Volunteers Complete Suriname Mission

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

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

Diabetes in Suriname

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

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

Volunteers Provide Care at Med Sites, Hospitals and Rural Clinics

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

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

Volunteers in Suriname

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

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

New Team of Volunteers Join Continuing Promise 2010

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.