Dear friends,

Leogane, Haiti is another town that was devastated in the earthquake this past week, and is also the site of the Notre Dame Haiti program for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis. I had the opportunity to visit Leogane during my time working for the program and also with a group from Pitt med school who travelled to Haiti over spring break of our first year. I have recently received an e-mail from a friend named Precene who is in Leogane which said "Dear friends, After that tragedy, we can say that Leogane is destroyed about 90%. For now we have many problems. Wedon't have potable water, no food. No schools, all churches are gone. We have nothing. I am living in a camp with about 1000 people, we have onely some scheet. Please do things for us!"

I have since found out Dr. Ralph Pennino, chief of plastic surgery at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, NY is heading to Leogane, Haiti this coming Wednesday. Dr. Pennino runs a non-profit called InterVol with the mission of "serving others through the recovery and redistribution of medical supplies and equipment; bridging local hospitals and medical professionals with other countries and care-giving organizations in areas of need; and providing international educational support." As you can read in Dr. Pennino's email below, InterVol has had a benefactor donate the use of their 2 corporate jets to ferry medical supplies and personnel to Santa Domingo. From there the US Southern Command has agreed to bring them to Leogane.

I contacted Dr. Pennino to see what medical supply needs he may have and if he is accepting donations. The answer is a resounding yes, and he sent me a list of the supplies he is in most need of for the airlift. I just wanted to pass on his message to those in the medical profession and others who might be interested in what he's doing. For anyone who might be interested in donating supplies, his first airlift will leave the states this coming Wednesday, but as he explains in his message, they are starting to fill 40 ft. shipping containers that will go out when the ports are open, so supplies can be collected on an ongoing basis. I have attached the list of supplies as an excel document, and also have copied the list directly into the message below as well.

Dr. Pennino is also recruiting volunteer doctors, nurses, allied medical personnel to work on the USS Comfort. The commitment would be for two weeks. All types of docs/nurses are requested. Also, ideally looking for teams of surgeons and OR nurses who have worked together as well.

You can read his email below for more information, and can also contact him directly by email at ralph.pennino@rochestergeneral.org.


Also, please feel free to share this information with anyone you would like to share it with.


sincerely,
nicole shirilla
Univ. of Pittsburgh MS-III


(You can see a video that was aired on CNN about relief efforts in Leogane here. Also, ABC news did a story about Fr. Rick and St. Damien's Children's Hospital in Port au Prince. Video here.)


Medical Supplies Needed

Bandages to include:
Bandaids
Gauze
Kling/Kerlex
Ace Wrap
Antibiotic ointment
Hydrogen Peroxide
Alcohol wipes
Hydrogen Peroxide
AdhesiveTape/OR Other Tapes
Hand Santitizer

Other:
Sterile Gloves
Unsterile Gloves
Drapes
Gowns
IV Solutions
IV Tubing
Angio catheters all sizes
Central Line Kits

Medications:
Antibiotics
Analgesics Tylenol/ Advil
Sedatives
Benadryl
Local Anesthetics
Antiemetics
Anit Diarrheal
Splinting/Casting
Splints
Casting material
Slings
Other:
Baby Bottles
Formula
Infant Rehydration (Pedialyte)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Feminine hygiene supplies
Water purification tablets