Project HOPE In the Field

In the Field Blog Now Hosted on Project HOPE Web Site

2011-01-13T11:17:00.003-05:00

Our blogs are now being hosted on the Project HOPE Web site. Enjoy our continuing blogs from staff and volunteers In the Field working in HOPE's lifesaving health education and humanitarian assistance programs around the world.

In the Field Blog now at http://www.projecthope.org/news-blogs/In-the-Field-blog/

Seasons Greetings From Project HOPE

2010-12-23T11:44:00.003-05:00

As part of the Project HOPE family, we’d like to wish you a warm and joyous holiday season. Thanks to your continued support and contributions, we have been able to achieve another year of lifesaving health care missions all around the world. We are truly grateful to be part of an organization that has so many extraordinary supporters!

Also, please take a few minutes to check out our new Web Site. Our recent redesign now includes hosting our blogs on our site. http://www.projecthope.org/news-blogs/In-the-Field-blog/

Saving Lives in Haiti

2010-12-07T09:40:00.015-05:00

The second rotation of Project HOPE volunteer medical personnel has just returned from Haiti after spending up to three weeks in Hôpital Albert Schweitzer fighting that country's cholera outbreak. The six nurses and one doctor worked every day on the cholera ward. The hospital, which is located in Haiti's Artibonite River Valley, is at the epicenter of the outbreak.

The largest proportion of Haiti's cases are from that region, and this team arrived just after Hurricane Tomas stirred up the water sources and brought cholera to a large percentage of the population. Below are some of the experiences they had while there:

Nurses Katie D'Entremont, Aislinn Mangan, and Cheri Hoffman were working the night shift when a very sick boy arrived. The boy was severely dehydrated from cholera, plus was suffering from severe asthma. His airway was almost closed off, and his blood oxygen levels were very low. No one was available from the pharmacy to dispense medications that could help, so the nurses scoured the hospital to find the appropriate drugs. The steroids and airway dilators were found on the Pediatric ward, and the boy was stabilized thanks to their efforts.

Susan Hall, RN had worked a long day shift on the cholera ward and was relaxing one evening. She heard that there was a very sick patient who had arrived who needed IV access for fluids. No one on the ward had been able to obtain access, so Susan ran back to the ward to help. Using the skills acquired after years of cardiac surgery experience, she was able to quickly cannulate a vein so that the patient could get the resuscitative fluids she needed.

Micaela Root, RN, a first time HOPE volunteer, had only four hours notice that she would be going to Haiti! She quickly got her affairs in order, obtained the time off from work, and ran to catch her plane. Micaela was an invaluable member of the nursing team while there, working nonstop to change IV fluids in a timely manner, flush clotted IVs, and assist in resuscitations.

Steven Gardner, MD and Cherri Dobson, RN worked together to save one patient who was discovered in hypovolemic shock. The patient was unresponsive, without palpable pulses, and had a heart rate of 30. Cherri, who was not at work at the time, was summoned when the staff was unable to place an IV. She ran over from the library and was able to place an effective IV in the patient. Meanwhile, Dr. Gardner put a catheter in the femoral vein and was manually holding it in place while fluids were pumped in. The patient survived and was walking around the next day.

Those were just some of the many experiences had by the HOPE team during their stay at HAS. Cholera is a devastating disease, but it is very curable if the medical and nursing teams work efficiently to provide rapid fluid resuscitation. All the volunteers had a very rewarding time at HAS, and all were tired but happy to return home after their rotation was over.

Story submitted by Project HOPE volunteer Cherri Dobson, a critical care nurse from Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California. Cherri recently returned from Haiti, her fourth volunteer mission for Project HOPE.

More on our work in Haiti

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HOPE offers Diabetes Holiday Cooking Class in rural New Mexico

2010-12-06T12:21:00.010-05:00

“Getting through the Holidays on a Healthy Note!”

Project HOPE New Mexico in collaboration with our partners, New Mexico Department of Public Health (NMDOH), Luna County Health Council, PMS Deming Health Center and the Luna County Extension Office, hosted a diabetes cooking class to help educate residents on how to prepare a diabetes-friendly holiday meal.

With all the traditional sweet foods and holiday gatherings, the holiday season can be challenging for people with diabetes and their families. The goal of the HABITS for Life program is to educate and offer alternative strategies for eating healthy. HOPE and its partners realized the need for offering a class that can get people “Through the Holidays on a Healthy Note” and worked together to coordinate this event.

Residents, partners and HOPE representatives gathered around the kitchen for the diabetes cooking class and also had an open discussion about managing Holiday stress at Bethel Baptist Church in Deming, New Mexico on December 3rd. Men and women were taught how to make lasagna, salad and a traditional Mexican bread pudding known as capirotada, using healthy options.

The event was extremely successful and appreciated by those individuals who attended. One male resident said, “This is such an important class because being a care giver for my wife who has Type 1 diabetes, ….. I ran out of ideas of things to make my wife. I cook for her every single day, all meals and this was delicious…. I am so glad that I came.”

Story and photos submitted by Trudy Gallegos BCH, MA. Trudy is Project HOPE's Health Educator and Outreach Supervisor for our new Habits for Life program in New Mexico.

Volunteers Visit Orphanage

2010-12-02T10:06:00.000-05:00

While in Haiti, the HOPE team has befriended one of their local Haitian drivers, an amazing and gentle man named Val Franklin. Val runs an orphanage for 51 children ranging from age two to high school age. The orphanage is in a little town called Bongnotte just outside of Leogane one of the hardest hit areas during the January 12th earthquake here in Haiti.

The orphanage is called Val’s Children’s Home Care. The building that used to be the orphanage was destroyed during the earthquake but thankfully none of the children or staff were injured. The orphanage not only provides the necessities for living such as food, clothing and shelter for these 51 children but the orphanage also has a school attached to it that educates over 300 children from surrounding areas. The original idea for the orphanage came to Val during a time of great adversity. During the elections in Haiti in the mid 1980’s Val was driving for a team of journalists when he was shot four times. He made an internal promise that if his life was spared and he were to walk again he would dedicate his life to children in need. The doors of the orphanage opened in 1988 and a dedicated woman named “Aunt” Imma has lived and worked at the orphanage caring for these children ever since. In order to support the orphanage Val has driven a car and taxi service ever since its inception.

While there the HOPE team had the great pleasure of listening to all the children sing a hand washing song that Val had taught them. The song was led by one of their schoolteachers who had grown up in Val’s orphanage and stayed in the village to teach. These children were happy and smiling and engaging despite all that they have been through. Val is an example of what’s great about Haiti. He loves his people, he loves his country and he wants to see the children of Haiti thrive. He has long-term goals of rebuilding the orphanage and rebuilding their school. Goals that these HOPE volunteers want to help him achieve. After a couple of weeks of being witness to the devastation the cholera epidemic has rained upon the youth of Haiti it was so refreshing to see the smiling faces at Val’s Children’s Home Care – smiling faces we will not soon forget!

Photos and story submitted by HOPE volunteer, Carrie Alexander, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Johns Hopkins MPH student.

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HOPE for Kids with Cancer

2010-12-02T07:01:00.000-05:00

As my visit to Shanghai comes to an end, one of my lasting impressions will be the faces of the children. Behind their heart-melting smiles are the hopes and dreams for the future of this amazing country. And Project HOPE is making sure China’s future is healthy and bright.

I was startled to hear that 30 percent of children with cancer in China do not seek appropriate follow-up care. Even worse, 40 percent of children with cancer never receive care.

Project HOPE, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Hospira and other partners are diligently working to change those numbers, as well as alleviate the suffering and save the lives of children.
Why am I optimistic? Just as Project HOPE, SCMC and multiple corporate and private partners developed the hospital into the world’s #1 center for pediatric heart surgery in less than 12 years, we expect the same results for the enhanced oncology program as well.

As I mentioned earlier this week, the new Oncology Tower at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center will more than double the number of beds available to care for children with cancer.

In addition, the Shanghai City Government recently approved the addition of a new facility that will house 500 general medicine beds that will literally double the size of the hospital and provide more opportunities for care for the children of China.

The new Oncology Tower and the new general medicine hospital building also will include facilities and technology to educate and train even more doctors and nurses from around China. Project HOPE will direct many of the training programs that will ultimately enhance the delivery of care and improve the health of children in urban and rural areas across China.

It’s a daunting task, but one that Project HOPE, SCMC and its partners are up to. When it comes to the health of China’s and the world’s children, Project HOPE is ready to take action.

Story by Rand Walton, HOPE's Director of Strategic Communications, now in China for the groundbreaking of the new Oncology Tower at Shanghai Children's Medical Center.

Providing Immediate Care and Building for the Future

2010-12-01T08:59:00.022-05:00

Cholera Experts Visit HOPE Volunteers

After several days on the road the ICDDR,B Project HOPE team flew out of Cap Haitien on the Northern coast of Haiti back to Port Au Prince only to turn right around and make the trip by car into the Artibonite Valley where cholera first appeared in Haiti. The first stop on their trip was to Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS), a long-standing partner of Project HOPE’s since the January earthquake.

Since the earthquake Project HOPE has supplied volunteer doctors, nurses and physical therapists to HAS to support the Haitian staff there. In the wake of the earthquake and now with the cholera epidemic, like many other hospitals in Haiti, HAS has seen their census rise requiring an augmentation of staff. The team was met by nurse Jill Caporiccio, a long-term HOPE volunteer now working at HAS from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mrs. LeGrand Mellon and other staff. The team spent the day touring the facilities at HAS and assessing their cholera ward. In contrast to some of the other sites visited by the team the cholera ward at HAS was well staffed, seemed to have a good supply of required cholera related items due to a recent resupply by Project HOPE, and seemed to have good systems in place to handle their cholera census. The ICDDR,B team was able to collect some cholera samples, which will be added to the cholera samples they procured at other sites and will be sent back to the national lab in Port Au Prince for culture and sensitivity.

While at HAS it was suggested by local staff that the team go a short distance down the road to the town of Verettes where there is another cholera treatment center (CTC) being run by International Medical Corps (IMC). There the team was able to collect more samples to add to their database of samples to go to the national lab. While at the IMC CTC the ICDDR,B team nurses were able to do some bedside hands-on training for the nurses on the ward imparting important information about the appropriate triage and treatment of the most fragile of cholera patients. The team has found this mode of training, the hands on at the bedside approach, is the most powerful of training tools. One they hope to help replicate at numerous levels in Haiti both at the institutional level and at the academic level having it added to nursing and medical curriculum.

Photos and story submitted by HOPE volunteer, Carrie Alexander, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Johns Hopkins MPH student.

Construction of Rehab Buildings Brings Work, Comfort and HOPE

While reports of post-election frustrations and violence fill the news, Project HOPE continues to build a Rehabilitation Center in southern Haiti. U.S. volunteers are training Haitians to construct the modular buildings to help build local skills and capacity and provide needed income as the buildings go up. Local residents gather daily to see the walls rise on the three buildings that will provide needed rehabilitation services over the coming months and years.

Eddy, 33, and a construction trainee, says this is the first time he has worked with prefabricated, foam core materials. He appreciates the opportunity to develop new skills. "I love it. I want to put all my strength into learning this new approach to building."

He adds, "Even though I was not physically harmed in the earthquake, I was harmed emotionally. Now when I walk into a building I automatically go to the corner. I like the idea of this type of building because I feel safe." He also points out that when the people stay at the Center in short-term housing while being fitted for prosthetics, they will feel safe and not be afraid of another collapse.

This fear of concrete structures, and a need for rapid construction, prompted HOPE to choose the modular design for the Rehab Center which will include a clinic, a dormitory building for patients and a housing building for volunteers.

Near the Rehab Center is a camp of people living in tents. One million people lost their homes in the earthquake. The camp school is run by a teacher who is an amputee. The school has no table for children to do their work; instead they lean on seat chairs to write their lessons. Mike, the lead builder, made a table for the school. The kids and moms cheered when he was finished. Now they have a place to do their school work– and to eat their lunch.

Report and photos by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE photographer.

Visit Our Web Site for More on Our Work in Haiti

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World AIDS Day China

2010-12-01T08:48:00.000-05:00

Many advances in medicine to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide and to improve care to patients have been made over the past several years. However, there is still more work to be done.

On World AIDS Day, I’m reminded of that work as I read the headline of the Shanghai Daily: “AIDS kills 68,000 in China in just a year.” The loss of life and suffering caused by HIV/AIDS is sobering and regrettable.

However, while in China this week, I am reminded of the work Project HOPE has performed in this country with the support of global companies such as Abbott, Pfizer and others to help people with HIV/AIDS.

During 2002 in Central China, improper plasma donation transmitted HIV to more than 250,000 rural farmers. With the assistance of our corporate partners and the leadership of China’s leading HIV/AIDS expert, Dr. Gui Xi’en, Project HOPE launched a training program in Hubei Province to introduce antiretrovirals as part of the treatment regimen.

Project HOPE trained 78 “master” trainers who then trained more than 8,700 doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians on how to incorporate the antiretrovirals into patient care.

The training was invaluable and lifesaving. Between 2002 and 2006, deaths among the HIV patients in Hubei Province dropped 72 percent. Read More from Health Affairs.

Innovative approaches like Project HOPE initiated in China, combined with the tremendous work of our NGO colleagues and continued advances in medicine will make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Story by Rand Walton, HOPE's Director of Strategic Communications, now in China for the groundbreaking of the new Oncology Tower at Shanghai Children's Medical Center.

"Another Haiti is Possible"

2010-11-30T09:00:00.006-05:00

Today the Project HOPE and The Humanitarian Network team began putting together the dorm building that will house volunteers who come to Haiti to help with HOPE’s physical rehabilitation program. The building is going up next to a small tent “town.”

I had the opportunity to speak to Joseph Charles, 21, a Haitian who has been working on the building site as an interpreter and site manager. I asked Joseph what it has meant to him to work on this project.

“I can't wait to get up in the morning to get to the site,” he told me. “Sometimes I wake up at midnight and look at the clock wishing it was time to start working.”

Working on the building team is helping him see a path to Haiti’s recovery. “I realize that you [Mike, Ron, Bonnie] really, really care about what you are doing. Most NGOs just come and spend money, but not work on projects,” he says. “Maybe you are all sons of God. You are all blessed and you do things differently. I keep thinking about [how you make] every detail very important. It is very rare to find people like this and I will do my best to be part of the team.”

You see, Joseph wants to make a difference in his native land. “I want to help as much as possible to make a new Haiti,” he says. With a lot of hard work, and a little help from others, Joseph is confident, “another Haiti is possible.”

Story and photos by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE photographer.

Visit Our Web Site for More on Our Work in Haiti

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Groundbreaking for Pediatric Oncology Tower

2010-11-30T08:31:00.000-05:00

Rain could not dampen the spirits of the hundreds who gathered today at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center to witness the ground breaking for a new 148-bed Oncology Tower.

The lifesaving care and resources the new tower will bring are greatly needed. Last year, the doctors and nurses at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center admitted and cared for more than 2,400 children with cancer. In addition, another 21,285 children with cancer were treated through the hospital on an outpatient basis.

The new seven-story Oncology Tower more than doubles the number of beds the Medical Center currently dedicates to cancer patients. Also, the new tower, which will be completed by 2012, will house research facilities to investigate new treatments and processes for improving care to children.

And thanks to a $1 million grant from Project HOPE partner Hospira, health professional training and the development of a palliative care program will begin immediately. A relatively new concept in China, palliative care will bring much needed physical and emotional support to children and their families addressing the tough challenges associated with cancer and its treatments.

Stuart Myers, Senior Vice President for Global Health at Project HOPE, said it best, “Despite the rain today, this is a bright day for the children of China.”

Story and photos by Rand Walton, HOPE's Director of Strategic Communications, now in China for the groundbreaking of the new Oncology Tower at Shanghai Children's Medical Center.

Life, Death, Education and Thanksgiving in Haiti

2010-11-29T08:32:00.017-05:00

Team Saves More Lives, Witnesses Death and Provides Lifesaving Education

The ICDDR,B and Project HOPE team spent a long evening and into the night helping the local Haitian staff here in Milot care for the most critically ill cholera patients. Late in the evening the team was called to the cholera unit to help start an IV on a young child and they were successful. While there on the unit they did rounds on some of other critically ill patients only to realize an older gentleman had died due to cholera complications just prior to their arrival. Another patient while being rapidly rehydrated was diagnosed as having complications due to hypoglycemia. The team flew into action. Another American nurse volunteering here at Hôpital Sacre Coeur was able to find a glucometer to test the blood and indeed the patient was severely hypoglycemic. One of the nurses from the ICDDR.B team, Catherine Costa BSN, MPH, had thought to bring dextrose solution with her on the long journey from Bangladesh – a precious resource here in Haiti. She was able to infuse this life saving treatment and the patient is now doing well. One of the other patients the team intervened with was not so lucky and died early the following morning.

