Table: - VISIÓN 2020



HAITI

STATUS REPORT

Communications with VISION2020/USA NGOs and Others

January 29, 2010

This report highlights various communications received. On behalf of VISION2020/USA, this information is to help organizations be aware of current efforts in the relief phase. VISION2020/USA plans to develop a coordinated effort to rebuild in Haiti where our members can participate should they choose during the development phase. This will be done in coordination with the Haitian Ophthalmology Society which is back up and running.

A separate contact list includes the VISION2020/USA members and additional contacts who have been communicating regarding the relief effort. Thanks to Ann Wilcock at PBA for sharing this and John Barrows at IEF for developing the larger list.

In discussions with a number of you, those who have funds and want to support the relief effort are being directed to CBM/USA as they have staff on the ground and have supported a number of hospitals and facilities for 30 years. CBMI has unfortunately lost some coworkers in the earthquake. Contact: JoAnne Wood at jwood@ or Karen Heinicke-Motsch at kheinickemotsch@. See CBM Status Report below.

The following table is a list of ophthalmologists who are willing to volunteer if there is a request, and a list of companies that have product to donate. It will be updated as information is available.

|Ophthalmologist Volunteers |

|Mike Feilmeier, MD |Mike.Feilmeier@hsc.utah.edu |Works with Geoff Tabin |

|Juan Miguel POSADA Fratti |jmposadafratti@] |San Salvador, El Salvador (IEF partner) |

|Linda Rose, MD, PhD |lirose@salud.unm.edu |Available 10 days per month |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Pharmaceuticals Offered |

|Aurolab at Aravind, India |bala@ |See appendix A for eye drops ready to ship and full product range.|

| |vishnu@ |Determining routing to avoid US border hold ups |

| | | |

| | | |

Following are communications from NGOs (in alphabetical order) about the situation vis a vis what their own organizations are doing.

AAO

Dr. Mike Brennan reports (personal communication 1/28/10) that a Task Force has been set up by the AAO and has been collaborating with the Haitian Ophthalmology Society which is up and running and ready to provide services. Funds have been raised to help replace basic equipment so the ophthalmologists can examine patients and equipment is being purchased. Mike is going to write up the notes and send to me. They will be added when received.

• Dr. Kaz Soong of the University of Michigan, with wide international experience and experience in Haiti, has just returned from assisting in the relief effort.

• Dr. Natalio Uisterdo (sp?) In Puerto Rico who has been working with the Haitian colleagues for years is coordinating efforts through the PAAO.

• The AAO Task Force is also liaising with the daughter of a former US ambassador to Haiti who is helping coordinating AAO efforts with Haitian colleagues.

• Caritas is involved in supporting relief efforts through the DR.

• There are two ophthalmologists on the USS Comfort and the US military is setting up temporary medical facilities.

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American Airlines (note from Janet Leasher/UNESCO Chair)

You may have also heard that once commercial flights are allowed in, that American Airlines will ship medical teams and supplies for free.

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Dr. Juan BATLLE, MD Dominican Republic

January 17, 2010

So many have contacted and called and I am thankful to all of you for your concern. The earthquake in Haiti was devastating at category 7.3 in the Richter scale but it was limited to the perimeter around Port au Prince as you have seen in the news.  Things in the Dominican Republic are fine and we are making exhaustive efforts with international aid to rescue, bury, operate, rebuild and feed the thousands of people that were left homeless and injured.  The people in Haiti are in a state of shock and that includes the President Rene Preval who apparently lost his parents and a son.  There is no army, police, hospital, church, source of food or source of water in Haiti. The international effort has been phenomenal and we have 6000 U.S. Marines in a base at the Dominican side of the border sending convoys with rescue missions, food, water, and medicines every hour.  The United Nations headquarters fell down and apparently 13 Brazilian soldiers perished.  The rescue efforts are being coordinated by the UN troops and it is very difficult and dangerous.  Most of the medical work consists in curing open wounds that are now several days’ old, amputations for gangrene and for victims that had to be amputated to save them from the rubble.  Right now, most of the need is food, water, and medicines.  There is little place for ophthalmology at this point but we will needed in about a week.  The international response has been very generous from most countries but it will take a long time and much work to rebuild that city of 3 million people.  It is the worst disaster that I have ever seen in the Americas. Be careful as to how you channel the aid to the victims of the disaster and verify your channels of aid carefully.  The solidarity that has been shown with the poor of Haiti has been exemplary.  Thank you all.

I am trying to contact the Haitian colleagues and we have news from Carol Cadet, Alexandra B. Staco, Brunache, Reginald Paul, Marhone, Large, Hudicourt, Noelsaint, Romain, and Pean.  These are all fine but many have lost loved ones.  I will try to circulate a mass mail effort to assist them.  Please remain in touch.

____________________________________

CBM Status Reports

January 27, 2010 - Karen Heinicke-Motsch

I have asked the international program office to provide advice regarding the Aurolab in kind donation. We do not have a supply route and our emergency coordinator advised us to refer people to Merlin for in kind donations. Once I get confirmation from the international program office of the routing method I will get back to Aurolab with copy to you.

January 22, 2010 - Karen Heinicke-Motsch

Our field office reports that in-kind donation offers should be routed through Merlin. Additionally you may already be aware of the coordination effort of goods and services by USAID which can be accessed through the following link: haiti

Our team on the ground is growing and we have a good situation analysis of partners now and expect a concept note by the end of the weekend.

