FW: Prosthetic Rehabililtation in Haiti: What can we do?

FW: Prosthetic Rehabililtation in Haiti: What can we do?

Paul Prusakowski

1/20/2010

From: Kistenberg, Robert S [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 4:37 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Fwd: Prosthetic Rehabililtation in Haiti: What can we do?

Global OandP community,

      As the enormity of the tragedy resulting from last week’s earthquake
in Haiti comes into focus and the monumental task of search, rescue and
recovery continues, attention is being given to the immediate needs of the
people amidst the chaos and destruction. As is often the case with
catastrophic events, a significant number of survivors, possibly numbering
in the thousands, will have sustained amputations. Even before the
earthquake, the need for prostheses in Haiti far outstripped the capacity of
the organizations providing prosthetic services. Now, in a momentary shift
of tectonic plates, the demand for prostheses and amputee rehabilitation has
grown exponentially. Furthermore the headquarters for the main group
providing prosthetic care in Port au Prince, Healing Hands for Haiti (HHH)
(www.healinghandsforhaiti.org), has sustained substantial damage..

      As is the usual reaction to such a crisis, individuals and groups want
to assist which is noble and exactly what our natural instincts guide us to
do. However, when it comes to providing prosthetic rehabilitation services
to amputees in developing nations, one must be mindful of how these services
are being delivered as it is possible to do more harm than good. As of
January 19, 2010, a team from HHH, in conjunction with other international
aid agencies, has been deployed to Haiti to begin the initial coordination
of rehabilitation for those with amputations and spinal cord injuries. It
is feedback from their initial on the ground assessments that should guide
our next efforts.
    
  A systematic approach to amputee care will include identification of the
affected population concurrent with establishment and restoration of
prosthetic facilities with adequate equipment, materials and space to
provide services. The logistics of putting a humanitarian mission team
in-country are daunting at the best of times but during a crisis and
subsequent recovery, a coordinated effort is absolutely essential. Once the
situation has been fully evaluated, plans can be made to assemble the
appropriate teams. There will be no shortage of volunteer opportunities
once the infrastructure is in place.

      While the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon describes the devastation
in Haiti as one of the worst humanitarian crises in decades, it provides
the international P&O rehabilitation community an opportunity to demonstrate
our innate human compassion and our capacity to help people in dire need.
An event such as this brings out the best in people as is evident by the
global response to this crisis. So what can you do to help to build
prosthetics infrastructure in Haiti now?

1.      Volunteer: Fill out the form created by Healing Hands for Haiti as
they are populating a database of volunteers if you are willing to go now or
in the future. Recall that this is the time for a coordinated effort to be
launched. Together we can build something strong and sustainable. Paste
the following into your browser:

<URL Redacted>
QXc6MA

2.      Commit to doing it right: If you and or your organization is
seriously interested in assisting with Prosthetic & Orthotic humanitarian
efforts in Haiti or anywhere, read and sign on to the P&O Code of Conduct
for Humanitarian Organizations.

3.      Donate components, equipment or materials: If you have componentry,
new or used prostheses, fabrication materials or equipment, please do so
through the Prosthetic & Orthotic Component Clearinghouse (POCC)
(www.usispo.org/pocc). What you send may not be components that are
appropriate for Haiti but they may also be. POCC is a collaborative project
between MedShare International, U.S. National Member Society of ISPO
(US-ISPO), the Prosthetics & Orthotics Programs at the Georgia Institute of
Technology and the Barr Foundation.

4.      Get informed: There were two documents published in 2006 by the
Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation and Landmine Survivors Network
which are the guides for providing Prosthetics and Orthotics in Developing
Countries. The first is the Prosthetic & Orthotic Project Guide-Supporting
Prosthetic & Orthotic Services in Low-Income Countries (LSN 2007). The
second is the Prosthetic & Orthotic Programme Guide-Implementing P&O
Services in Low-Income Countries. (LSN 2007). These documents provide
insights as to how to provide P&O services. They represent a collaborative
effort of over 35 organizations and are endorsed by the International
Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.

5.      Give Cash: Monetary contributions are always welcomed either to
Healing Hands for Haiti, UNICEF or the Red Cross.
The above posting is an abbreviated version of a recent message posted to
the US ISPO website.  Go to www.usispo.org for more information.

Let's work this one out together.

Rob

--

Robert S. Kistenberg, MPH, CP, LP, FAAOP
Chair, US National Member Society (www.usispo.org)
of the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (www.ispoint.org)
<Email Address Redacted>
(404) 894 6269 office

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