After this long evening of hands on care the team split into three groups. One group went a short distance to Cap Haitien to meet with the medical director there. Another group went to Hôpital Sacre Coeur to help with ten recent cholera admissions to the hospital. And yet another went to a nearby church to do a training session with several local schools.

The new admissions at the hospital included ten developmentally disabled children and one disabled adult from the Missionaries of the Poor orphanage and home in Cap Haitien. The Missionaries of the Poor is a Catholic organization that runs homes throughout the world for the poor and for orphaned disabled children, adults and the elderly. Brother Henry, one of the brothers from the Missionaries of the Poor who had accompanied the sick children from the orphanage was able to have a portion of the ICDDR,B team visit the orphanage to try to diagnose the source of the cholera outbreak. One of the critically ill children from the home who had been suffering from cholera related diarrhea for just three hours came into the cholera ward at the brink of death. IV lines were started and the life saving IV solution was pushed by force into the young girl’s IV line. She became pulse-less and was not breathing. Chest compressions were started but to no avail she was too far along in the cholera cycle and died there in the unit. An all too common outcome for the poorest of Haitians who lack quick access to much needed care.

The team responsible for the training of local school children had an audience of 170 students ranging in age from 4th grade to 11th grade. They were all looking sharp in their colorful Haitian school uniforms, a hallmark of Haitian school children. They were engaging and interested in the discussion. Of all of the audiences thus far the students, particularly the high school students, asked some insightful and touch questions. Reaching this audience is all too important as these children return home from school to share the messages about the prevention and treatment of cholera to their friends, families and communities. Spreading the word is an important piece of the overall cholera education plan the ICDDR,B came here to implement.

Photos and story submitted by HOPE volunteer, Carrie Alexander, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Johns Hopkins MPH student.

Rehab Building Continues to Progress as Volunteers Experience Thanksgiving in Haiti

The team got in later than usual today, and we didn't have much of a meal ready, so Ron White, Managing Director, The Humanitarian Network, broke out the freeze-dried backpacking stuff and it was a feast!

Everyone should spend at least one Thanksgiving helping others... Instead of Thanksgiving football, I got to play soccer in the parking lot with a few kids. No ball, but a water bottle instead. Sigh.

Buildings are coming along slower than we would like to see. Haitians do like to discuss every point, so it takes longer. When something isn't working quite right, they all have to throw in their ideas. It is kind of fun to watch. Enjoy these photos in and around the rehab building site on Thanksgiving Day.

Story and photos by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE photographer.

Visit Our Web Site for More on Our Work in Haiti

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Oncology Tower Groundbreaking in China

2010-11-29T07:25:00.000-05:00

It is about the children.

Today, there are more than 300 million children in China. Sadly, experts estimate that more than 45,000 children in China are diagnosed with cancer each year. At this rate, there are simply not enough resources on hand in China to meet the physical and emotional needs of children, and their families, suffering with cancer.

Fortunately, Project HOPE and long-time partner, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, as well as Hospira, a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company, have the children’s best interests at heart.

Tomorrow, the three partners, the Shanghai City Government and other Chinese health institutions will break ground on a new Oncology Tower at the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. The new tower will deliver many of the technologies, services and health professionals required to address this serious situation.

Just as Project HOPE assembled the right mix of dedicated volunteer doctors, nurses and corporate partners to establish and develop the world’s leading hospital in pediatric cardiac surgery (surgeons at SCMC performed more than 3,000 open-heart surgeries on children last year), HOPE and partners plan and expect to do the same to address childhood cancer in China.
The Shanghai Children’s Medical Center is already a leader in China in the care of children with cancer. More than 15,000 children went to the Medical Center for cancer treatment last year.

The new Oncology Tower will expand the Medical Center’s capabilities to meet the growing demand for care.

It is always about the children. I am proud of Project HOPE’s commitment to children around the world.

And while you cannot be with me tomorrow for the ground breaking in Shanghai, I will share with you the events of the day and give you an insider’s look into the much-needed Oncology Tower.

Story by Rand Walton, HOPE's Director of Strategic Communications, now in China for the groundbreaking of the new Oncology Tower at Shanghai Children's Medical Center.

Volunteers Continue Cholera Education As New Clinic Building Nears Completion

2010-11-23T13:48:00.014-05:00

Cholera: A Disease of Contrasts

When the combined ICDDR,B and Project HOPE team received word late Saturday evening that the airport in Cap Haitien, one of Haiti’s Northern coastal towns hardest hit by cholera, had reopened after it had been closed due to riots, they drove through the night back to Port Au Prince to catch the first morning flight to Cap Haitian. At 6:00 am Sunday morning, the team departed for Cap Haitien.

Upon arrival they moved due south to Hôpital Sacre Coeur (HSC) in Milot where many cholera patients have sought treatment. Here, in addition to training and assessment, one of the ICDDR,B’s two microbiologists, Dr. Zahid Hayat Mahmud, will collect samples from patients to test for culture and sensitivity to see which antibiotic the cholera bacteria in this region is sensitive to. The cholera bacteria can have different sensitivities to different antibiotics regionally in the same outbreak, necessitating the need to take several samples in all regions where outbreaks of cholera have occurred. These samples will be sent back to the National Lab in Port Au Prince where ICDDR,B team member and microbiologist Dr. Sirajul Islam is standing by to test the samples. Dr. Mahmud and other team members have reported that in their home country of Bangladesh they see more than 30,000 cholera patients a month and can treat as many as 1,000 per day. They have two cholera epidemics per year, pre monsoon and post monsoon, giving them the hands-on practical experience and knowledge base it requires to help Haiti learn about cholera.

HSC in Milot has seen more than 220 cholera patients and 12 cholera related deaths. On the first day of training a comprehensive plan was put in place to reach staff at all levels of the hospital from cleaning staff and security personnel to sanitation workers and clinical staff. Three classes took place at the hospital training over 150 personnel and an additional class took place at a church to more than 130 members of a local Haitian youth group and congregants.

HSC and their treatment of cholera patients is in stark contrast to the hospital the team had visited two days prior in Les Cayes. In Les Cayes fear of contracting cholera kept some local staff from touching or even come near cholera patients. In addition, lack of staffing and resources left their system poorly organized to be able to appropriately manage the numbers of cholera patients they were being asked to treat.

Although HSC is also burdened by supply issues they are much better staffed and have the resources to organize a system wide plan. The fear of cholera here has taken on a different form. Staff is digging in, treating and touching their patients, but they have adopted habits that will use valuable fiscal resources such as donning masks, full gowns, rubber boots and surgical hats. These habits are some of the things that the team hopes they can change with the education and training they have to offer. Cholera is a disease that can only be contracted through contaminated water or food. Trying to dispel the myths about contracting cholera from all sorts of other means is proving harder than the team had thought. This being Haiti’s first ever cholera outbreak, it is no wonder there is so much fear and misunderstanding and for this reason the team is hoping a little education goes a long way.

Photos and story submitted by HOPE volunteer, Carrie Alexander, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Johns Hopkins MPH student.

Buildings Go Up and HOPE Grows

Today the HOPE team continued to develop. The roof on the clinic building is almost finished and we will put the metal on it tomorrow. We will also have another team start on building 2, the ward.

Many people visit the site each day and watch and ask questions. Most know someone who need the services and treatment that Project HOPE and its partners will provide here.

The local Haitian team members are most interesting. All just want an opportunity to help rebuild Haiti and to help someone, so we are looking for ways to assist them.

We are helping our two interpreters set up a new business to work with NGOs and companies that need their language skills and they already have their first client...a company building 2400 homes.

Both the interpreters were volunteers at the Adventist Hospital in Diquini for several months after the earthquake. They helped volunteer doctors and nurses communicate and calm those needing surgery. They spent many hours in the operating room and remember many of those that are coming back to the hospital to receive treatment.

We also have found possible opportunities for the local people helping on the team to continue working once our three buildings are complete building houses. We will also use the workers we have trained on future clinics.

Then there is Samuel, a mechanical engineer by degree and a maintenance person at the hospital. He has become a great asset. He helps with the construction coordination and he lets us use some of his tools, such as much need drill bits.

We are looking for ways for him to use his degree and work in some of the many communities being rebuilt.

These are great people who care...and who want to really make a difference in the lives of their fellow countrymen. It is a wonderful to be associated and part of the HOPE team.

Story by Ron White, Managing Director, The Humanitarian Network. Photos by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE photographer.

Visit Our Web Site for More on Our Work in Haiti

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Cholera Team Saves Lives, Rehab Facility Progresses and Critically Needed Medicines Delivered

2010-11-22T09:26:00.031-05:00

Cholera Team Saves Lives

The ICDDR,B team in Les Cayes spent morning at the Immaculate Conception of Les Cayes Hospital. The team trained 37 nurses and two physicians, a standing room only event.

The team later toured the hospital's cholera ward and resuscitated two patients in stage three of severe dehydration (no pulse, shallow respiration, and sunken eyes … no response to external stimuli.) They were within an hour of death. With consent of local staff, our team inserted an IV into the patient's collapsed veins and started a 3-liter bottle of Ringers lactate. Within minutes the patient revived and became responsive. In four hours, the patient was smiling and talking. Later a nonresponsive 3 year old was brought to the ward. Two IV attempts were unsuccessful because of severe dehydration; the third attempt was successful and within one hour, the patient was sitting up drinking Oral Rehydration Salts and laughing.

We spent the remaining portion of day caring for patients and engaging in bedside hands-on training with local nurses. There's a lot to teach and the Haitians are eager to learn.

The team is deploying to Cap Haitien on Sunday November 21 to continue training.

Story and photos by Fred Gerber, Project HOPE's Special Projects Director.

Rehab Facility Progresses

Shortly after the January earthquake, Project HOPE sent a team of experts from Mass General Hospital to evaluate how to best contribute to rebuilding health capacity in Haiti. They advised us to focus on rehabilitation needs for survivors near the quake’s epicenter. Since then, HOPE has been working to build a comprehensive Rehabilitation Center at the Adventist Hospital (HAH), together with partners Christian Blind Mission and Prosthetika.

Rehab activities have been going on for months without a dedicated space to offer services. HOPE now has a team of U.S. volunteers assembling three modular buildings at HAH – including a 24 x 40 ft Rehab Center, housing for international medical volunteers and housing for patients being fitted for prosthetic limbs.

In coordination with our partner, Humanitarian Network (HN) , the construction team is hiring local Haitians, teaching them how to assemble the structures. All local trainees will receive training certificates, providing short term income and, hopefully, longer term employment opportunities as rebuilding efforts grow.

From the first day containers of building materials arrived at the Hospital, area residents have come forth to help. A local French teacher is now serving as translator for the crew, as well as site administrator. Another man, at the hospital with his wife – an amputee receiving therapy – joined the construction crew. As HN leader Ron White reports, “we showed up and so did they – we share the same mission.”

Story by Courtney Guthreau, Project HOPE’s Director – Americas Region.
Photos by Bonnie Hudlet.

HOPE Delivers Critically Needed Medicines

It was quite a day. Project HOPE staff Doug Lane, Regional Logistics Manager and Charles Prospere, HOPE’s Haiti Representative, were able to obtain critically needed medicines and supplies from a local medical warehouse and get them delivered to Hôpital Albert Schweitzer where Project HOPE volunteers continue to care for Cholera patients. Check out the photos.

Photos by Bonnie Hudlet.

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Help Support HOPE's Continuing Work in Haiti and Around the World Now

HOPE Volunteers Provide Cholera Care, Education and Build Facilities for Rehab Program

2010-11-19T09:54:00.022-05:00

Project HOPE and ICDDR,B Team Begins Much Needed Cholera Education

As the death toll in Haiti’s cholera epidemic surpasses 1,000 with more than 16,000 having been hospitalized, Project HOPE welcomed the International Center for Diarrheal Disease and Research team from Bangladesh to Port Au Prince Haiti to help provide much needed cholera education (ICDDR,B). At the onset of the cholera outbreak Project HOPE sent a team from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to Haiti to assess the situation and begin helping with patient treatment. Led by Dr. Larry Ronan, a HOPE volunteer and MGH physician, this team was able to coordinate and secure the participation of the ICDDR,B team who are experts in the field of cholera education, assessment, research and treatment.

Project HOPE volunteers along with the ICDDR,B experts now form an eight member team consisting of two nursing officers, two clinical researchers, two physicians and two microbiologists. The team was split into two independently functioning four person teams to maximize the amount of assessment and training they could accomplish during their three week stay.

The team’s original plan was to head North to Cap Haitien on the North coast of Haiti where the more than 1,500 patients have been hospitalized and 119 have died giving them the highest death rate (7.5%) of any region in Haiti. Due to violent protests and riots in Cap Haitien these plans had to be modified.

One team stayed in Port Au Prince under the leadership of Project HOPE volunteers MG (Ret) Darrel Porr, M.D. and Carma Erickson-Hurt BSN, MSN to meet with government officials and public relations personnel. The other set out South to Jacmel on the Southern coast of Haiti to start training sessions with local medical staff and healthcare workers. While Jacmel thus far has been spared from the cholera outbreak local officials and medical staff recognized the need for training to prevent and potentially treat cholera should it arrive in their region.

On their first day of training in Jacmel, the team conducted three sessions training with a total of thirty-seven doctors, nurses and ancillary staff participating. Two of the sessions took place at Portal Leogane Clinic in Jacmel and one at Hospital Saint Michel. The team was well received and was able to dispel some of the common misconceptions about cholera that often prevent a cholera patient from getting proper treatment. Because this is Haiti’s first cholera outbreak in many years, there are many fears and anxieties about how cholera is spread and transmitted.

The training sessions will go a long way towards getting Haiti’s local medical staff appropriately informed to diagnose and treat cholera patients and alleviate the continued spread of this easily treated but deadly disease.

Photos and story submitted by HOPE volunteer, Carrie Alexander, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Johns Hopkins MPH student.

More on our work in Haiti.

Volunteers Continue Caring for Cholera Patients at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer

Six Project HOPE nurses arrived this week in Deschapelles, Haiti to continue work in the cholera ward at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. Haiti is experiencing a surge in cholera cases due to water contamination after the devastating earthquake last February.

The Project HOPE nurses got right to work after a brief orientation to the hospital and cholera protocols. For the next three weeks, they will be working 24/7, providing much needed help to overworked Haitian professionals. At least two nurses will be on the ward at all times to start and monitor IVs and make sure that these desperately Ill patients get the oral rehydration fluids they need in order to fight this disease. Cholera patients require massive amounts of fluids and electrolytes because of the losses from diarrhea and vomiting. When they arrive at the hospital, they are evaluated for disease severity and assigned to one of four treatment protocols. Protocol 4 patients require up to seven liters of fluid in the first three hours of treatment. Challenges encountered by the nurses include putting IVs in severely dehydrated patients, working at night without adequate lighting, language barriers (translators are not always available), and of course keeping themselves hydrated in the hot climate.

None of this seems to matter, as all are enthusiastic, hardworking, and just grateful for the opportunity to help the people of Haiti.

Story submitted by Project HOPE volunteer Cherri Dobson, a critical care nurse from Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California. Cherri is serving on her fourth mission for Project HOPE.

More on our work in Haiti.

Modular Structures Being Built for Rehab Facility

The three modular structures (24 x 40 clinic, 28 x 20 dorm for housing up to 12 volunteers, 28 x 20 patient ward for individuals awaiting treatment) are currently being installed on the campus of Adventist Hospital in Diquini. The structures will be used to support HOPE’s rehabilitative health program in Haiti to help those still recovering from the 2010 earthquake.

HOPE’s work in connection with the installation of the modular units is being supported the Humanitarian Network, the Avon Foundation for Women, and other private donors.

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Hola from the Americas

2010-11-18T09:08:00.005-05:00

Project HOPE staff from the Americas Region participated in their annual Leadership Conference last week in Mexico City. Technical sessions focused on improving programs and building staff skills. HOPE staff from Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti, Peru, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and the United States (New Mexico)were represented. Additional leadership conferences will be help for Project HOPE staff around the world in coming months.

Volunteers Complete Suriname Mission

2010-11-17T11:30:00.008-05:00

The health education and humanitarian mission to Suriname was cut a little short when the Continuing Promise 2010 was quickly deployed to Haiti early this month to be prepared to help in the wake of Hurricane Tomas. Still, Project HOPE volunteers and their military counterparts provided needed medical services in the country.

In Suriname:

1,765 patients were cared for

108 surgeries were performed

676 educational encounters took place

Project HOPE volunteers are home now, but we will continue to tell their stories and even post a few videos over the coming weeks, so check back for more.

Photo by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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HOPE Mexico Recognizes World Diabetes Day

2010-11-16T07:00:00.008-05:00

On Sunday, November 14th Project HOPE participated in a World Diabetes Day event in Mexico City. Gathering in front of the Angel of Independence, thousands celebrated the importance of an active lifestyle, including activites such as biking and dancing, to prevent and control diabetes, obesity and related health problems. Promoting awareness is a priority for the Ministry of Health (MOH); Mexico has the second highest global obesity rate and diabetes is the leading cause of death nationwide.

