Friday, February 4 – 5:00 p.m.
NWHCM medical teams continue their work at the hospital in Saint-Louis du Nord, particularly performing orthopedic surgeries. NWHCM is blessed to have a gifted hand surgeon on-site to focus on hand injuries, as well. The hospital remains in full swing and bustling with activity.
NWHCM staff met recently with local pastors who are experiencing high demand for relief food within their congregations. The mission is now distributing corn and fortified meals to needy families through more than a dozen churches, in addition to its already established food distributions sites across Northwest Haiti.
Wednesday, January 27 – 8:50 a.m.
NWHCM is shifting some attention to badly needed long-term rehab and therapy services. In coming months, NWHCM will be asking for the services of physical therapists and prothesis professionals. Qualified volunteers may contact us to inquire about serving on a therapy/prothesis trip later this year. Note: NWHCM is unable to bring in additional medical teams for the next few weeks.
Other medical teams are continuing to run clinics in outlying areas of Northwest Haiti
Tuesday, January 26 – 10:25 a.m.
NWHCM medical teams are spreading out across the northwest region this week to run clinics at the mission’s campuses in La Baie des Moustiques and Beauchamp, focusing on general and pediatric care. Haiti’s entire medical system is strained and as such, health care nationwide is in a fragile state. NWHCM’s medical response strategy is to triage and assist all patients needing care, regardless of whether or not they are earthquake victims.
NWHCM Assistant Medical Director Melissa Curtice and orthopedic surgeon Del Worthington, of Arizona, have been assessing patients at nearby hospitals in La Pointe and Port-de-Paix. Earthquake victims with fractured bones have arrived at the mission’s main medical facility in Saint-Louis du Nord and are being treated.
A special thanks to G.O. Ministries for providing chartered flights to transport NWHCM medical teams within Haiti.
Sunday, January 24 – 5:15 p.m.
A 22-member medical team has arrived in Northwest Haiti and is developing a plan to respond to medical needs in the area. NWHCM is also working closely with the government in Saint-Louis du Nord to provide financial and food assistance for refugees arriving in the city.
Wednesday, January 20 – 10:15 a.m.
A magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck Haiti early this morning near Port-au-Prince, the strongest yet since the devastating earthquake that ravaged the capital city eight days ago. Though nerves were rattled, little to no additional damage has been reported. In Northwest Haiti, the quake was felt strongly and many were woken from their sleep, but all NWHCM staff and travelers are safe. NWHCM’s main campus in Saint-Louis du Nord is roughly 100 miles from where the aftershock was centered.
Tuesday, January 19 – 9:00 p.m.
NWHCM medical staff traveled to the main hospital in Port-de-Paix today to assess the situation there. The hospital is full, having taken on many patients from Port-au-Prince in addition to their normally heavy load. Lack of basic medicines and medical supplies, along with challenges in coordinating medical care for so many people, are serious problems.
NWHCM has been providing supplies and medicines to the hospital in Port-de-Paix and in La Pointe, and will continue to do so as we’re able. We will provide increasing support with medical personnel over the coming weeks.
Monday, January 18 – 7:55 p.m.
All of NWHCM’s regular ministries are running normally today, though our generators are being run limited hours to conserve diesel fuel, a commodity which is becoming difficult to find in Haiti. To date, NWHCM has secured enough diesel fuel to meet our basic water needs and provide electricity for our clinic through February, and we are expecting to receive more.
NWHCM medical staff will travel to the primary hospital in Port-de-Paix tomorrow to assist the hospital staff there, which have been stretched to their limits treating patients.
Sunday, January 17 – 10:20 p.m.
NWHCM’s medical team returned safely to the mission’s main campus in Saint-Louis du Nord, along with missionary Jose Castillo and staff member Andy Olsen. Some family members of NWHCM’s Haitian medical staff also arrived with them from Port-au-Prince. Other mission staff and missionaries attended church this morning at their respective campuses.
Saturday, January 16 – 8:05 p.m.
