Third time round!

I am just in the process of packing my bags for my 3rd orthopaedic teaching mission to Cap Haitien since the 2010 earthquake in Port au Prince.Since my last visit in 2012 Hearts and Hands for Haiti have been fund raising for the School of Physical Therapy Project which first started 4 years ago and which finally came to fruition last year with the first intake of students.They are currently housed temporarily awaiting the completion of a permanent building.Thanks to the help of the United Nations and Indonesian troops from the local MINUSTA contingent the old building, donated by the Evangelical Church of Haiti, has been renovated and looks magically transformed.(photos before and after attached)

Riviere Salee 2012

Riviere Salee 2014

 
 Two years ago HHH hosted Dr Ogedad Pierre and he spent 3 months working with me at Dunedin Hospital. His orthopaedic training is coming to an end and going by the photos of cases he has treated at Justinien Hospital since his time in NZ I can assure you that his time in NZ has been very beneficial and it is great to see Haitien patients benefiting from his outstanding skills as a doctor and orthopaedic surgeon. The aim of my visit this time is to concentrate on the teaching of pediatric orthopaedic and spinal surgery.Dr Ogedad has assembled a number of children who require surgery for different deformities including brittle bone disease,clubfeet,congenital malformations etc.These will form the basis for my teaching of surgical skills pertaining to orthopaedic surgery in children. I will also continue teaching on advanced techniques in the management of spinal injuries and serious skeletal trauma including pelvic and hip fractures. Finally I have assembled a pile of used and expired implants and surgical instruments which is filling up most of my 2 suitcases.

One of my suitcases

 
 I am very thankful to Dunedin Hospital, and in particular the orthopaedic operating theatre nurses who have collected the equipment over the last couple of years! Some of this will be very valuable in Haiti and would you believe that all these implants are not been able to be reused in NZ because they are labelled as single use despite the fact that they are made of metal and can be safely resterilized! What a waste! I will be away for 4 weeks and am thankful to HHH for their generous sponsorship of my trip.I am looking forward to spending time with Robyn and catching up with all my Haitian friends.I hope you will enjoy my blog.

 M'swete'w tout bon bagay (Best wishes in Creole)