Thanks to a donation from Johnson & Johnson Project HOPE offered free blood glucose screenings, using a traffic light to help people interpret their results.

Project HOPE also donated 20 One Touch glucose meters and 5,000 test strips to the Mexico City Department of Health Promotion. Vice Director Monica Huerta thanked Project HOPE for its generous support and leadership during the event.

Working with “peer educators” -- people living with diabetes who have been trained by Project HOPE to educate and inspire others -- the organization will continue to raise awareness and offer screening in public spaces year-round.

Better access to screening and education is key because early detection and good self-management helps to prevent or delay complications and raise quality of life.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

The International Diabetes Federation is lighting virtual candles to “Bring Diabetes to Light.”
In Honor of World Diabetes Day, Help Support Project HOPE's Health Education Programs Around the Globe.

World Diabetes Day in India

2010-11-15T10:00:00.008-05:00

On the evening of November 13th, leading up to World Diabetes Day, New Delhi committed to lighting up 50 monuments and buildings across the city in blue. Blue is the official color of World Diabetes Day, symbolized by the blue ring, and this effort to collaborate to turn the city blue demonstrated India’s commitment to fight the rising tide of diabetes in the country.

Project HOPE's, Senior Vice President of Stuart Myers, Program Manager Dr. Sonia Kakar, Program Officer Charlotte Block and our guest Aileen Knip, the chair of the Canadian Diabetes Association attended the lighting at Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple. Also in attendance were notable corporate donors, doctors and the Danish Ambassador to India, H.E. Freddy Svane and his family. Mr. Myers and Ms. Knip gave short speeches after which, at the appointed moment, buttons were pushed at each of the appointed monuments, bathing them all in a blue light. After this ceremony, 50 lanterns were lit in the temple courtyard and rose up into the night sky.

Attendees adjourned to the Russian Center to watch the movie premier of a film called Sankalp, about the challenges three children face with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Sankalp is a Hindi word that means “a promise one makes to oneself.” In this case, the children promise to take control of their diabetes management and live long and healthy lives.

Story and photos by Project HOPE's Charlotte Block,MS, RD, Program Officer - Global Health Chronic Disease/Nutrition,who spent World Diabetes Day visiting HOPE program sites in India.

In Honor of World Diabetes Day, Help Support Project HOPE's Health Education Programs Around the Globe.

India Diabetes Educator Project – Master Trainer Refresher Course

2010-11-14T14:39:00.001-05:00

Since 2007, Project HOPE in cooperation with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has been implementing a diabetes educator project throughout India. India, which carries the largest case burden of adults with diabetes, has traditionally lacked medical professionals to fill the important diabetes educator role. Through the India Diabetes Educator Project (IDEP), Project HOPE is helping create a strong force of diabetes educators to help patients with diabetes learn self-management skills to live long and productive lives. Participating health centers throughout the country nominate nurses and dietitians to be trained as Master Trainers. The graduates then teach other health care workers in diabetes self management education (DSME) through a six-month distance learning approach.

In the days leading up to the World Diabetes Day celebration in New Delhi on November 14th, Project HOPE, with assistance from IDF and Canadian Diabetes Association diabetes educators, hosted a “refresher” course for the Master Trainers. Enthusiastic nurses and dietitian trainers came to New Delhi from participating health centers across the country to hone their diabetes education skills. They heard expert presentations about motivational interviewing, behavior change theory, the Conversation Map® approach, and role playing case studies. The Master Trainers will carry this knowledge back to their health centers and passing these new skills to their diabetes educator students, thus expanding the reach of DSME across India.

Story and photos by Project HOPE's Charlotte Block,MS, RD, Program Officer - Global Health Chronic Disease/Nutrition,who spent World Diabetes Day visiting HOPE program sites in India.

In Honor of World Diabetes Day, Help Support Project HOPE's Health Education Programs Around the Globe.

Diabetes in Suriname

2010-11-12T11:24:00.006-05:00

Project HOPE volunteer, Dr. Ruth Hart, an emergency medicine physician from Manlius, New York, has seen a lot in her 30 year career. Still was startled when she first examined Rodney Berika who visited the medical site set up by the Continuing Promise 2010 mission in Paramaribo, Suriname.

“He came in wearing Crocs®. When he sat down and slipped off his shoes, I saw the dirty bloody bandage wrapped around his foot. It was clear that part of his foot was missing and he had lost most of the feeling,” says Dr. Hart.

When taking his medical history, Dr. Hart found out that Mr. Berika is a 29-year-old man, with a 10-year history of diabetes. He works on the docks in Suriname, carrying boxes and luggage. Berika is married with two sons and works very hard to support his family. He has never been able to afford the medications and medical needed to take care of his diabetes.

Dr. Hart consulted with a military doctor participating in Continuing Promise 2010 mission and the two diagnosed Berika’s foot with an advanced diabetic pressure ulcer. They also examined his left foot and found signs of Gangrene on the fourth toe.

The team treated the patient’s right foot and then turned their attention to educating the Berika and his family about the seriousness of diabetes and necessity of daily attention and care to his disease.

In addition, the medical team called the local university hospital, and arranged for a representative of the hospital to provide continuing counseling and initial treatment for Berika.

Still long-term care, daily testing and availability of insulin may remain challenges for Berika. With Suriname’s wet environment and Berika’s occupation as an outdoor laborer, wound care and healing also remain a concern.

In the meantime, Dr. Hart provided a translator with money and instructions to purchase a real pair of shoes and some socks for Mr. Berika to wear to insure his foot stays better protected and clean.

During the evening, others onboard the USS Iwo Jima took up a collection for fresh socks and money to possibly be able to help Berika get some of the medical equipment he needs.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Provide Care at Med Sites, Hospitals and Rural Clinics

2010-11-10T08:48:00.008-05:00

Project HOPE volunteers provided medical care and education in several different locations as they were split up into groups in order to make the most impact during their time in Suriname. A few stayed onboard the USS Iwo Jima, many provided care at the main medical site in Paramaribo, and others were flown into rural parts of Suriname to help those that often have no access to a doctor.

HOPE’s Dr. Colin Muir, a physician from Cocoa Beach, Florida, along with two other HOPE volunteers and military medical professionals participated in a health education mission visiting several hospitals. The group offered a variety of presentations to local health care professionals on topics as varied as sexual transmitted diseases, to dealing with stress, to prenatal care and resuscitation.

"We learned that Suriname has a high level of medical care,” Dr. Muir says. “The people are well educated, and have a high level of knowledge even when dealing with challenges such as delayed test results. Still they handle the challenges pretty well."

Volunteer Corinne Bragg-Muir, a nurse from Cocoa Beach, Florida, also visited a local hospital to participate in a teaching and information exchange session with one of the Navy nurses. "We shared information on STD's, and one of the things we let them know about is the availability of a vaccine for HPV, one of the main sources for cervical cancer in young women," she says.

The day went very smoothly for the main medical site with a steady stream of people, seeking care and information about their health.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers in Suriname

2010-11-09T12:34:00.005-05:00

The first day of work in Suriname was marked with celebration as the USS Iwo Jima Commodore Thomas Negus participated in opening ceremonies alongside Suriname’s dignitaries at a chosen medical site in Paramaribo.

Commodore Negus talked a bit about the eight-nation humanitarian mission and the importance of the non-governmental organization participation. “The great thing about Continuing Promise is that number one, it is a equal partnership mission,” says Commodore Negus. “We go into these counties on their invitation, use the elements and capability of our government, our international partners and our strong civilian non-governmental organization participation like Project HOPE. We have a strong partnership with Project HOPE, they have been leaders in every (Continuing Promise) mission we have done. We might be approaching a hundred different volunteers on this mission alone."

After the opening ceremonies, the medical site went into full gear.

A girl who was so excited to have a tooth removed that she had little to eat all day, felt a bit light headed after her tooth removal. HOPE volunteers Kerry Decker, a nurse from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Dr. Ruth Hart, a physician from Manlius, New York, came to her aid.

“We gave her some fluids, took her blood pressure, and provided some liquid Ibuprofen for the pain. She feels a lot better right now,” said Dr. Hart.

Other Project HOPE volunteers are doing overnights in Suriname including Dr. Mona Khanna, a physician from Chicago, Illinois, who is doing a four day stay at a medical site.

As the first day came to a close, volunteers are enthusiastic for their continuing work in Suriname.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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More from Guyana

2010-11-08T09:23:00.027-05:00

As the time was nearing to leave Guyana and set course for Suriname, Project HOPE volunteers alongside the crew and medical staff onboard the USS Iwo Jima continued to treat and provide health education for as many Guyanese as possible.

Some of the medical personal continued work at the onshore medical clinic site while a few others, including HOPE volunteer Dr. Colin Muir, an OB/GYN from Cocoa Beach, Florida, and Brenda Jones, a women’s health nurse practitioner from Valparaiso, Indiana, made a last visit to New Amsterdam Hospital to offer insight and learn about the maternal health practices.

While on site, the volunteers were privileged to witness the birth of a baby. "We were able to be part of a delivery by the midwife," says Dr. Muir. "The woman in labor was a young single mother, a very gracious lady. She wanted to pray before she went into labor so we held hands, she said a prayer and went on with the labor."

In the labor room, Dr. Muir joked with the young women before she had given birth to the possibly of name the boy Colin, but the women had the name Jeramyia picked out.

Onboard the ship, the Prime Minister of Guyana, Samuel Hinds, received a tour of the USS Iwo Jima and also went ashore to one of the engineering sites where the Continuing Promise 2010 team helped rebuild a school. The team installed a working pump system, electricity throughout the school, rebuilt a fence and fixed a broken basketball hoop. The effort and the effects on the community will have a big impact for the children of Guyana for a long-time to come so it was most appropriate that the site was chosen as the location for the closing ceremonies.

As the Air Force band played their last note and the helicopters packed up, many of the volunteers looked back on Guyana with some good memories and the knowledge of really helping out some small communities.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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HOPE Continues in Haiti

2010-11-05T13:56:00.005-04:00

As Hurricane Tomas and its aftermath brings more sorrow to the people of Haiti, Charles Prospere, Project HOPE's Representative in Haiti sends a message of continuing HOPE and help.

Help Support HOPE's Continuing Work in Haiti Now

5,515 Patients Treated in Guyana

2010-11-04T08:54:00.014-04:00

As the humanitarian assistance and health education mission in Guyana finished up last week, Project HOPE volunteers along with the USS Iwo Jima crew were treated with a visit from the President of Guyana, Bharat Jagdeo.

Volunteer, Jeanine Trethewey, a registered nurse from State College, Pennsylvania saw President Jagdeo as he walked though the post operating room and met with fellow Guyanese people that had received medical coverage on the USS Iwo Jima.

"It was an awesome day, we had 10 patients that had surgery today, and 10 people that went home," Jeanine says. "It was very exciting as we had the President of Guyana come though the doors and the smiles on the faces of the Guyanese people was just unbelievable. They were so excited to see him. People had their photos taken with him, he was a very nice gentleman, and he thanked us, and it was very cool."

In Guyana, HOPE volunteers along with their military and other NGO counterparts:

Treated 5,515 patients
Performed 114 surgeries
Participated in 4,108 health education contacts

Check back for more on the Suriname mission soon.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

Help Support Project HOPE's Humanitarian, Health Education and Volunteer Programs Around the Globe.

Volunteers Expand Service to Other Hospitals

2010-11-03T08:25:00.008-04:00

Today was one of the toughest days I've seen here in Haiti. Two Project HOPE volunteers, Jason Harris and Richelle Charles, have shifted their focus to the hospital in Petite Riviere, a small city on the opposite side of the Artibonite River. It's not far from the Hospital Albert Schweitzer, but because there's not a direct road between the two, and because the north side of the river is seeing more cholera cases, that hospital has remained extremely busy with new cholera cases. Jason and Richelle jumped in head first, assisting local nurses in evaluating patients and tending to urgent cases.

By the end of the day, both were exhausted but practically begging to stay longer. Unfortunately, with the state of the roads in this part of Haiti, it was necessary to leave before dark. Having learned a great deal about the processes in the Petite Riviere hospital on their first day, they are both looking forward to returning today to see if they can't make some improvements in patient flow to help heal people more quickly and get them home.

In the end, cholera is not a difficult sickness to treat if addressed in its early stages. Unfortunately, the early stages do not last very long, and when an outbreak strikes the number of patients can quickly overwhelm medical staff. In the end, it's as much about putting in place efficient systems for patient care as much as it's about in-depth medical knowledge.

The other interesting part of my day was the part I spent with Eddie Rawson, son of Ian Rawson, Hospital Albert Schweitzer's managing director and overall guru. We traveled around the Artibonite valley to see some of the everyday activities through which people can be exposed to cholera. We found men diving in the river to pull out buckets of sand to mix up concrete, women doing their wash in the river, and men working rice paddies irrigated with river water. All expressed the general feeling that they had no choice; their contact with potentially contaminated water sources was a calculated risk, and while catching cholera was something they desperately hoped to avoid, they could not afford to simply stop working. Such are the realities of Haiti.

Photos and story by HOPE's correspondent on the ground, Brendan Hoffman.

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2010-11-02T06:17:00.001-04:00

With many of the newly-arrived volunteers exhausted after a long week and the regular outpatient services at the hospital closed for the weekend, many of the volunteers took the morning off. Not so with Jason Harris, a pediatric infectious disease specialist who arrived on Thursday evening for his volunteer stint with Project HOPE. Jason and I started off first thing in the morning making the rounds in the pediatric ward, checking on a couple of cases of particular concern before moving on to the young cholera patients, where Jason eventually communicated through the language barrier his desire to collect stool samples from the most recently arrived patients.

The good news is that there was only one new admission this morning, but it's still important to collect these samples and have them properly analyzed to determine which antibiotics are the most effective against this particular cholera strain. That analysis will take place back at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, so after collecting a few specimens, we made a visit to the lab where Jason and Richelle Charles, another Project HOPE volunteer and infectious disease specialist who arrived with Jason on Thursday, cultured some samples and stored them as best they could before they can get them shipped home. This process continued throughout the afternoon, collecting and culturing samples to be analyzed back in the States.

Meanwhile, most of the volunteer nurses are taking the 3pm to 11pm shift today. It's nice to see the camaraderie developing between the regular Haitian staff at the hospital and the HOPE volunteers, despite the fact that almost none of them have a language in common. There's a mutual respect that develops when everybody realizes they're there for the same reason: saving lives.

Photos and story by HOPE's correspondent on the ground, Brendan Hoffman.

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Volunteers Continue to Help with Cholera Outbreak in Haiti

2010-11-01T09:29:00.006-04:00

The volunteer nurses who have traveled to Haiti with Project HOPE are settling into their new routines nicely here at the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. Five arrived Tuesday evening: Emily Ferguson, Joyce Barkin, Alysia Monaco, Nora Sheehan, and Jane Caporiccio. Jane's sister, Jill Caporiccio, is already here and lending her nursing skills where needed on top of helping to coordinate Project HOPE's activities in Deschapelles.

As the number of cholera cases coming into the hospital has stabilized and routines established to handle them, some of the nurses are applying their skills elsewhere. Jane and Emily have been lending a helping hand in the busy emergency department, treating everything from infections to motorbike accidents, while Joyce tapped her experience as a scrub nurse to assist surgeons in the operating room today. It's amazing to see how hard these women work, the care with which they do it, and the way they constantly keep busy as if they themselves needed to keep moving in order to stay alive. They've divided themselves into two shifts, staffing the hospital from 7am until 11pm, and with another week and a half left in their mission, it seems as if they're just getting warmed up.

Photos and story by HOPE's correspondent on the ground, Brendan Hoffman.

Help Support HOPE's Continuing Work in Haiti Now

Dr. Ruth Hart

2010-11-01T08:10:00.001-04:00

As Project HOPE volunteers begin work in Suriname, Dr. Ruth Hart reflects on her time in Guyana.

Dr. Ruth Hart is an attending emergency medicine physician and also a medical coordinator for the New York State Health Department Office of Professional Medical Conduct. While Dr. Hart has been working in the medical field for over 30 years, she still appreciates what it is like to be a brand new doctor.

"I still remember the day I walked into the emergency room and I was no longer a student," she says. "I walked into the examining room and the first patient I saw had been assaulted. He was very beaten up. I remember running back out of the room to the doctor I was partnering with and telling that physician this patient needs a doctor, now. My partner, who was more experienced then me, looked at me, and put his hands on my shoulder and turned me around, and said, 'You are the doctor.'"

"That was a big moment," Dr. Hart continues. "I was no longer being supervised, and I realized that I was the one where the buck would stop."

Dr. Hart has now expanded her work beyond the emergency room walls on her first volunteer mission with Project HOPE.

"I didn't know what to expect at first," she says. But after being involved and watching the setups of the sites, she was impressed with the organization of the medical clinics. "I think the best part was was seeing the patients in Guyana," she adds. "The people were very lovely and very excited to be seen."

Dr. Hart says she made a point to try to make an impact with every person sitting in front of her, whoever the patient may be.

