Project Medishare, based at the University of Miami, is a nonprofit organization that has been working in Haiti since 1994. For many years, their work in Haiti focused on clean water programs, community health, vaccinations, nutrition programs and special surgery. When the earthquake devastated Port-au- Prince in January 2010, Medishare quickly set up a tent hospital at the airport grounds to care for the injured. This was possible because of Medishare's longstanding presence in the community as well as local governmental cooperation. This ISHI team, with the desire to assist in post-earthquake relief, volunteered at the Medishare Hospital. The objective of this mission was to assist with the medical and surgical care of the sick and injured post-earthquake at the Medishare Tent Hospital.
ISHI did not have to bring supplies on this mission, as the hospital was well supplied through Project Medishare and University of Miami.
"The destruction that we witnessed in Haiti has made us realize that this world is not a force to be reckoned with….it is fragile, and it is unpredictable…..but the people on it are strong and resilient… many of us ask ourselves… What will happen now? When people stop coming here to help…when the news of this tragedy quiets down…when no one will donate to charitable causes…what then? What we did was so so small in comparison to how much work is needed here…It became apparent to me that the people in impoverished countries really don't stand a chance….with malnutrition, lack of education, to lack of jobs, and government corruption….But as people continue to come and spread the word of how much help is needed here….maybe Haiti will not be forgotten…I hope that all of you who read this and the rest of our blogs will some day, maybe soon decide to come here because it is so worth it….it makes you so grateful for your health, for your family, for food that you put on your table, for a roof over your head, for people around you who support you and love you no matter what…"
Emilia Wawsczyk, RN - ISHI Volunteer