel into Haiti is possible out of Ft Pierce, Florida, on Missionary Flights International.   DC3's fly into Cape Haitian, which is north of Dessalines Hospital.  Ground transport is being arranged and project coordinators will be based at Dessalines.  Another option would be to fly into San Diego, DR by the usual commercial routes.  Again ground transportation will be arranged to cross over into Haiti. 

3.  The medical teams will initially be based at Dessalines Hospital, which is between Cape Haitian to the north and Port-au-Prince to the south.  Another site will be Kings Hospital in Port-au-Prince.  (There is a medical team from the Northwest Medial Group from the state of Washington at the Kings Hospital now.)

4   Medical supplies are needed and for the present should only be sent with team members which are going into Haiti themselves.     

If you are interested in being a part of an emergency medical team, go to go.fmwm.org where you will find an application form which you can submit online and which will be processed urgently. 

Cordially, Tim

1/20/2010

To Our Friends and Supporters,

We are sending a brief but specific “road map to Help Haiti Heal” letter for your use to assist you in working with the Dessalines Rural Health Care Project and Kings Hospital relief efforts in Haiti. In addition to these hospitals we also have at our use Free Methodist Mission housing, vehicles and communication services to assist us with the relief effort. We have had personnel on the ground from day 1 and continue to have personnel in country, both expatriate and National, with whom we are communicating and organizing with daily.

HAITI MEDICAL DISASTER RELIEF

Dessalines Hospital is a Free Methodist sponsored mission hospital 90 miles north of Port-au-Prince. The hospital has approximately 50 beds, a staff of 87 and 5 National doctors led by our very competent Medical Director Dr. Johnny Fequiere. We also work with Kings Hospital in Port-au-Prince Hospital which has a new medical structure located near to the airport in PAP and is directed by Dr. Hubert Morquette and Dr. Junie Hyacinthe. Neither hospital have received any earthquake damage and are up and running but short on staff and supplies. We desire to see teams on the ground assisting for the next 12 weeks after which we will re-assess the situation. On the ground at present at Kings Hospital is a medical trauma team from the Northwest Medical group from the state of Washington. Arriving at Dessalines Hospital January 23 is a medical team led by Dr. Jerry Rusher of Arlington, Washington. Both hospitals are presently VERY busy and in need of the following.

SUPPLIES

1. IV antibiotics: ancef, clindamycin, metronidazole, penicillin, ceftriaxone, gentamycin-tobramycin

2. Oral antibiotics: keflex, clindamycin, metronidazole, penicillin, vantin, tetracylin, erythromycin

3. Pain medications: tyelenol #3, vicodin, IV/IM Demerol, morphine.

*we believe we will have open access to enter Haiti with these medications

4. 4X4 gauze, non-sterile gauze, ace wraps, kerlex, stretch kling wraps, betadine, # 10 and #15 scalpel blades, suture, lidocaine 1% & 2 %, umbilical clips, tape, telfa, sterile gloves, non-sterile gloves, IV intracaths, washable cloth surgical gowns, surgical caps/masks, syringes 3, 5 cc’s, orthopedic supplies for treatment of closed (casting material and tractions devices) and open fractures (including hardware for open reduction and internal fixation of of upper and lower fractures)

5.Anesthetics: Spinal needles #22,25. Spinal medications succinylcholine, nalaxone,marcaine, lidocaine, epinephrine,neostigmine, ketamine. We also need and will transport small amounts of fentanyl,pentothal, valium, versed. Also needed is Isoflurane which we have permission to transport on our medivac DC-3.

6.Equipment needed urgently: SURGERY CAUTERY UNIT (110 volt) , hand held dopplers (5), blood pressure cuffs (10), stethoscopes (20), autoclave “All American 1925X non-electric sterilizer 25 quart” and autoclave “All American 1941X non-electric sterilizer 41 quart” both of which can be found and purchased on www.canningpantry.com

• Attention: All items that are not carried in by a team member and which will need to be sent to Haiti will be sent via Missionary Flights International (MFI) and will need funding for the cost of shipping at a charge by MFI of $1.50/lb. All materials that are not carried by a team member into Haiti should be kept at your location until arrangements have been made for shipping to MFI in Ft. Pierce, Florida. In normal conditions there would be significant customs fees but for at least a 3 month time period custom fees will be waived by the Haitian government.

SPECIAL ITEM PROJECT

Dessalines hospital has one 12 year old vehicle which will be used as an ambulance for transporting injured, medical teams, supplies and staff to work sites. The need for a new vehicle at this time is paramount. COST $38,000 for a replacement vehicle. We are in this for the long term and we only want to purchase a new vehicle. This would be purchased from available inventory already in Haiti and would be the property of the Dessalines Hospital.

*If there is a party interested in directing this project please contact the Free Methodist Mission organization directly.

PERSONNEL

1. Physicians, physician assistants, nurses (surgeons, orthopedics, generalists first priority)

2. General maintenance personnel to assist in keeping the hospitals running

3. January 28 is the next scheduled team departure date for Dessalines Hospital

*check weekly for updated team departure dates

FUNDING

1. It is very important that all understand that we are now treating all comers and these patients will have not have the ability to pay. We are going to need significant funding in order to continue to purchase in country supplies as available, purchase diesel to run the generators ($4/gallon) shipping costs at $1.50/lb via Missionary Flights International and to purchase food for those patients who have lost everything. In addition, the staff deserves and need to be paid. They themselves are under significant stress many having lost family members and homes themselves in Port-au-Prince. We have already heard that the Administrative Director of the hospital has lost one daughter and the Public Health Director has lost a son in the earthquake. We need to partnership and support our National staff with our prayers, finances, and expertise during this tragedy.

*FINANCIAL SUPPORT OPTIONS

1. Funds may be sent to : Bishops Relief Fund, PO Box 535002, Indianapolis, Indiana 46253-5000

phone 1-800-342-5531; www.fmwm.org go to Help Haiti Heal

*You must indicate that the funds are for MEDICAL RELIEF

2. Funds may be held at your local church to be used in direct consult in with medical relief team members or from the Free Methodist Mission relief effort organizers.

3. Funds may be sent to: Attention Pat Meyer, Southwestern Medical Clinic Foundation, 8008 M-139, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103

Phone Contact Carolyn Philips cphilip@swmc.org., Warren White white@swmc.org for questions and to notify of the funds transfer.(phone 269-471-1700)

4. Funds may be sent to: Central African Health Care Organization, 8050 Spring Arbor Rd., Spring Arbor Township, Michigan, 49283

(indicate the funds are for Dessalines Hospital Haiti relief and notify Mr. Gene Mogg of the funds transfer at

NOTE: For specific questions contact: webmaster Merlin Coulter, M.D.
or send an email to Tim Kratzer, Editor of TAB-prn and President of FMMF at timothykratzer@hotmail.com Tim Kratzer, M.D. .

(Please limit email correspondence/traffic as possible to Dan)

NOTE: Please check daily for updates on personnel needed, issues surrounding security in Haiti and supply and financial needs

NOTE: all organizations listed above are 501-3C foundations

D. Snyder