"I learned a lot by asking them about their jobs, like their work in the sugar cane fields and other various farming jobs," she says. "I was impressed that education was very important in the country, it was a very positive experience."

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Reflecting on Work in Guyana

2010-10-29T09:33:00.010-04:00

As Project HOPE volunteers begin work in Suriname today, Dr. Steven Saris reflects on his time in Guyana.

Dr. Steven Saris has worked as an internist and primary care medicine physician for 25 years. He recently closed his private practice in order to have more time to work with people in need around the world.

"I have been interested in working with Project HOPE since I was a child," he says. " I remember seeing advertisements on TV about the SS HOPE traveling around the world to care for those in need and seeing the doctors taking care of patients port side," says Dr. Saris. "I always thought that was fascinating and when I got my medical degree that I always hoped that I could do this."

In Guyana, Dr. Saris experienced the inspiration of working alongside doctors from many different areas while caring for patients at the onshore clinics.

"Guyana is a beautiful country, the people were wonderful, they were very thankful of what we had to offer," says Dr. Saris. "The people I worked with, the volunteers were brilliant."

Dr. Saris was also impressed with the people of Guyana. "They were very interested in their health and they wanted to know the proper medical care to relieve their ailments."

He also worked with some of the local medical professionals. "There was a doctor from the town that we were in that came to the clinic everyday to volunteer his time," Dr. Saris said. "He was a great resource for when I had questions about how things are done in Guyana."

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Active Day at Medical Clininc

2010-10-28T11:49:00.011-04:00

Project HOPE volunteers had an active day working with their military counterparts and other NGOs at a medical site set up onshore in Guyana.

The Air Force band played for the crowds as the kids from a school next door danced in their Sunday’s best. The mood was happy as kids played on a newly finished playground. People were coming in and out of the busy medical site and the rain didn't keep away too many people.

Kirsten Anderson, of the Peace Corps, currently lives around New Amsterdam, Guyana. She found out about the medical clinic though a friend's brother who is serving on the Continuing Promise 2010 mission. Anderson came to the clinic to help out, teaching the people waiting in line to see a doctor about the important use of fluoride and brushing.

"There has been a lot of excitement in my community about the medical clinic,” Anderson says. “When I got home yesterday, everyone was talking about being down here and their experiences in getting to visit with the doctors.”

Yedmattie Edwards is a young mother who brought her two children to the clinic today.
"I was able to get some medication for my children,” she says. She was also grateful for the playground built for the kids in the community by the U.S. military. “We are especially fortunate you made time to help the Guyanese people."

At nearby sites, the Army Vets were checking out family animals and dentists where helping children and adults with damaged teeth.

Despite the busyness of the day, everyone that came into the compound was able to be seen.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Continuing Promise team visits orphanage in Guyana

2010-10-27T07:32:00.009-04:00

Saturday was a productive day for Project HOPE volunteers working hard at both medical sites and for many other various organizations helping out with operation Continuing Promise 2010. Near medical site two the military help set up a new play ground for the kids and by the end out the day they kids where playing on it.

Nancy Stockman, a certified nurse midwife and family nurse practitioner, went to the New Amsterdam Hospital where she met with their local labor and delivery unit.

"We exchanged ideas, it was wonderful, and we had a big teaching session. We got to see the postpartum unit as well. It was fascinating to see the similarities and differences. It was really fun,” said the Project HOPE volunteer.

Gai Cole a member of John Hopkins Department of Emergency Medicine went to the Alpha School House, an orphanage with roughly 36 kids from five to ten years old. Cole went to the orphanage with Give a Kid a Backpack, and members from other organizations.

"The Navy chaplain had a whole kit to make balloon animals and we handed out stuffed animals to all the kids. Like any kid you run into in the United States, they were swapping the animals. Each kid went though about three different animals before they found the one they liked. We gave the pastor clothes to hand out to the kids," said Cole.

With so many great organizations helping out with as many people as they can, it makes this a strong tight working group.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer
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Project HOPE volunteers work at sea and onshore

2010-10-26T08:58:00.005-04:00

Today was an active day for the Project HOPE volunteers as about 2/3 of the crew went ashore to help out patients while the rest helped out with departing and arriving surgical patients down in the medical bay.

Most of the people brought aboard the USS Iwo Jima from the host nations are coming onto the ship for surgery. There are three surgical rooms and one optometry room where they do most of the cataract removals. They do many short stay high impact surgeries to better increase the patient’s quality of life but give them a short stay on the ship.

Corinne Bragg an OR nurse worked in the OR suite on board the USS Iwo Jima. "I helped recover a patient from Guyana that had glass shards removed from his forehead, and above his eye. It could have damaged his eye if it was not removed in a few months. He was very grateful and his wife was with him, he did very well the surgeon was up front with him and provided much comfort to the patient,” she said.

Janet Kinney, pediatrician neonatologist who was able to visit a hospital in Amsterdam, Guyana, described the experience. "It was very interesting and very rewarding I see my field of medicine being practice in a very different way. I was asked to go to the local hospital, which was their neonatal intensive care unit, and labor and delivery. I went there and the nurse midwifes showed me around."

Kinney was also able to help deliver a couple babies.

Other volunteers worked hard at the medical zone one.

"We were able to see more patients today than when I was out on Monday, we had an extremely full day I think we had about nine providers, the pre-op surgeons were there so they could do screenings, the dentist as well as the optometrist," said Nora Hussey a family nurse practitioner. "Personally I saw a little girl, who was about four-years-old who just had a fresh fracture and we were able to get her to the hospital right away."

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers continue work in Guyana

2010-10-25T09:39:00.005-04:00

It was a warm and humid day as Project HOPE volunteers in Guyana made their way to the first medical zone on Thursday morning. Rain limited the amount of medical staff to man the zone the day before so many people that were left waiting arrived again. The bleachers in the field were full of people waiting to have various ailments checked out by the doctors.

"We have a good patient flow; we have a good triage going on outside. The local volunteers are assisting us with [triage] and we have a lot of providers here today so the value is high,” said Colonel Brown, site leader for med site one. “That's our goal, to see as many patients as possible and help as many as we can."

The project hope team worked well among different agencies and was able to help out many different patients.

"I come because I didn't feel too well with my throat and my shoulders, so I just wanted to get it check out here," said Swersetie Insataeny, one of the patients at medical zone one. "I feel so happy but I do not know what will happen tomorrow or when I have to go to the next medical visit."

"I was pleasantly surprised when I got there. I wasn't sure what I was getting into,” said Project HOPE volunteer Ruth Hart. “As soon as the first patient sat down, I was just the regular doctor that I always am, so it didn't matter if I was in Guyana verses being in the United States in the emergency room that I've been in for 27 years. Once the patient expressed their need or concern I realized how much of an effort they made to be here."

As the first day wrapped up for many on the Project HOPE team, many were looking forward to getting back out there to help out more people.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Rain Delays

2010-10-21T14:05:00.005-04:00

Many members of Project HOPE’s fourth rotation were not able to make it ashore for the first day of the mission due to rain. As many waited excitedly for the moments to board the helicopters they were faced with delays.

A couple members from the team were able to make it ashore and helped over 100 people that waited through the rain.

"It was a bit primitive; people were waiting in bleachers with just a bit of cover. It started to rain and the people didn't leave, they waited, before we got there someone set-up some sanitary conditions for us, so we could start taking care of people," said Nora Hussey one of the few members of Project HOPE that made it out. "We were not sure if we could see the people, because the other teams were not able to make it out, but we started seeing patients after we set-up."

There were about three providers to a room while other staff started to screen patients. Hussey saw a wide age range of people from about one-year-old to 75-years-old.

A few of the other nurses, who were not able to make it ashore, went though some of the pre-operational procedures on the ship. During the afternoon hours many were able to participate in a lecture about different fungal infections they may find in the field while treating patients.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers settle into their home away from home

2010-10-20T11:31:00.006-04:00

The fourth rotation of Project HOPE volunteers met up with the United States Navy helicopters in New Amsterdam, Guyana yesterday. The team was then introduced to and received a tour of their home for the next couple weeks, the USS Iwo Jima. Once aboard the ship the volunteers were given a quick safety briefing, rules, and a brief history and eidetic of the Navy.

They then met with the various units they will be working with and received their schedules. Realizing the next few days would be busy the volunteers made use of their bit of free time by getting acquainted with the ship and settling in.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Arrive in Guyana

2010-10-19T09:26:00.000-04:00

All 15 members of the Project HOPE volunteer team arrived safely into Georgetown, Guyana on Sunday and Monday. The volunteer doctors and nurses formally introduced themselves to each other through their personal and medical backgrounds.

In addition to introductions, the volunteers prepared for their health education and humanitarian mission by participating in safety briefings and orientation aboard the USS Iwo Jima.

The team was happy to meet each other, and they are very excited to begin working in Guyana and Suriname.

Medical work is scheduled to begin today.

Photos and story by Kris Radder, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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New Team of Volunteers Join Continuing Promise 2010

2010-10-18T14:34:00.021-04:00

A new team of Project HOPE volunteers joins the Continuing Promise 2010 mission aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore, offering their medical expertise in Guyana and Suriname during their one-month service.

In partnership with the U.S. Navy, nearly 50 Project HOPE volunteers, along with their military counterparts, have provided care and health education to children and families in Haiti, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and now Guyana and Suriname.

Since partnering with the Navy in early 2005 to provide tsunami relief, Project HOPE has participated in 20 humanitarian assistance and health education missions with nearly 1,000 HOPE volunteers. These missions have provided care to more than 400,000 people, offered health education to more than 100,000 and delivered $33 million in donated medicines and medical supplies.

Meet the Volunteers Serving in Guyana and Suriname

Corinne Bragg-Muir, a nurse from Cocoa Beach, Florida, is participating in her first mission as a Project HOPE volunteer. She is volunteering as a women’s health nurse onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Kerry Decker, a nurse from Cambridge, Massachusetts, is volunteering on her first mission with Project HOPE. She is working as an adult nurse practitioner onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Dr. Ruth Hart, a physician from Manlius, New York, is a first-time volunteer for HOPE. Dr. Hart is board certified in both family medicine and emergency medicine and brings 27 years of experience in emergency medicine to her volunteer work onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Nora Hussey, a family nurse practitioner recently retired from the US Army is a first-time volunteer with Project HOPE. From Summerton, South Carolina, Nora is using her primary care and preventive medicine experience onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Pasquale Iannino is a self-employed videographer from Lombard, Illinois. The first-time HOPE volunteer is documenting the medical care provided by Project HOPE volunteers onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Brenda Jones, a first-time Project HOPE volunteer from Valparaiso, Indiana, is working as a women’s health nurse practitioner onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Dr. Mona Khanna, a physician from Chicago, Illinois, brings 12 years of disaster relief experience to her first volunteer mission with Project HOPE. Specializing in internal medicine and public health, Dr. Khanna is serving as HOPE’s Medical Director onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Dr. Janet Kinney is a pediatrician from Southlake, Texas. She is a first-time Project HOPE volunteer and will use her pediatric skills to care for children onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Dr. Atashi Mandal, a pediatrician from Huntington Beach, California, is a first-time Project HOPE Volunteer. Dr. Mandal is working as a pediatrician onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Dr. Melissa Moore, a pediatrician from Eugene, Oregon is on her second volunteer mission with Project HOPE as she returns for her second rotation on Continuing Promise 2010. In July and August of this year, she served on the USS Iwo Jima in Haiti and Colombia. In Guyana and Suriname, she is again using her pediatric skills as well as serving as the Operations Officer. She has previously done medical work in India, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Saipan.

Dr. Colin Muir a physician from Cocoa Beach, Florida, is a first-time Project HOPE volunteer. He is serving as an OB/GYN onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Kristopher Radder, a photographer from Horseheads, New York, is on his first mission as a Project HOPE volunteer. Kris is serving as the Public Affairs Officer, photographing and blogging about the work of the HOPE medical volunteers in Guyana and Suriname.

Dr. Steven Saris from Ardmore, Pennsylvania, brings 25 years of primary care medicine experience to his first mission as a Project HOPE volunteer. Onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname, Dr. Saris is volunteering as an internal medicine doctor.

Nancy Stockman, a certified nurse midwife and family nurse practitioner from Billings, Montana, brings 20 years of experience in obstetrics & women’s health to her first volunteer mission with Project HOPE. Nancy is working with childbearing women and families onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Jeanine Trethewey, a registered nurse from State College, Pennsylvania, brings more than 30 years nursing experience to her first volunteer mission with Project HOPE. With experience in childbirth education, Jeanine will also be working with childbearing women and families aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Guyana and Suriname.

Volunteers Help Treat 6,790 Patients in Panama

2010-10-14T07:45:00.001-04:00

Project HOPE volunteers helped complete the sixth leg of the eight-county Continuing Promise 2010 mission. In Panama, volunteers along with their military counterparts helped:

Treat 6,790 patients
Performed 139 surgeries
Provided 7,445 health education contacts

Enjoy some more photos of volunteers at work in Panama

Photos by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Learning From Each Other

2010-10-13T08:30:00.013-04:00

Dr. Victoria McEvoy, a pediatrician from Cambridge, Massachusetts, is serving on her first volunteer mission with Project HOPE.

Working on the one-month long mission in Nicaragua and Panama did have its rough and tough moments. The weather was excruciatingly hot or soaking wet with rain. Time and resources did not permit everyone that needed care to receive it. Still, it was always a pleasure to watch Dr. McEvoy smile at a new patient and to see the joy on her face, along with the seriousness in her eyes when she was caring for each person.

A few patients really stand out in her mind. There was the 11-year-old boy with a hernia. "He had it all is life, " Dr. McEvoy says. "We were able to get him on the ship to have it removed."

She also treated a baby with pneumonia. "The mother brought he baby to the clinic and we were able to get the child admitted tot he local hospital," she says. "If the mom had not brought the baby to the clinic, she probably would have not have sought out the help the baby really needed."

Not only did Dr. McEvoy get to share her more than 30 years of pediatric experience with her patients, she also learned from them as well. “The thing that struck me is that the people we cared for have a lot of assets that we don’t have such as community, joy in simple things, and a hard working attitude,” She says. “It is amazing how much humans can endure, including the ones serving in this mission. They adapt to do whatever hand they have been given.”

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Giving Care Around the World

2010-10-12T08:41:00.015-04:00

“We all have different experiences even at the same place and at the same time,” says Dr. Mary Burry when speaking about participating in humanitarian missions around the world with her husband Dr. Tom Hoggard. The couple is now volunteering on their first mission with Project HOPE serving in Nicaragua and Panama as part of Continuing Promise 2010.

International patient care is not unique to Dr. Burry. A physician from Portland, Oregon, she has worked with disaster relief teams in Somalia, Albania, Turkey, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Honduras, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Iraq. “What is unique about this mission is working with the military," she says. "This is the first time I have been a part of it. I have never lived on a ship.”

Mary, along with the other providers, have found that working with the military and people from so many different countries has been a great experience in seeing how things operate and the exchange of knowledge.

"I have a lot of respect for what the Marines and Navy personnel have to do below decks on this ship to keep this mission going," she says. “I am also impressed with Commodore Negus and how much he really believes in this mission. Arranging all this so that we can give care is amazing plus all the political stuff that goes into it . It has been an eye opener.”

As with all the international work Mary has done, the patients always make a personal impact on her life. Sunday she saw a young patient, about 4-years-old, with an immune skin disease that covered his entire body. He has been suffering with it for about a year now.

“The boy had squinting eyes because he was so uncomfortable. His skin looked like it had been scalded. It is very complicated and we were able to give him therapy for the first time. His condition is treatable with medications that that have here in Panama,” she says. Through an interpreter, Dr. Burry wrote out very complex instructions for the aunt who was taking care of the boy. "Now we can only hope that the aunt will follow through on the therapy."

With her one-month volunteer mission nearing its completion, Dr. Burry is contemplating re-adapting to home. "One of the hardest times for me was when I was in Somalia and starving people were before me everyday. One woman handed me her baby and said something. The interpreter said that four of her other children had died, and this is the only one living, and how was I going to help."

Dr. Burry returned to the States from that mission at Christmas time. "Walking around the hotel and seeing all that was there and a short distance away people were dying of starvation was very difficult," she says.

"The re-entry phenomenon is just difficult," she adds. "We go home and the garage door opens from the car, and we walk into the house and have nice long hot shower. We hop on a plane and are transported in a few hours to a different planet.”

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Giving Patients His Full Attention

2010-10-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

Dr. Earl Wellington, a retired physician from Harlingen, Texas had been interested in volunteer medical work for years. He was also familiar with Project HOPE. This year, his intersections of interests came together when he accepted a volunteer position in internal medicine aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Nicaragua and Panama.

“I am enjoying the military interaction," says Dr. Wellington. "I retired from the Veterans Administration and I was in the military myself. Relating to the younger soldiers and their work in the Persian Gulf has helped me understand their military experience and unique circumstances.”

