24 November, 2010
ANSE-A-PITRES, Haiti. – From November 13th through the 21st, a team of seven US-based medical professionals worked at BRA’s adopted medical clinic located in Haiti’s remote border commune of Anse-a-Pitres where they were joined by BRA local providers to deliver life-saving emergency medical attention to the population and to study a comprehensive effort to help contain the spread of the cholera outbreak that is now ravaging the country.
Led by BRA’s International Medical Director, Dr. Raymond Thertulien, the group provided free medical care, medicines and pre-natal vitamins to more than 750 people living in Haiti’s communities of Anse-a-Pitres, Thiotte and Grand Gosier, and Dominican’s town of Pedernales in areas of gynecology, pediatrics, general medicine, infectious diseases, and minor surgeries. According to Dr. Thertulien, many cases of bacterial vaginosis, cervicitis, endometritis, malaria, and other bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections, high blood pressure, diabetes, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal diseases and dehydration were encountered and treated.
To respond to potential cases of cholera, oral rehydration salts and medications were provided to the clinic. Dr. Thertulien informed that only one case of severe diarrhea was registered and local health authorities were alerted while analysis is pending. But as the disease is quickly spreading with 1,344 deaths and more than 2000,000 potential new cases expected within the next year, BRA is now evaluating closely with its health team to set up a strategic plan of prevention, surveillance and treatment for communities in Southeastern and Southwestern border regions of the two countries, respectively.
Dr. Thertulien was accompanied by two members of the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad (AMHE) – Drs. Paul Nacier and Pierre Leger, Dr. Steve Hill of Asheville Women’s Medical Center, Deanna Ball, RN, Mary Fingeroff, RN, and Mary Leonidas, CRNA, of Ashville, North Carolina.