NWHCM lab and pharmacy director Maureen Moore treats a dehydrated baby at a clinic in Port-au-Prince on Saturday.Andy Olsen / NWHCM staff
NWHCM doctor Simon Marc treats a girl with a broken arm at makeshift clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Saturday. Mission staff established the outdoor clinic along with medical staff from Mission of Hope at a church in the Delmas area of Port-au-Prince.Andy Olsen / NWHCM staff
Along with missionaries from Mission of Hope in southern Haiti, NWHCM medical staff set up a clinic today at a church in the Delmas area of Port-au-Prince. They treated patients there throughout the day and also assisted at an emergency orthopedic care center nearby. Staff involved included Assistant Medical Director Melissa Curtice, Dr. Simon Marc, Magdala Remy, Lab and Pharmacy Director Maureen Moore and Miss Sylveste.
Most NWHC staff plan to return Sunday to Saint-Louis du Nord, where NWHCM has been notified it will be a treatment center for overflow patients being brought from Port-au-Prince.
Friday, January 15 – 9:35 p.m.
A street in downtown Port-au-Prince on Friday, January 15.Andy Olsen / NWHCM staff
NWHCM medical staff continue to assist at Mission of Hope, one of our partner missions about 10 miles north of Port-au-Prince. Some national NWHCM doctors have continued on to Port-au-Prince to assist with medical work there.
All but a few short-term missionaries who were visiting NWHCM campuses are on their way to catch flights out of Haiti via alternate cities. Jose Castillo, Andy Olsen, and a few other NWHCM staff are still in Port-au-Prince assessing the situation.
Thursday, January 14 – 10:50pm
We did hear that our team arrived safely to Mission of Hope and are looking to provide mobile medical treatment from there. By the time they arrived, the hospital had completely run out of supplies. We’ve also heard several times from our staff, Andy and Jose, in Port-au-Prince, and are relieved to know they are well.
Wednesday, January 13 – 11:11pm
Our day was spent loading and unloading trucks. We were blessed with the arrival of the contents of our recent container, including food and other supplies. The driver agreed for us to rent the same truck to load with I.V. fluids, bandages, sutures, antibiotics and other medical supplies.
Early in the morning, we will send a team to assist the disaster relief and provide medical care. Please pray for the group as they travel and serve: Melissa Curtice (NWHCM Assistant Medical Director) Maureen Moore (Pharmacy/Lab Director), Sylveste Rogella (nurse), Magdala Remy (nurse), Dr. Simon, Innocent (security), Benna (security). Especially pray for the driver, that he would have wisdom and that they would be protected in their travels.
They will head for Mission of Hope, one of our partner organizations located about 10 miles north of Port au Prince. Mission of Hope requested help, as earthquake victims have been dying at their gates due to limited medical personnel and insufficient supplies. We just heard from the Mission of Hope medical director, saying they’ve worked 33 hours straight, their supplies are dwindling and they have to close their doors for the night. Pray for strength for our staff as they step into this overwhelming tragedy.
We are also thankful to report that we’ve heard word this afternoon from Jose Castillo, NWHCM staff, who was in Port au Prince during the earthquake. He still does not have phone service, but was able to send a message along to us that he is still fine.
We also have a small group who traveled to Port au Prince this morning. Please pray for Andy Olsen (NWHCM media director), Dr. Joseph, Junior, Edril, Imano and their driver as they look for family and as Andy documents the relief efforts. Pray for safety, wisdom and their safe return.
More than anything, please pray for our national staff and friends. It is heart-breaking to talk with person after person, all aching to know about their family and friends who may be trapped under the rubble. It is hard to find someone on campus who does not have family missing – a son, a wife, parents, aunts, cousins… Pray that God would work miracles in the midst of this tragedy.
Wednesday, January 13 – 10:39 a.m.
Northwest Haiti Christian Mission is responding in the quickest ways possible to respond to the earthquakes that have shaken Haiti.
Currently, NWHCM staff are assessing the situation on the ground to identify the areas of greatest need. By working closely with our Haiti One ministry partners across the country, NWHCM plans to assist in every way it can.
To donate to NWHCM’s earthquake relief efforts, please click here.
Your support will go directly toward relief of the immediate needs in Port-au-Prince and Northwest Haiti, and will go to fund ongoing aid efforts as Haitians struggle to recover and provide for their families in the aftermath.
The destruction left by the earthquakes will most likely affect all of Haiti and its economy for months to come. NWHCM plans for its response to be strategic, responsible and ongoing. We will first be sending a team of medical personnel along with desperately needed medical supplies. We will give more information on our next steps as we talk with our partners throughout the country and further assess the situation.
Tags: News_DisasterRelief