He is also enjoying learning from the military and other NGOS participating in Continuing Promise 2010. "I was not expecting to get the education from the military and NGOs that I have received. That was a nice surprise,” Dr. Wellington says. Referring to learning about tropical medicine and field medicine," Dr. Wellington adds. "It is kind of rough medicine that is practiced in many of these situations."

Dr. Wellington is also busy giving lots of time and attention to the patients he treats. "I am surprised at the number of people who don’t have basic medical care. They have to walk long distances to receive it," he says. "I am gaining a real appreciation for what these people have to live with. The best thing I can do while here is give the people that come to me my full attention and concern."

“I would like to do something like this again, and I would recommend it," he adds. "I guess the big thing for me is the time away from the family, and I would have to balance it with that.”

Dr. Wellington says he is sure his first volunteer experience with HOPE will stay with him when he returns home. “I think I will probably be more focused on the things I think are important and not waste so much time on things I don’t care about." With a bit of a chuckle he adds, "Maybe I won’t be so lazy…now and I will get after some of those projects I need to complete when I get home.”

I hope his wife is reading this.

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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"Honored to Help"

2010-10-07T08:30:00.016-04:00

Having a major in Spanish and an emphasis in culture has helped Project HOPE volunteer nurse Jill Blashka adapt to ship life and communicate and relate to the people she has cared for at the medical sites in Nicaragua and Panama. “Speaking the language is great, though it is not always perfect,” she says. “Here we hear a mixture of English and Spanish and the local language.”

A pediatric nurse from Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Jill is also enjoying the educational component of this mission.

“I am enjoying teaching and connecting with people, even it if it is just one person every day," she says. “I remember one lady I met on the first day in Nicaragua. I was doing some health education and talking to her about dental hygiene, hand washing, breast exams. The conversation sparked a concern for her and we then had an in depth conversation about a lump that she felt.”

With all the positive experiences she has had helping people, there are also patients she will not forget because she was not able to help. “It is hard, sometimes, because we have to understand that before we arrive in a country, people hear so many rumors that expectations are sometimes too high. They think we can provide a miracle…and sometimes it just can’t be.”

Jill's language skills and her specialties in pediatric hematology and oncology have not only benefited the patients she has cared for in Nicaragua and Panama, but have also come in handy on the USS Iwo Jima. One day in the ward on the ship, when a military patient had a severe bloody nose, Jill knew exactly how to provide care.

She has also witnessed the impact of civilian volunteers participating in the Continuing Promise mission. Project HOPE has rotated a new group of volunteers into the four-month long mission each month. Jill says the monthly rotations of new volunteers “brings relief and new life for the people on the ship who have been here since the beginning.”

A first-time volunteer for HOPE, Jill says she is ready for another mission. She would like to work with HOPE in Africa, and then Asia.

Her advice to other would-be volunteers is to be e prepared mentally for the challenges. “Expect short showers, little privacy and long days. Also expect an experience of a lifetime.”

In her very rare quiet moments, Jill seeks solace in the ship's anchor room. “It is a good place to go at night and allow for some time alone, allow the brain to empty, and realize that I am really here and it is an amazing experience and I am honored and blessed to be here.”

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Help Patient Meet Her President

2010-10-06T08:36:00.014-04:00

There was a lot of excitement on the ship today! The President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli came aboard the USS Iwo Jima. He was accompanied by his Vice-President Juan Carlos Varela, as well as U.S. ambassador to Panama, Phyllis M. Powers and Panama's Minister of Health, Franklin Vergara.

When the president walked into the hospital ward, he was greeted by Project HOPE volunteer nurse Anne Borden. He shook her hand, and offered her his thanks.

The Distinguished Visitors or DV visits as the Navy calls them, were quite exciting for the Panamanian patients onboard the ship. It meant so much to them to meet their president.

One particular patient, who was onboard for a cataract surgery had trouble seeing the president as he passed through her ward. Anne told me the patient so wanted to see the president, but she would be able to see him a lot better the following day after her scheduled cataract surgery.

Hearing this story, I approached one of the guards who was escorting the DVs and asked him if there was any way we might be able to take this patient to meet the President. He said that he would check and took off down the hall to talk with the leaders. I went back to Anne and the patient to bring them at least to the door of the ward.

The guard came back and asked if we could walk down to the visitors, a short way down the hall. Anne and I walked with the woman, and the guard even offered her his arm, but she could not see his arm.

That sweet woman was so excited. She not only got the chance to shake the President’s and VP’s hands, but to really talk with them! She also met the surgeon who would be performing her surgery the next day.

This was the highlight of my day and made the long wait in the ward for the photo opportunity well worth it. Seeing the President was exciting, but being able to give the patient an experience she will never forget, an experience she will surely share with her family and friends, truly made me feel as though I was helping in some small way. I only hope someday this patient will be able to meet the president again and see him clearly.

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Teaching Chronic Disease in Central America

2010-10-05T08:54:00.023-04:00

Patiently, Project HOPE volunteer nurse, Anne Borden, listens as an elderly lady with diabetes talks about her life. She then talks with her, giving her advice on how to better control her disease within her environment in rural Central America.

Anne will repeat this scene, over and over again, listening to and teaching each individual patient to ensure all their questions are answered and that they understand their chronic diseases. “It is very gratifying. There is a lot of individual counseling and teaching and people are very appreciative of anything you do. We get the opportunity to teach people the basic fundamentals of how to manage their chronic diseases that they are going to have all their lives,” Anne says.

So she continues, meeting with each patient, one-on-one, helping them understand hypertension, diabetes, the risk factor for stroke and the importance of following through on medications and more.

Anne first worked with Project HOPE when her employer, Massachusetts General Hospital, sent a team of volunteers to work with HOPE in Haiti following the devastating earthquake. She says that volunteering after the earthquake really made her understand how connected every one really is. Her second volunteer mission with HOPE in Nicaragua and Panama is cementing that belief.

"It is interesting that the people in these Central American countries have the same health concerns as we do in the United States," she says. "They have the same basic health problems, the same concerns, such as how they get their meds or how are you going to help them get their quality of life back."

One patient in particular that sticks out in her mind is an older Nicaraguan woman, probably about 92. She was very healthy, and had her blood pressure checked. She said that she represented all the Nicaraguans who couldn’t get out of their houses. "She was very graceful, very well spoken and sweet," Anne says.

In addition to working with patients, Anne is also serving as HOPE's Operations Officer and Chief Nursing Officer during this portion of the Continuing Promise 2010 eight-country mission. Her leadership role makes her appreciate even more the complexity and scale of this annual humanitarian assistance and health education mission. "The Navy really has the infrastructure to pull off such a large mission that helps so many people," she says. "It is [also] nice to work with the Navy people, and get the opportunity to work with all the diverse people on the boat. At lunch we had every branch of the military at the table, but the Coast Guard, plus a dentist from Canada. How often can you say that you participated in something on such a large scale and worked with people from Germany, Canada, Paraguay, and the Netherlands?”

But of course, the best part continues to be the grateful smiles and big, sometimes sweaty hugs from the people she cares for. "I would do another mission in a heartbeat. It is a way to help our neighbors," she says.

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Work Through Sun and Rain

2010-10-04T08:32:00.007-04:00

One of first days in Panama and Project HOPE volunteers got to expereince another lesson in the extremes of mother nature.

“Yo ho! Let it pour!” and it did! We had a beautiful hot sweaty day until it was time to get on the LCU to go to the ship, and it was a typical tropical downpour! It literally started to pour when we were loading on to the LCU to return to the ship, and it poured the whole time. Most people were only concerned about their electronics i.e. my camera and computer, because it was too much of a downpour to even think about staying dry! As the commander says, “It is a chance to show character!”

I just wanted to pass the soap and shampoo! We could have showered and laundered our clothes at the same time!

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Hurricane Readiness Part of Mission

2010-10-01T08:51:00.013-04:00

In route to Panama via Honduras from Nicaragua. Huh? Go to the storm instead of away from it? Huh?

I found out that one of the reasons the annual Continuing Promise mission takes place this time of year is that the ship, crew and volunteers are expected to be on hurricane readiness and prepared to help if a storm should hit a nearby country.

We got a first-hand taste at what hurricane readiness is all about last week as we were preparing to sail to Panama for the next stop on the Continuing Promise 2010 eight-country mission.

When Tropical Storm Matthew pounded the west coast of Central America and dropped a significant amount of rain on the already drenched nations, the USS Iwo Jima turned around from its southward destination in Panama and set sail to the point of Honduras and Nicaragua to be in position if any of the countries should ask for help.

As we headed north, the seas were obviously a little rougher, but not as bad as we have heard they could get. The song “…a rockin and a rollin…” kept coming to mind. A few took the motion sickness pills, and some used the patch.

We headed north and waited it out for about a day before we got word that help would not be needed and again turned south to continue the health education and humanitarian assistance mission to Panama. We moved “full steam ahead” and are planning on being back on schedule by sending helicopters ahead with equipment and supplies to help get the medical sights ready to open as soon as we arrive.

When we start our work on shore, we will be using LCUs (Landing Craft Utilities) instead of helicopters to get on shore. There is no protection on those, so we will be exposed to whatever the weather conditions might be. Because we can use the LCUs, doctors and nurses will be able to spend longer days on shore.

So what did we do in route to a possible international assist, then to Panama? Anything we could. Some took another look at the ship and went to places they had not been, some read, some slept, doctors and nurses gave classes, and one meal the Project HOPE volunteers and military personnel worked in the kitchen. They had a lot of fun and learned a few new things.

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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More than 7,000 Patients Treated in Nicaragua

2010-09-30T09:24:00.016-04:00

“All hands on deck!” It is time to clear the helos of their cargo. Continuing Promise 2010 is preparing to leave the land of Nicaragua. And while we may be leaving, we are satisfied with the work we accomplished in the country. All in all, Project HOPE volunteers and their military and partner counterparts:

Treated 7,006 patients
Provided medical 22,613 services
Performed 149 surgeries
Participated in 31,343 educational contacts

While preparing for our departure, our work continued. While only a few had the privilege of going ashore on the last day, but all who wanted could help with clearing the choppers of their cargo.

Everyone who came off the helicopters had something in their hand, if they did not have their own things, they had a bag of mail, a shovel, or whatever else they could carry. They also formed a chain from one helo to the hangar bay to deliver the mail and whatever else they could send to the right spot with a human chain. I counted at least 100 people in the chain for the mail.

The plan for now is to pull anchor and head south to Panama. Hard to believe it is time to leave Nicaragua already.

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Providing Care and Mentoring on Corn Island

2010-09-29T08:24:00.014-04:00

Once again flexibility had to be put into practice.

Project HOPE volunteer, Dr. Robert Alan Jamison, a retired pediatrician from Morristown, Tennessee was chosen to go out to a remote area in Nicaragua, Corn Island, for five days and three nights. He was totally expecting to sleep on an army cot with a bivouac mosquito tent.

When the team arrived on Corn island, (about a 20 minute helicopter ride), they found out there might be some old barracks in which they could set up.

Then came the time to be real flexible, they ended up staying at a nice…well, …ahem…a resort run by a Canadian! What a shame! An anonymous donor heard the doctors and nurses were arriving to help out at the medical clinic and paid for the expense of the hotel. Dr. Alan did have to pay for his own M.R.E.s (That is what I call My Real Eatery) and did not have to eat the military M.R.E.s (Meals Ready to Eat). He admitted it was a nice surprise and did not mind paying for the food. What a reward for being willing to suffer in the heat and uncomfortable sleeping conditions!

Apart from the nice surprise of not having to sleep in a tube made of netting, Dr. Alan was very pleased with the health he saw in the children on Corn Island. They were very clean, and out of all the children he saw, there were only two with impetigo (skin infections) and a few had colds, etc. Over all the whole medical team saw 300 people per day.

“On Corn Island they have limited resources and it can be difficult getting the flow of medical equipment and medication to the clinic.” Dr. Alan says. One of the items needed was medication for nebulizers. The team was able to communicate the need and have more delivered to the clinic from the ship.

“The staff makes a good effort and they really care for the people on the island,” Dr. Alan says.

In addition to caring for patients, the retired pediatrician, said he enjoyed the consultation opportunities he had with local health care providers. The local providers would bring patients for him and another doctor to see for a consultation, and vise-a-versa. It was a real interchange of ideas and working together. There was a mutual respect for the knowledge that each had.

“These people are healthy and don’t always need meds, but they need someone to talk to, someone to recommend and encourage basic health care and physical fitness,” he adds. “They come to seek attention to their problems and complaints. It helps create a relationship between the inhabitants and the clinic. Part of it is to help them realize that there is a clinic right there for them. We can also encourage them in routine health care and to take advantage of what is available to them.”

Dr. Alan said that Tylenol, Ibuprofen and vitamins are not readily available and they want them and need them at the clinic. He said that after the medical site is closed, the medications that were not used are left for the clinic.

When asked what he came back with from his five-day adventure, Dr. Alan says “Friends.” He will try to stay in contact with the administrator of the clinic, Fay, and see how he can get some items that were specifically requested to them.

Story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

Photos for this story provided by Dr. Alan Jamison

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"We Are All Just Doctors and Nurses"

2010-09-28T09:22:00.012-04:00

"I get to wear civilian clothes,” answers Carma Erickson-Hurt, RN, when she was asked, "What is the biggest difference between serving as nurse in the Navy and volunteering as a civilian with Project HOPE?"

“It really is a big deal after having to wear uniforms for four months straight in the past,” she adds.

Carma retired from the U.S. Navy in 2007, and she is volunteering in leadership position, serving as HOPE’s Medical Director aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Nicaragua and Panama. Her military experience is proving beneficial. Carma not only knows what to expect and it is comfortable with her surroundings, she is also enjoying crossing paths with people she has worked with in the past. One of the nurses on board was under her command when she was in the Navy, now the nurse has advanced and is doing very well.

Carma first became familiar with Project HOPE when the organization, along with other NGOs and other branches of the military joined forces together to work in Tsunami relief in 2005. “It worked very well, and proved it can be done. We are all just doctors and nurses,” Carma says. When she was able to volunteer for relief work herself, she looked up the one volunteer organization she knew and applied.

Carma has found that no matter where she goes, the attitudes of the patients are all about the same. “They are very appreciative. They wait their turns patiently and really don’t question the “why” of where they have to go. They are all very grateful,” she says.

This is Carma’s second volunteer mission with HOPE. Earlier this year, she volunteered for Project HOPE onboard the USNS Comfort hospital ship in response to the earthquake in Haiti. She adds that working the Project HOPE helps give people an idea if they are really cut out for this type of work or not.

Carma has gotten to know some of the first-time HOPE volunteers including Jill Blashka, a pediatric nurse from Alexandria, Virginia. While Jill has worked the night shift onboard the USS Iwo Jima and Carma worked in the ward on the ship later in the afternoon both share their same philosophy about their patients. “This is quite an exciting time for the patients,” they both agree. “Due to the distance from shore, patients get to be flown in by helicopter. They bring one family member or a friend with them to be their helper or friend or just a comfort with them. No one complains.”

They are all so grateful to have their life made a bit better by caring hands.

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Doctor Brings Experience and Compassion to Volunteer Work

2010-09-27T09:13:00.010-04:00

Iraq, Kosovo, Somalia, Haiti, Sri Lanka…the list goes on and on. Now, as a Project HOPE volunteer, Dr. Tom Hoggard can add Nicaragua and soon Panama to put him on over 20 missions. His work in refugee camps around the world has given him lots of experience. He has become an expert in tropical diseases and has already taught a class while the ship was in transit to Nicaragua. He not only teaches others, but he is learning daily about things he has never seen before now.

Whenever Tom can, he gets off the ship and goes on shore to work with the people. I had a chance yesterday to ask him about some of his impressions. Actually, one doesn’t have to ask him. He is smiling the whole time out here! He loves this work!

Tom loves seeing this cooperation between civilians and the military. That as HOPE volunteers we are being ambassadors too. We are able to bridge the gap between those that can go and those that cannot.

“This is payback time for me,” says Tom. “I have had a wonderful life as a doctor, now I can give back in return. A lot of what we do here is assurance, because we are here for such a short time, we can’t do major medical work, but we can talk to the people, get them to understand their concerns, and refer them to the right medical resources.”

He emphasized that the great local translators help a lot in understanding the situations that the people face.

“One situation that sticks out for me was the lady that rode on horseback for five hours, and then in a boat for four hours the day before to spend a few minutes with a doctor the next day,” he said.

Tom added that for him it is all worth it, with all the warmth he receives when greeted. “They are so thankful that we are here for them.”

He said that he is looking forward to taking home all the good thoughts about working with other HOPE volunteers and the military. “It has been a wonderful experience. HOPE volunteers have their hearts in the right spot and so does the military. We are little cogs in a big wheel that is quite helpful with relations between the USA and other countries we visit.”

One more thing… Tom Hoggard, MD is finding a lot more material for teaching. Watch out students at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland! You might be given a whole lot more information to study.

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Working Medical Clinics in Nicaragua

2010-09-24T08:06:00.000-04:00

“I hurt here.” “I have pain all the time there.” “She doesn’t eat.” “He falls all the time when he runs.” “My child’s legs hurt at night.” “My doctor said …, what do you think?” Sometimes the doctors and nurses are there to confirm, and to affirm to the people that they are fine and to help them with pain management.

There are other times they have to clean a wound and bandage it. Sometimes they find something that could be serious and refer to them the right local doctors and authorities for long-term care. Sometimes a sore throat means they can be helped with this one visit with the provided medicine.

Whatever the doctors can do, they do it and with joy. There are times there is not much they can do, but provide a smile and direction, but that is what we are here to do, help and build relationships.

Myself, Anne, and Drs. Vicky, Earl, and Alan were elected to go ashore today. It took a bit to get into the routine for the first timers, but it wasn’t long before they were seeing patients, consulting with each other and the other medical personnel. Lots of water was drank by all, well they had better drank lots of water! I might need to check on the doctors to make sure they are taking care of themselves!

The site at Blue Fields is in a school that they closed for a week so that the military and NGOs would have a good place to set up the clinic. The engineers will be doing some minor repairs at the school while we are there. So the school also gets some benefit for closing for the week

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Endure Heat and Humidity to Provide Care

2010-09-23T10:05:00.005-04:00

While several Project HOPE volunteers went ashore today, the rest of us wait, clean, type, read, do laundry, exercise, visit, learn from others on board, etc. It will be great to hear their stories when they return.

Due to the heat and humidity, they have warned us that most of us won’t want to go ashore more than a few days in a row. There is a need to look out for each other and work as a team to keep us all well.

One of the really cool things here, uh besides the air conditioning on board, is the opportunity we have to meet people from all branches of service, and not just from the USA, but there are people from Canada, Paraguay, Holland, and a few other places. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share in cross-culture ideas and where people have been in the services.

Did you know that there is a military branch called the United States Public Health Service? I did not until I came on board. They say that they are one of the best-kept secrets of any military branch. Yup, lots to learn daily with such a mix of people!

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Arrive in Nicaragua

2010-09-22T09:26:00.009-04:00

After two days at sea, we set anchor near Blue Fields, Nicaragua. During those two days we spent the time getting settled, figuring out the routine, and the Project HOPE volunteer nurses, doctors, and practitioners have been in meetings. They also helped the nurses restock and get ready for the work to be done in Nicaragua. The Navy personnel were so grateful to have the extra hands and to have others work beside them voluntarily.

Today, the military is going ashore for setup. At this site, we have to anchor so far out that every has to be flown to shore, therefore the space is limited as to who and what goes ashore. Also, Nicaragua has limited the flights to morning and late afternoon or evening only.

The planning and coordination of all this really boggles the mind. I applaud all who coordinate this and get the mission accomplished.

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Adjust and Prepare for Important Work

2010-09-21T10:06:00.011-04:00

No matter how much you hear about the bedding and locker area called the “racks,” it is another opportunity to demonstrate more flexibility. It is a bit of a struggle for some of us Project HOPE volunteers who are a bit organizationally dysfunctional! Ah, this is where flexibility and patience is extra handy for those around people like me!

Our locker is under the bed, the bed is the top of the locker, so we have to lift the bed to get things into or out of the lockers. No such things as drawers or upright lockers. In the mornings it is quite the choreograph as women get ready for the day. We take turns getting our things, then getting out of the way of the other person. It is a choice of letting the other person be more important than yourself, and it works very well.

Sleeping in the racks is a whole other act of flexibility! There is so little headroom that one cannot even hold a book all the way upright to read it. When one turns over you are bound to hit the wall.

During one of the meals, one of the crew mentioned how tired they were. I reminded them that they were going through culture shock. We often don’t think of culture shock during an event like this because we are on USA property, but it is a whole new way of life that we must adjust to very quickly. Not only do we have to be flexible with each other and the new life we live for these weeks, but with ourselves. We often forget that we need to give ourselves room to make mistakes and to learn. It is OK to be tired and to be flexible with personal expectations.

Learning how to get around on the ship is a bit mind boggling! It is like a three dimensional maze. The halls, oh, excuse me, P-ways, look the same. No real identity except for a numbering system. Although there are multiple ways to get around, usually once someone finds out how to arrive at a location, he stick with it and won’t change the route much. Although it seems impossible, one does eventually figure things out. Fortunately, military personnel are more than happy to help us find our way around. They know the feeling! They don’t seem to forget how easily they got lost too.

Photos and story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Learn Importance of Flexibility

2010-09-20T10:22:00.006-04:00

Flexibility. It is the key on this mission. Without it, there would only be frustration and confusion. Flexibility to wait. Flexibility to change locations. Flexibility to eat at regulated times. Flexibility in figuring out how 40-50 women share two showers and two toilets. Flexibility to change plans very quickly. Flexibility to enjoy a nice cushy Hilton Hotel bed instead of a tiny hard rack on the ship! Yep, you read that right!

We all gathered at the Honduran airport to start our health education and humanitarian assistance mission with Project HOPE and the U.S. Navy. We were meant to take the Navy CH46E Seanight helicopter (The Mighty Battle Phrog) to the USS Iwo Jima where she was anchored in Guatemala. The bridge to Guatemala was washed out and flying was the only way to get to the ship. This was exciting for us, but we all wondered how hard it was for the locals who need that bridge to make a living and survive. We will never really know, but can only imagine.

As we waited and sweated for several hours for a storm to pass, we had a chance to get to know each other a little bit and stretch our legs. Eventually, the airmen took us through the Honduras security and got us out to their helicopter. We were instructed on emergency procedures while we were handed a quick-inflate flotation device and a helmet with safety goggles. With nervous excitement, we loaded up onto the bird and buckled in.

It was a short trip.

There was a minor mechanical issue and with the clouds over the mountains, the captain chose not to take the risk of flying over the mountains and we circled back to the airport. After a few tests, it was decided that we needed to stay for the night. Flexibility.

Oh no! We had to go to the Hilton! It was so nice to get showered and sleep in a cushy bed with pillows that I personally wished I could fit one in my suitcase. (Side note here: If anyone is allergic to wool bring your own blanket, if allergic to feathers, bring your own pillow.) There were just a few jealous people onboard the ship when they heard about our “horrible” predicament.

The next morning we were able to fly out, but with a bit of a change from the day before. The ship had pulled anchor and was underway to Nicaragua. So we landed on a moving ship, just as a heavy rain started to fall.

Arriving on board! Mission accomplished.

Photos and Story by Bonnie Hudlet, HOPE's Volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Meet the Volunteers in Nicaragua and Panama

2010-09-17T08:12:00.014-04:00

A new team of Project HOPE volunteers joined Continuing Promise 2010 aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore to offer their medical expertise in Nicaragua and Panama during their one-month service.

Jillian Blashka, a pediatric nurse from Alexandria, Virginia, is serving on her first volunteer mission for Project HOPE.

Anne Borden, a nurse from Kittery Point, Maine, brings 26 years of experience in surgical trauma and cardiology to her second volunteer mission with Project HOPE. Earlier this year, she volunteered in Haiti. She is serving as HOPE’s Operations Officer and Chief Nursing Officer onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Nicaragua and Panama.

Dr. Mary Burry, a physician from Portland, Oregon, is on her first volunteer mission with Project HOPE, but she brings extensive international health experience to her volunteer position. Dr. Burry has worked with disaster relief teams in Somalia, Albania, Turkey, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Honduras, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Iraq.

Carma Erickson-Hurt, a nurse from Island Park, Idaho, retired from the United States Navy in 2007. She specializes in palliative care. Carma first worked with Project HOPE when stationed on board the USNS Comfort in response to the tsunami in 2005. Most recently Carma volunteered with Project HOPE as the Chief Nursing Officer for disaster relief medical care aboard the USNS Comfort hospital ship in response to the earthquake in Haiti. She is serving as the HOPE Medical Director onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Nicaragua and Panama.

Dr. John Hoggard, a family medicine physician from Portland, Oregon, is on his first volunteer assignment with Project HOPE. His international health experience includes many missions caring for refugees of drought, war, floods, tsunami and earthquakes.

Bonnie Hudlet, a photographer from Hayden, Idaho, is a first-time volunteer for Project HOPE. She brings a wealth of photojournalism experience from South America and Argentina to her position as HOPE's Public Affairs Officer onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Nicaragua and Panama.

Dr. Robert Alan Jamison, a retired pediatrician from Morristown, Tennessee, just recently returned from a HOPE volunteer mission in Indonesia. He's again using his pediatric expertise onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Nicaragua and Panama.

Dr. Victoria McEvoy, a pediatrician from Cambridge, Massachusetts, is serving on her first volunteer mission with HOPE onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Nicaragua and Panama.

Dr. Earl Wellington, a retired physician from Harlingen, Texas is serving on his first mission for Project HOPE. Onboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Nicaragua and Panama, Dr. Wellington is volunteering as an Internal Medicine physician.

One more rotation of HOPE volunteers will serve Continuing Promise 2010 alongside their Navy counterparts as the ship continues its eight country humanitarian assistance and health education mission through Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Nicaragua, Panama and Suriname.

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Volunteers Help Care For 5,430 Guatemalans

2010-09-16T09:07:00.015-04:00

In Guatemala, Project HOPE volunteers along with their military counterparts and other medical volunteers participating in Continuing Promise 2010:

Treated 5,430 patients
Provided 20,799 patient encounters
Performed 121 surgeries
Participated in 12,782 educational contacts

More Kevin Makwoski Photos from Guatemala

Photos by Kevin Makowski, HOPE's volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Getting Help from the Kids in Guatemala

2010-09-15T09:05:00.010-04:00

As another team of volunteers heads toward Nicaragua and Panama to begin work soon, Kevin Makowski, HOPE's PAO, continues to tell the stories of the volunteers who just completed their work in Guatemala.

After leaving Costa Rica, we were at sea for 2.5 days before we arrived off the coast of Guatemala on September 5. The helicopters came and went all day long preparing the Med sites for our work with patients. The Project HOPE volunteers were treated to an amazing sunset as they prepared to begin work early the next morning.

Dr. Jean Muench, a pediatrician from Pediatric Physicians, PC in Roswell, Georgia, was one of the HOPE volunteers working onshore on day one. After a slow drive up a stone path that is used as a road past waterfalls and sweeping views of the valley and bay below we arrived at the town of Pavas, the site of Med Site 2. The patients had been waiting for hours in the sun. The children in Guatemala are very curious and come at least 3 to a family, the older siblings help mom with the younger ones and often help us as well.

Photos and story by Kevin Makowski, HOPE's volunteer Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteer Tells About Her Work In Haiti

2010-09-14T15:53:00.011-04:00

Matya Cooksey, a California native, works as a Nurse Practitioner in community health. Matya has travelled around the world and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. A first-time volunteer for HOPE, Matya served as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Haiti and Colombia in July and August while participating in Continuing Promise 2010 aboard the USS Iwo Jima. Hear what she has to say!

Young and Old Seek Care

2010-09-13T00:11:00.001-04:00

In Costa Rica as in most cultures the young and old are cherished. They come to the medical sites in droves holding each other’s hand, each thinking they are guiding the other, each full of pride that they are there together for each other. The young faces are bright and full of hopes and dreams the old faces are experienced and full of good wishes for those young hopes and dreams.

Photos and story by Kevin Makowski, Project HOPE Public Affairs Officer

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HOPE Volunteers at Work in Costa Rica

2010-09-10T09:15:00.005-04:00

Photos by Kevin Makowski, Project HOPE Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Encounter Impact of HOPE Programs

2010-09-09T09:24:00.008-04:00

Project HOPE is committed to providing long-term sustainable health care solutions to people in need around the globe. While in Costa Rica, HOPE volunteers were able to experience the impact of a HOPE health education program that was presented in the county 30 years earlier.

In the early 1980’s Project HOPE came to San Jose, Costa Rica to train people who were interested in becoming Paramedics. A young Red Cross worker named Jose Guillen was one of them.

Today he is Major Jose Guillen, Regional Commander of Police and Paramedic’s here in Limon. He told me he was able to enroll in the program through the University of Costa Rica and spent a year training as a paramedic and later traveled to Colombia and Venezuela to train paramedics there in search and rescue procedures they had developed in Costa Rica for natural disasters.

Almost 30 years later he is heading up the local police support for Continuing Promise 2010 and he is very grateful to Project HOPE and the training he received.

Photos and story by Kevin Makowski, Project HOPE Public Affairs Officer

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Throngs of People Await Volunteers in Costa Rica

2010-09-08T09:40:00.007-04:00

On our first day of giving care in Costa Rica, the Project HOPE volunteers and myself eagerly make the 10-minute walk from the pier to the medical site. As we round the corner to the site, there are throngs of people, celebrity-like throngs.

The advance teams have set up the patient care areas for the medical teams and after a little trial and error on how best to get the patients in and out the respective treatment areas, things are running well.

It’s hot and humid; it’s Costa Rica in late summer. By 10am my t-shirt is drenched, I’ve drank 2 liters of water and need more.

There are still people streaming in and crowds waiting in the streets to see the doctors. They are standing in the sun. The Marines and Navy guys put up a few more canopies to get them in the shade.

The shaved ice and coco frio venders are on site and doing a pretty good business.

Photos and story by Kevin Makowski, Project HOPE Public Affairs Officer

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Arriving in Costa Rica

2010-09-07T09:00:00.009-04:00

There are lots of songs about going over the hills to someplace. At the holidays we go over the hill and thru the woods to Grandma’s house for turkey and pie, the Marines go over hill, over dale, hit the dusty trail and win the battle, Led Zeppelin sang about going over the hills and far away – that ends badly with dragons being involved, dragons always win. But I was going over the hills from San Jose, Costa Rica to Puerto Limon, which sounds like a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon. If I were to write a song about this trip over the hills it would probably sound like Yoko Ono’s primal screaming recordings.

There were 10 of us, and our luggage in a van with seating for 7, it was - cozy. After getting out of the city and starting to climb the hill the rain started and we are in a rain forest so the rain – it doesn’t stop. Neither does the driver, in fact the harder it rains the faster he drives, then the road disappears due to the fog – aka clouds, rain forest – remember – insert primal screams here. Water is streaming in thru the space between the sliding door and the roof where at one time there may have been weather stripping, there isn’t any now. On the upside – the faster we go the amount of water coming in diminishes. All this time there equally insane drivers heading the opposite direction and people passing us on both sides. The rain stops, the road is dry the sky is clear and the air is full of something? What is that – pineapple – you can’t see them but you can smell them.

We finally arrive in Puerto Limon and there is the Iwo Jima, big, gray and imposing. We are welcomed aboard and shown to our quarters and feed and treated as if we were Navy Seals who just accomplished some death-defying mission – if they only knew. Now back to our berthing area to put away our stuff and get some rest. But wait a minute; these bunks seem a little close together, how do you adjust them? They don’t adjust! Dead men get more space to rest in; maybe this is why the driver was trying to kill us.

After a night imitating Grandpa Munster sleeping in his coffin a clear sunny morning greeted us in Puerto Limon. While on a walking tour of the flight deck, secretly pretending to land a helicopter in my head (you would too if you were there) – we run across Coronel Negas the Commandant of Continuing Promise 2010. He welcomes us aboard the Iwo Jima and gives up a quick update on the previous leg of the mission. The rest of the day is spent getting lost in the passageways of the ship. In the evening there is a BBQ on the pier, a good way to end the day. Tomorrow the work starts and the Project HOPE volunteers are eager to get to work.

Photos and story by Kevin Makowski, Project HOPE Public Affairs Officer

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Meet the Volunteers in Costa Rica and Guatemala

2010-09-03T07:47:00.005-04:00

A new team of Project HOPE medical volunteers joined Continuing Promise 2010 aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore to help people in Costa Rica and Guatemala. Two more rotations of HOPE volunteers will serve Continuing Promise 2010 alongside their Navy counterparts as the ship continues its eight country humanitarian assistance and health education mission through Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Nicaragua, Panama and Suriname.

Meet the Project HOPE Volunteers

Kathleen Britton a Certified Nurse Midwife from Poulsbo, Washington has more than 27 years experience in nursing, midwifery, women's health care and teaching. She is a three-time HOPE volunteer and will be serving as a nurse midwife and HOPE’s Operation’s Officer in Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Cassandra Hamilton, a nurse from Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Minnesota is a first-time Project HOPE volunteer. She is using her family care, pediatrics, post-partum, gynecology and medial surgery nursing skills aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Dr. Arthur Hayward from Portland, Oregon is a first-time Project HOPE volunteer. He is serving as an internal medicine physician aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Tracey Kunkel, an operating room nurse from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is also retired from the U.S. Navy after 21 years. A second-time volunteer, Tracey served as HOPE’s Operations Officer during Continuing Promise 2009. She is serving as HOPE Medical Director aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Dr. Erika Latchis from Washington, D.C. , brings more than 20 years experience as an OBGYN to her volunteer position onboard the USS Iwo Jima. She has also spent nearly 10 years working with Project HOPE in places such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Poland and Malawi.

Kevin Makowski is a corporate communications professional from Irvine, California with more than 20 years of experience in photography, video production and digital graphics for medical centers, children's hospitals and medical research organizations. A first-time HOPE volunteer, Kevin is serving as HOPE’s Public Affairs Officer in Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Dr. Jean Muench from Marietta, Florida brings 18 years of pediatric experience to her second volunteer mission with HOPE. She is serving as a pediatrician aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Heather Sullivan a pediatric nurse from Woods Cross, Utah is using her experience working with children recovering from orthopedic and plastic surgery on her first volunteer mission with Project HOPE in Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Mary Winston from Natural Bridge, Virginia brings more than 20 years experience as an Adult Nurse Practitioner to her first mission as a Project HOPE volunteer. Mary is using her knowledge of preventive care and chronic disease management while working with patients aboard the USS Iwo Jima and ashore in Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Faye Pyles Completes Pacific Partnership Mission

2010-09-02T07:28:00.001-04:00

Faye Pyles is a pediatric nurse practitioner from Norfolk, Virginia, a four-time Project HOPE volunteer and retired after 25 years service with the U.S. Navy. During the Pacific Partnership 2010 mission, Faye served as HOPE’s Chief Nursing Officer and Operations Officer in Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia. Even as the rest of the HOPE volunteers returned home in August, Faye stayed on, working with those in need in Timor Leste. Here is a blog she wrote before leaving the USNS Mercy on August 31.

The trip from Darwin began as the trip from Guam. Calm seas, new faces, new roommates, and a new sense of anticipated adventures. However, as I walked around the decks of the Mercy there was a sense of something being missing. The ever present Project HOPE T-shirts, the usually smiling faces and the always entertaining company at meal time was absent. The stories of where they had been and how their days had gone were now silent. Just as Team One had left a little of their spirit behind so did Team Two, and for this I am grateful. I know we all have some pleasant memories that elicit smiles as we think of one of our unique team mates and their entertaining stories. My first mission as a Project HOPE operations officer was blessed with some extraordinary volunteers who made even the most trying days worthwhile.

As the Mercy left Project HOPE Team Two in Darwin to experience their own Australian adventures we pressed on towards Timor Leste. The crew has become aware that there is now not a full PH team. I now have heard many versions of the same phrase. Many people have commented to me that Mercy is left with little HOPE, minimal HOPE, just a small ray of HOPE, and soon will be HOPEless. I am trying to catalogue all the different versions of the same joke, if for nothing else then at least for my own amusement.

The first MEDCAPs in Timor Leste were exciting. I finally was able to see patients and actually do what I usually do on these missions. Though the site was dusty, and hot I was thrilled to be finally in the field. I felt a sense of coming home as I turned to the first patients in Timor and as I introduced myself asked, "How can I help you today?" The children and their parents were a pleasure to see.

The only drawback was one all providers wrestled with on this mission, CHIMES. I do not even text message, much less have a Black Berry or a Palm Pilot. So needless to say I spent more than a little time trying to get a sense of how to actually look at the patient rather than the little screen and how to manage to actually send the prescriptions to pharmacy without exiting the program twice before that was accomplished. I am pleased to say that I overcame CHIMES to actually have a great experience in the two days I was out in spite of technology. I was not the most productive provider, but that has never been a major concern of mine in these settings.

Never the less by the end of the first day I had elicited smiles from some of our many crying little children (at one point the count was six small screaming children in the pediatric room at the same time, quite a chorus) and expressions of relief from their parents as I assured them their child's heart sounded strong and their lungs were fine, and that their concerns had been heard. At the end of these long days the smiles we receive and the words of comfort that we provide are to me the essence of why we come on these missions. I look forward to the end of the week when I have three more days at another school. The adventure continues.

Faye Pyles, HOPE’s Chief Nursing Officer and Operations Officer during the entire Pacific Partnership 2010 mission.

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Providing Care in Moratai

2010-09-01T07:33:00.000-04:00

When three of our first-time Project HOPE volunteers boarded the USNS Mercy on July 3rd, they had no idea that they would also be spending three nights on a much smaller Australian boat, traveling to Moratai, Indonesia. Our Australian partners provided all that was necessary to support the Moratai MEDCAP team, including transportation, lodging and meals. Although unconfirmed by independent sources, the HOPE team claims that Kiwi amenities included a chef that served roast lamb, garlic cream prawns, fresh fruit salad and ten different marinates for barbecue.

There was another charming aspect to the voyage that made up for our volunteers sleeping in what was essentially a shipping container or out on deck in the rain. Instead the traditional Navy reveille each morning, all MEDCAP providers were summoned each morning with the announcement, “Wakey, Wakey, time for breakfast!”

Among those sleeping in the converted shipping container was HOPE’s Dr. April Kranz. April worked in a Mayan Village in Belize during her fourth year of medical school, and it was there her passion was ignited for international medicine. During her first Project HOPE mission, April has seen patients in the ship’s sick call, and worked on one day MEDCAPs. But she found her foray to Moratai most exciting. “We saw a lot of lumps and bumps,” she said, “but I also saw a case that a really cool local doctor help me diagnose as probable leprosy, not something I’m likely to see at my hospital in California.”

Sleeping out on the deck was Brian Cox, who after six years of training, is just weeks away from being a full-fledged pharmacist. It seems the pharmacists on this mission work harder than anyone, because virtually every patient seen by every provider stops by the field pharmacy before leaving. In Moratai, Brian worked alongside two Indonesian pharmacists and a Navy technician to fill approximately 1,000 prescriptions a day. If Brian’s plans for the future pan out, he’ll be wearing a US Public Health Service uniform, working to promote the health of American Indians.

Dawn Horowitz is also completing professional requirements for an advanced degree on this mission, that of a nurse practitioner (FNP.) “We’ve seen a lot of untreated broken bones,” says Dawn. “People fall out of trees while harvesting coconuts, and without access to appropriate treatment, they suffer a deformity for the rest of their life. These remote areas present a huge challenge for health care.”

“What we do medically during a three-day encampment is limited,” says April, a doctor who plans a career in international medicine. “We have to keep remembering that the MEDCAPs are just one small piece of a broader initiative to build infrastructure and relationships.”

Thanks for your interest in Project HOPE -- Kathryn Allen, HOPE Public Affairs Officer

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Third Continent for Fourth-Time HOPE Volunteer

2010-08-31T14:31:00.009-04:00

It all started at a kitchen table in Seattle, almost as far from the Katrina disaster as one can get in the United States. Gabrielle Seibel and her husband, Mike, were, like so many Americans, frustrated at the lack of help being provided to the flooding victims. “And then it came to us," Gabrielle says, “We can do something.” The couple rounded up their three children and had a talk how their family could make a contribution. “We concluded that my nursing skills would be most directly beneficial to the Katrina situation,” says Gabrielle, who recently completed her fourth Project HOPE mission in Indonesia.

Gabrielle’s qualifications make her extremely well suited as a HOPE volunteer. She’s a nurse practitioner with two decades of experience, most of it working with children of immigrants, the underserved and minorities. But she also has a masters in public health that has given her the skills to support Project HOPE's commitment to education and infrastructure development. “What I love about Project HOPE is that they don’t just go into an area for a short term assignment and then leave. They are all about sustainable relationships and partnerships that result in better local health care. Everything was gone after Katrina,” says Gabrielle. “We had to pull a medical site together from scratch, while also seeing patients, all of whom where suffering from traumatic stress."

In Indonesia, Gabrielle assessed and treated hundreds of children in a variety of locations and conditions. In Ambon, at a site that was almost shut down because the crowds were on the verge of getting out of control, she saw a two-year-old boy whose arm and hand had been severely burned several days earlier. With no treatment, the child was in pain, the wound was infected, and his hand was contracting. Not content to just treat the pain and infection, Gabrielle took photos of the injury and discussed the case with both a plastic surgeon and a dermatologist. Arrangements were made to bring the child onto the ship, where state-of the-art burn care was provided. “The boy should regain full use of his hand," says Gabrielle. “There’s a lot of satisfaction when we can do something concrete like that.”

Gabrielle also had an opportunity to mentor two HOPE volunteers on this mission, both RNs who are just completing their final requirements to become nurse practitioners. During a MEDCAP, Gabrielle was able to demonstrate for them the many ways in which pediatric assessment differs from adult assessment. “You can hurt the child if you don’t hold the otiscope a certain way,” says Gabrielle. Dawn Horowitz, one of the NP students, took the initiative to write notes on every pediatric patient they saw together that day. Later, Gabrielle and Dawn reviewed the list and talked about standards of care that are feasible “in the field” as opposed to standards of care in optimal conditions.

“I also learn on these missions,” says this HOPE veteran. “In Ghana, they have a beautiful system for baby clinics. They bring in all the prenatal patients on one day, as a group; then all the well-babies and their mothers on another day.” She explains further that each clinic begins with a prayer, then songs, then dancing. Once everyone is relaxed and feeling good, the clinical care commences. On well-baby days, the mothers walk their infants through a series of stations, where they are weighed, measured and otherwise evaluated. “They don’t have the same concept of privacy that we do,” says Gabrielle. “But they also don’t have post-partum depression.” The mothers of her small patients in Seattle are often isolated, and she feels they could benefit by some Ghanian wisdom about scheduling and program design.

Gabrielle has now treated patients on Project HOPE missions in the United States, Liberia and Ghana in Africa and throughout Indonesia. “The medical care we provide can change lives,” says Gabrielle, certainly thinking of her recent burn patient. “But truly, the medical clinics just scratch the surface. The education and infrastructure piece is huge for us to meet the goal of local sustainability.”

Note to my non-medically trained readers, which may be most of you! Inside the world of health care, we love code words like infrastructure and sustainability. For the rest of us, those words boil down to something we can all understand: people, equipment and buildings that provide health care over the long run.

Thanks for your interest in Project HOPE -- Kathryn Allen, HOPE Public Affairs Officer

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Volunteers Provide Care to Very End

2010-08-30T09:47:00.018-04:00

As the first rotation of Project HOPE volunteers were completing their time in Haiti and Colombia, we found out our partners the Navy were not quite finished with us yet.

Marilyn, Michael, and I went ashore today while the rest of the team packed for the journey tomorrow.

The patient flow went as normal. The only outstanding case of the day was 59-year-old Roman Dario Hernandez, who had a chronic ulcer that had grown to engulf his entire right shin.

Working calmly, Michael cleaned and redressed the area. He then prescribed Muprocin antibiotic ointment. When the tube of ointment runs out, Michael instructed Señor Hernandez to coat the ulcer regularly with honey and apply clean bandages. “You use honey because its sugar content is so high that nothing can live in it,” Michael explained.

After dinner we assembled in the Flag Mess for a special dessert with Commodore Negus and other officers. A huge vanilla cake with thick icing and fresh strawberry filling graced the conference room table. Team members Marty and Manish cut and served the cake.

Team members chatted with the officers and the other volunteers with whom we had served. A relaxed air settled over the room. “This is more intimate than the normal dessert. We got to talk to the officers more,” remarked Manish.

Usually departing civilian volunteers are formally recognized as an item of business at the 1930 confirmation brief, in front of dozens of the Navy brass. As the event drew to a close, Commodore Negus spoke of his appreciation for all the Continuing Promise volunteers. “Nothing is easy on a CP mission. The underlying purpose is you go to help folks, and you can’t do that but by giving of yourself... You’ve given your time, muscle, brain, and sweat to help the least among us. And on behalf of the Continuing Promise team, of which you will always be a part, I deeply thank you,” said the Commodore.

He then presented each of us with a Continuing Promise certificate bearing the fourteen flags of the host nations and mission partner nations. This evening was a crowning touch to our time here on the Iwo Jima. We’ve been privileged to have such wonderful shipmates.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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Last Day in Colombia Yields Substantial Results

2010-08-27T10:26:00.015-04:00

The last day of full-scale medical operations for the Project HOPE team in Colombia is much the same as any other day here. It was a solid stretch of work in the tropical heat to bring HOPE’s skill to those who need it most.

Skin conditions stood out today as the medical issue du jour. Sometimes a pattern can develop at the med sites where a noticeable number of patients arrive in a single day with a minor problem such as foot pain or headaches. There’s no common environmental explanation for these occurrences; they’re simply a matter of chance.

Nurse Practitioner Matya Cooksey saw an infant with inflammation around his forehead and right eye from insect bites. Such afflictions are all too common in a country with such diverse insect life. The pharmacy was out of hydrocortizone creme, so Matya prescribed Benadryl syrup.

Our other Nurse Practitioner onsite Sandy McCormack counseled an elderly patient on how to improve her general quality of life. Sandy advised the lady to avoid caffeine to help lower her blood pressure. She also suggested wearing shoes with arch support to alleviate pains in the patient’s legs.

“Today we saw general aches and pains, and gave second opinions,” Sandy said. “So we can let them (the patients) know that the Colombian doctors are doing their jobs.”

Team doctor Manish Oza’s final patient of the day was a trim woman in her early sixties who had been in a motorcycle accident two days before. The crash had given the patient severe arthritis in both shoulders. When asked to raise her arms above her head, she burst into tears from the pain before she had even lifted her elbows above the level of her shoulders.

Unfortunately, the woman’s injury will require an X-ray, which we do not have at Med Site 1. Manish, frowning deeply at his inability to help, prescribed an analgesic and referred her to the local hospital.

The day finished with an impromptu concert by a Colombian band in the school’s courtyard. The frenetic, trumpet-fueled tunes did not inspire one to dance so much as to watch the musicians, and let the sheer energy of the music burn away the day’s stress.

The team will depart the USS Iwo Jima soon. We have all enjoyed working in Colombia and Haiti. We are proud to have been a part of Project HOPE and Continuing Promise 2010.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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Healthy Farm Animals Help Ensure Public Health

2010-08-26T10:25:00.006-04:00

The black piglet squirmed out of the milk crate and shot between the legs of its owner. It took off across the cow pastures, heading towards the woods. Two boys pursued it, scaling fences as easily as the pig dove under them.

An hour later, the boys returned with their wriggling quarry. The piglet was one of dozens of animals which Colombian farmers brought for Army veterinarians to treat. Over the course of the day, the vets saw cows, horses, burros, swine, and dogs.

I myself was interested to see the living conditions for rural Colombians. The farm that had been selected for the day was in the hills above Coveñas, about twenty minutes away from the medical site where Project HOPE volunteers worked.

Right away I could tell that the farm was one of the more prosperous in this region. The concrete houses for the family and farmhands were neatly painted and well-kept, with either tile roofs or palm thatching. Richly plumed chickens and guinea fowl pecked among the lawns.

The farm’s cows were a Brahmin-Broma hybrid, small white cows with loose skin and small humps on their backs. Farmhands would wrestle the calfs and hold them by their ears so the vets could vaccinate them. The adult cows were herded into a tight pen to keep them still for the needles.

The Army’s primary goals were to vaccinate and deworm the livestock. They also administered vitamins B and E, and rabies shots for the horses and donkeys.

The veterinary operations are an important part of Continuing Promise’s strategy to improve the health of Latin Americans. Colombian veterinary doctor Luis Mariano spoke of the relationship between domesticated animals and humans. “Public health (in humans) is only one (reflection of national health). We need to achieve equilibrium in the environment.”

Healthier livestock will increase food and fertilizer yields in Colombia’s rural areas. Also Colombian agriculture is becoming more industrialized nationally.

As the HOPE team continues to care for the people of Colombia, it is reassuring to see that the Continuing Promise mission covers far more than the health of one species.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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Volunteers Diversify to Meet Needs in Coveñas

2010-08-25T08:15:00.007-04:00

Project HOPE team member Marilyn Ringstaff is a Certified Nurse Midwife. Her role as part of the team is to handle all types of medical issues related to pregnancy and women’s well-being. In Coveñas, she continues the Women’s Health duties she had in Haiti, with a few key changes.

One of the biggest challenges in Haiti was that the Women’s Health department, one of six areas of medicine addressed at the med sites, was lacking all the modern equipment to perform full examinations for pregnant women. Doctors had to use the most accurate methods available to them, sometimes leaving the diagnosis in doubt.

Here, the site still lacks state-of-the-art equipment. However, Colombian patients frequently arrive with intact medical records, even ultrasound results.

“It makes a big difference... A lot of appointments are just consults now,” said Marilyn.

Another obstacle in Haiti was the population’s lack of access to basic birth control measures, notably condoms. This dearth of medical protection permits not only many unprepared-for pregnancies, but also the spread of a host of sexually transmitted diseases.

In contrast, Coveñas citizens have much better access to condoms and birth control. IUDs are available at local clinics for women who wish to postpone pregnancy. For those who want no more children, sterilization is a common practice.

“They call it ‘being disconnected.’ Took me a while to figure out what they were talking about,” Marilyn said with a laugh.

Because of these amenities, the Women’s Health station which functioned in Haiti has been incorporated into the more general Medical station for Colombia. Marilyn still sees many mothers, infants, and mothers-to-be, but her recent charges have included patients from strapping men with headaches to elderly ladies looking for advice on osteoporosis.
“Osteoporosis has no symptoms,” Marilyn counseled one patient. “But many people who have osteoporosis also have arthritis, which is probably what you’re feeling.”

The changes in procedure from country to country often present challenges for the Project HOPE team. But they are challenges that we will continue to overcome.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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Surgical Patients Thankful

2010-08-24T09:09:00.000-04:00

After extensive patient screening, 54 Colombians were chosen to take onboard the the USS Iwo Jima for surgery. Today, in the ship’s ward, I had the pleasure of speaking with one of them.

Leonore del Risco is an elderly resident of Coveñas. Her husband, José Antonio Carta, is scheduled to have a long-existing hernia removed tomorrow. “It’s amazing that everyone is taking care of us (so well). We did not expect everyone to be so friendly and attentive,” said Señora del Risco, speaking through Navy LS2(AW) Liseth Perez.

Señora del Risco lives with José Antonio and their 19-year-old granddaughter. The couple’s five children have long since moved away. To stave off the poverty that afflicts many Colombians, Señora del Risco works as a postal carrier, delivering letters on foot in blistering heat. Even so, she makes below the Colombian minimum wage. Where the expected salary is 500 pesos a week, she receives 350.

Still, she reasons, it’s better than nothing. She also looks to her four sons and daughter for support. Her eldest son, a security guard in Cartagena, is the main breadwinner. “I thank God that at least I have a job, and a meal on the table every day,” Señora del Risco said.

Her thanks seemed deeply heartfelt. Indeed, the unemployment rate for Colombians is 11.8 percent. She was also grateful to live in Coveñas, which she described as a “jewel.” The town has been spared the violence that persists in some regions. The weather is also temperate, meaning less risk of the floods that have taken lives elsewhere in the country.

The USS Iwo Jima continues to perform life-altering procedures for people just like Señor Carta and Señora del Risco. Stories like theirs remind us of the realities of life far away from the prosperity we Americans enjoy.

This evening at the landing zone, the boat crew made the first dry LCU landing. Team members were able to triumphantly step aboard the transport without wetting their feet. This is an historic moment for everyone who waded ashore day after day in Haiti.

Project HOPE volunteer Matya Cooksey reported that the activities at on shore clinic today went as expected. Site officials found a way to improve efficiency by thwarting “swooners.” Some townsfolk pretend faintness or seizures to gain entrance to the site faster. “If you swoon, you can go to the local hospital, or you can get back in line,” said Matya.

These cases show that when care is limited, some will take unusual measures to receive medical care. One more obstacle has been dealt with in our mission to help the people of Colombia.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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Volunteers Stay Busy in Colombia

2010-08-23T09:13:00.013-04:00

Today was our first day of seeing patients in Coveñas, Colombia. To mark the occasion, Colombian officials hosted opening ceremonies, where several distinguished guests spoke. Meanwhile, the Project HOPE team worked hard to set the bar high for themselves on the first day. The venue for the opening ceremonies was a large stage, blocking nearly the entire street in front of the school that had been selected for the site. Speakers stood twelve feet high to either side of the platform. The backdrop was a huge banner that read “Promesa Continua 2010,” showing a Marine helping a smiling mother and child.

The event commenced with moving renditions of the Colombian and American national anthems. Commodore Negus and Captain Tanner took their seats beside two Colombian colonels, the mayors of the nearby towns, and Ken Yamashita, director of the relief group USAID. The mayor of Coveñas, Arnaldo Julio Ramos, expressed his gratitude for Continuing Promise’s efforts and extended a warm welcome on behalf of his constituents.

Commodore Negus spoke next, presenting a detailed greeting in Spanish, but the body of his speech in English.

“(Our) commitment (is) as strong as the magnificent ship that has brought us to your shores and as powerful as the spirit of the people we have come to serve,” the Commodore said.

Mr. Yamashita brought the ceremony to a close, expounding upon his desire for increased political and economic opportunities for all Colombians.

Afterwards, the international pop singer Fonseca delivered a special concert from the stage.

The music and the cheers of the crowd filtered into the school buildings, providing an invigorating rhythm for the work inside.
“I get to speak with patients! I love it!” said HOPE team member Matya Cooksey. All of the team’s physicians had to rely on Creole translators in Haiti. Now, Matya, Melissa, and Michael converse freely with their patients in Spanish.

Team nurse Susan Eilermann conquered the language barrier in a different way. She used straightforward sign language to communicate to her charges how to properly use an inhaler.

Some patients arrived at the clinic with newborns for well-checks, a basic procedure to confirm that the baby is healthy. Others with problems such as malnutrition and parasites. There will be no shortage of Colombians needing HOPE’s aid.

By the end of the day we had treated at least 500 patients. Not bad for our first day. We’ve glimpsed how smoothly our system can run, and we’ll be pushing ourselves to improve it at every turn. ¡Vaminos!

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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Volunteers Prepare for Patients in Colombia

2010-08-20T07:55:00.006-04:00

The Colombian coast was a line of green on the horizon, sandwiched between two plates of steel-gray clouds and water. A smattering of islands punctuated the water to our port side. As I gazed toward the lights of Covenas onshore, a huge S of lightning snaked across the morning sky. Drops of rain began to speckle the deck.

These weather conditions waylaid the morning’s helicopter launch, but not for long. The choppers bore the Continuing Promise advance team to scout the conditions for the new Med Site 1 in Covenas. Project HOPE team member Dr. Michael Polifka was part of this team.

Michael reported that the daily procedure would be much the same as it had been for Haiti. There will be buses to take us from the helicopter- and boat landing zones (HLZ and BLZ, respectively) to the site each morning. The site itself is a walled school compound like the Lycée in Porte de Paix.

The Continuing Promise mission will be far more publicized to the local population than it was in Haiti. The school walls are already adorned with a banner reading “Promesa Continua 2010.”

Michael and others on the advance team spent the day organizing the site, allocating classrooms for the pharmacy, optometry clinic, etc. They made such progress that surgeons were able to begin screening patients to board the Iwo Jima. Michael even examined one patient himself, a 19-year-old man who underwent a chest x-ray and was diagnosed with a hernia.

At the nightly confirmation brief, military officials warned us not to be complacent based on what we’d seen in Haiti. Colombia will offer a widely different set of conditions.

“There are mosquitoes, bats, rabid dogs, and poisonous snakes,” said Captain Tanner. “Can’t forget about the snakes.”

After the team meeting, Michael and Dr. Manish Oza discussed tomorrow, when more HOPE volunteers will go to Med Site 1.

“It will be what it will be,” said Michael.

Manish nodded resolutely. “We’ll find out tomorrow.”

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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Volunteers Step Into Mess Crew's Shoes

2010-08-19T08:00:00.007-04:00

Today Project HOPE team members, as well as other civilian volunteers and officers of the Iwo Jima, had the opportunity to trade places with some of the ship’s kitchen staff. They came away with a new appreciation for how much effort goes into everyday food preparation.

The event began with a sign-up sheet posted on the Wardroom door proclaiming an “FSA CS Night Off.” NGO (non-governmental organization) volunteers, officers, and others could sign up to undertake various kitchen duties such as serving and washing dishes.

The turnout was considerable. Team members Matya Cooksey and Susan Eilermann washed dishes for several hours after lunch to prepare for dinner, when more people were scheduled to take part.

“I did the scrubbing and I learned how to load the dishwasher-- which is called ‘the Dragon’ --and Matya dried the dishes and arranged the silverware in the appropriate spots... And we rocked,” Susan said.

The dinner itself was definitely one of the best meals we’ve had on the Iwo Jima so far. Dr. Diane Seemann from Germany cooked thick-crusted pizza with robust cheddar cheese. There was also succulent pasta in alfredo sauce with chicken. Finally there was ice cream for dessert, complete with candy toppings.

“It’s like an honor to be able to serve our men and women (in uniform),” said Janinatt Viteri of the NGO Give a Kid a Backpack.

HOPE team member Dr. Manish Oza agreed. “It’s good for everyone. It gives you a greater appreciation for the effort that goes into making the food and the cleanup. You’re not really aware of all that until you do it yourself.”

In the end, the day proved to be an excellent chance to better identify with our partners in the Navy. With this mutual appreciation, we’ll continue to make this a better Continuing Promise for everyone.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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HOPE Volunteers Take a Break at Guantanamo

2010-08-18T09:36:00.001-04:00

We came into sight of Cuba around sunrise. As green peaks rose over the horizon, people crowded the deck to catch the first glimpses of the infamous Guantanamo Bay military base.
As tempting as it was to bring out our cameras, we resisted. Pictures of the base are strictly verboten, even from offshore.

The first building that came into sight reminded me from a distance, ironically, perhaps, of a mosque. As we pulled further into the strait guarding the bay, I saw that it was a domed airport hangar. A large blue twin-engine plane flew directly over the Iwo Jima as we passed.

As we docked, I found it strange to see the ship surrounded by land in almost all directions. We’d been surrounded by the open expanse of the sea for so long. On the dock below, forklifts scurried in and out of the ship’s hold, restocking it with food and other supplies.

Guantanamo’s climate logically reminds me of south Florida, but the rocky terrain is completely different. Large many-fingered cactus trees grow on the crests of hills.

The fauna is also jarringly dissimilar. Two-foot-long iguanas lumber through the lawns on the base, as omnipresent as squirrels in a city park.

The team spent the day stocking up on the clothing items we discussed for Colombia. After dark we sampled the base’s Jamaican restaurant, the Jerk House. The food was excellent, very similar to good Suthun’ barbecue, but with more spices.

Today is also the last day for our Creole translators, Jenny, Dinah, and Vanessa. Their skills were invaluable in Haiti, and we wish them well in their future work with the Red Cross in Miami.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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Colombia Bound

2010-08-17T08:24:00.001-04:00

The Continuing Promise Project HOPE team is barely out of sight of Haiti, and we’re already gearing up for the next stage of action. We’re striving to, as team member Sandy said yesterday, “work out all the kinks,” so we can perform HOPE’s work with maximum speed and effectiveness.

After the evening muster, team member Dr. Manish Oza gathered the team around the conference table in the Flag Mess to discuss how we might learn from some of the inconveniences we experienced in Haiti.

The knowledge that we’ll be facing a different climate in Colombia spurred our decisions. Haiti’s northern peninsula is dry in comparison to much of the Caribbean. Seeing that summer is Colombia’s rainy season, we expect things to get a lot wetter.

Team member Dr. Michael Polifka, who has undertaken numerous medical missions in Latin America, advised that everyone buy a rain jacket at Guantanamo. He also cautioned that we should be prepared to deal with copious mud.

“The big problem might not be rain, but the stuff the rain makes,” he said.
We’ll also purchase water shoes, lest we have to wade ashore again. Far from being an issue of comfort, dry feet will become essential in Colombia’s jungle humidity in order to thwart trench foot and similar conditions.

The team also agreed that we should become more proactive in dealing with the military’s pre-set structure for the med sites. Manish suggested taking advantage of team members’ knowledge of specific medical topics to give more detailed education presentations.
“We could cover asthma, wound-dressings, any number of stuff...” Manish said.

Earlier today three of the team got the chance to view Haiti as never before. Dr. Melissa Moore, Matya Cooksey, and Susan Eilermann were selected to go along with a helicopter crew that was photographing certain sites for publicity purposes. They saw everything from country villages to a beachside resort complete with a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

One sight of the day made a particularly strong impression. Though many buildings in one rural settlement were primitive, it boasted one unexpected advancement in hygiene.
“I was super-impressed with these latrines up in the hills,” Matya said.

These latrines were solidly built and equipped with ventilation shafts, which help the waste break down faster. If toilets of this quality can be found in Haiti’s back country, it stands to sense that the country’s overall health can advance, even if only one town at a time.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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More Than 4000 Patient Encounters in Haiti

2010-08-16T07:43:00.000-04:00

August 2 was the last day of appointments at Med Site 1 in Haiti. The high rate of patient flow which yielded over 800 encounters yesterday increased even further.

“Well, it went so smoothly because we’ve gotten all the kinks out (over the previous days),” said Project HOPE team member Sandy McCormack.

Unfortunately, the Iwo Jima was tentatively scheduled to depart for Guantanamo Bay tonight, so Med Site 1 only performed services for half a day. Even so, they saw over 500 patients.

Tonight at the 1900 briefing on the next day’s activities, Captain Tanner reported that, during our eight-day-long stay in Haiti, we encountered 4054 patients.

Commodore Negus also offered his words of praise for civilians’ role in the exercise. It’s your hard work, persistence, character, and individual drive that touches folks... This is an absolutely magnificent, magnificent start to a magnificent deployment.”

All of the HOPE team is looking to duplicate the triumphs we’ve had in Haiti in Colombia. A day of R&R awaits us at Gitmo. But it won’t be long before we have our boots on the ground again.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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Volunteers Witness Moving Ceremony

2010-08-13T08:08:00.000-04:00

The first formal military ceremony I’ve ever seen is also likely to be one of the most moving that I ever will see.

Today’s change of command officially concluded Captain Jeffrey “Amtrack” Amick’s leadership of the USS Iwo Jima, and the inauguration of Captain Tom Chassee. Traditionally, the ceremony is a very formal event with the potential to be very elaborate. However, our limited resources aboard the ship demanded something more spartan. In fact, the brief gathering on the flight deck made the ritual’s core meaning even more powerful.

The ceremony opened with a lively rendition of “Anchors Away” by the Air Force. Then the Navy and Marine Corps color guard paraded their respective flags, along with Old Glory, in a perfectly drilled march. Finally, a trio of female sailors delivered a stunning rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.

Captain Amick mounted the stage, radiating his well-known air of geniality. After thanking his parents and his wife for their support, he launched into his farewell speech, already visibly moved by the occasion.

He began by describing a crew’s devotion to their ship, and the captain’s duty to the crew. He heartily congratulated the Iwo Jima’s crew for their achievements over the past few years.

“Wherever we go, they know (the task at hand is) gonna be done quickly, and it’s gonna be done right the first time,” said Amick.

That martial ability has now been harnessed in Continuing Promise, of which the captain also spoke highly.

“Thousands of lives will be touched and improved by what we are doing here (in Haiti),” he said.

Commodore Negus presented Captain Amick with the pennant which had flown from the mast during the length of his command, framed in a majestic wooden display case.

“I’d stay here for another thirty years if they’d let me... but no, they won’t let me,” Amick said in closing with a smile.

He then turned to Captain Chassee, exchanged salutes imbued with the deep gravity of the moment, and took his seat.

The new ship’s master Chassee kept his speech short, in keeping with the traditions of the event.
“All I can ask is that you offer me the same second-to-none support you showed Captain Amick,” Chassee said.

And so, the Iwo Jima will carry on with a new captain. This ceremony provided Project HOPE team members with a moving glimpse into the world of our partners in the armed services.

In other news, Dr. Howe, President and CEO of Project HOPE, visited the onshore medical sites and the ship. Check out his blog. We’ll also said goodbye to two of our number, Stephen and Sam Casscells, as they will be departing with Dr. Howe for Port-au-Prince and the flight back to the States. We wish them all the best.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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HOPE CEO Visits Volunteers in Haiti

2010-08-12T08:17:00.000-04:00

While at a medical site in Haiti, we received a special guest: Dr. John Howe, the president and CEO of Project HOPE. We also treated the highest number of patients so far in one day.

Dr. Howe arrived in Porte de Paix as part of a tour of Haiti. Check out his personal blog. Arriving in Port-au-Prince, he toured the well-known Hôpital Albert Schweitzer before flying to Cap Haitien and then to Porte de Paix.

HOPE team member Dr. Manish Oza served as the tour guide throughout the Lycée Tertulien Gibauld, giving Dr. Howe a first-hand look at our medical, deworming and education stations.

Dr. Howe greeted all the team members at the site, warmly thanking them for bringing their expertise to Haiti. At the medical station, Dr. Howe lauded team nurse practitioner Sandy McCormack for her service.

“You’ve really gone above and beyond the call of duty,” he said.

“Well, it’s really my family who are going above and beyond (for letting me part with them for so long),” Sandy demurred.

Dr. Howe also met with Mayor Gaston Estima, who heartily thanked him for HOPE’s actions in Haiti, and in Porte de Paix in particular.

Soon after, Dr. Howe took a helicopter from the landing zone to the USS Iwo Jima, where he met with the ship’s top brass, including Commodore Negus and Captain Chassee.

Meanwhile, those at Med Site 1 were busy breaking a record.

We helped 633 (patients) yesterday,” Chief Chubb had announced at the morning muster. “My goal is 650 (today).”

Some personnel upped the ante, shouting that we could serve 700.

So imagine our surprise when we shattered both goals. At the end of the day, we saw 802 patients. Of those, we had dewormed 610 and filled 1424 prescriptions.

Not a bad day.

Story and photos by HOPE volunteer and PAO, Eric Campbell

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