January 18, 2010 - Karen Heinicke-Motsch

CBM has been working in Haiti for over 30 year and has 12 partners in Haiti, 5 in Port Au Prince. Two of our five partners in Port Au Prince are hospitals.

CBM's emergency coordinator and regional director are currently in Haiti where they are helping with relief efforts and assessing the current needs on the ground. Travel and communications are complicated though the team is hopeful that with the supply of fuel being one of the main priorities of the OCHA they will be able to get around to assess the situation first hand with the rest of our partners in Port Au Prince today and over the next couple of days. At present with the low supply of fuel priority is of course on keeping the hospital generators running.

CBM has a three stage plan in place though it is vitally important that we allow our team the time it needs to make a proper situation analysis before we implement. We are very grateful for the support expressed through members of Vision 2020 USA. Rest assured we will keep you informed of needs as well as the practical response avenues as we learn more. We are fortunate to have one of the best disability inclusive emergency experts in the world as our emergency coordinator and thank you for your offers of support and patience as we assess the situation on the ground both in terms of need and in terms of supply lines, etc.

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IAPB

January 26, 2010

Our colleague Jerry Vincent of IRC has offered some wise advice for those organizing to help Haiti. It is important for those who have never worked in a disaster situation and a good reminder to those of us who have.

January 27, 2010

A report sent by Maryanne Diamond at Maryanne.Diamond@ – Appendix C.

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SEVA Foundation

January 22, 2010

Jack Blanks (personal communication) reports that the eye clinic built by the late Dr. John Cheatham is still intact near Jocmel while all around has been destroyed.

UNESCO Chair: Janet Leasher, OD, MPH

January 16, 2010

The UNESCO Chair does not have immediate plans to participate in the disaster response phase, and we commend you for your initiative with your partners in-country.  I will also forward information to you as I hear it regarding other eye care organizations working there.  Jerry Vincent can offer some good advice during the response phase, and I believe all of us will need to contribute in the recovery phase. 

 

Our university is part of a network of medical schools that has been asked to mobilize, and we will be working with Federal FEMA and Southern Command coordinated efforts as needed and I will find out more in the coming days as I do not have specifics about eye care, but more surgical specialty and general medical care.  In particular, our staff member, Josie Tourssant, our clinical low vision coordinator, is Haitian, has lost 5 family members, knows the area/streets well, and could work as a tester/translator or however she can.  We are hesitant to let her go because her job description is so important here, but if she is needed, she will mobilize within hours. 

 

VOSH/Pennsylvania has permanent clinic sites throughout Haiti, but I haven't contacted Dave McPhillips to see what they are organizing. Much supplies are being shipped hourly from the Coast Guard and Air Force base here in South Florida, as Haiti is only a short flight away, if landing is allowed and130 C-flights have been going back and forth taking supplies and bringing back patients to a trauma center in Miami around the clock.  You may have also heard that once commercial flights are allowed in, that American Airlines will ship medical teams and supplies for free.

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USAID Website: haiti

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Aurolab Donations – EYE DROPS Appendix A

| | | | | | |

|S.No |Product Category / Usage |Generic Name |Trade Name |Pack |Qty can be shipped |

| | | | | |Immediately |

|1 |Antibiotics |Ofloxacin 0.3% |Auroflox |5ml |200 Vials |

|2 | |Chloramphenicol 0.5% |Aurocol |10ml |500 Vials |

|3 | |Gentamycin 0.3% |Auromycin |5ml |200 Vials |

|4 | |Gatifloxacin 0.3% |G-Flox |5ml |500 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|5 |Antibiotics with Steroids |Chloramphenicol 0.5% with Dexamethasone 0.1% |Aurocol - DM |10ml |500 Vials |

|6 | |Tobramycin 0.3% with Dexamethasone 0.1% |Tob-Dex |5ml |1000 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|7 |Local Anaesthetics |Proparacaine 0.5% |Aurocaine |5ml |200 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|8 |Antifungal |Econazole 2% |Aurozole |5ml |200 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|9 |Artificial Tears |Hypermellose 0.7% |Aurosol |10ml |500 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|10 |Anti-Allergic |Sodium Chromoglycate 2% |Aurochrome |10ml |300 Vials |

| | | | | | |

| | | | | | |

Continued…

Aurolab Donations – Product Range Appendix A continued

| | | | | | |

|S.No |Product Category / Usage |Generic Name |Trade Name |Pack |Qty can be shipped |

| | | | | |Immediately |

|1 |Antibiotics |Ofloxacin 0.3% |Auroflox |5ml |200 Vials |

|2 | |Chloramphenicol 0.5% |Aurocol |10ml |500 Vials |

|3 | |Gentamycin 0.3% |Auromycin |5ml |200 Vials |

|4 | |Gatifloxacin 0.3% |G-Flox |5ml |500 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|5 |Antibiotics with Steroids |Chloramphenicol 0.5% with Dexamethasone 0.1% |Aurocol - DM |10ml |500 Vials |

|6 | |Tobramycin 0.3% with Dexamethasone 0.1% |Tob-Dex |5ml |1000 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|7 |Local Anaesthetics |Proparacaine 0.5% |Aurocaine |5ml |200 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|8 |Antifungal |Econazole 2% |Aurozole |5ml |200 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|9 |Artificial Tears |Hypermellose 0.7% |Aurosol |10ml |500 Vials |

|  |  |  |  |  |  |

|10 |Anti-Allergic |Sodium Chromoglycate 2% |Aurochrome |10ml |300 Vials |

Appendix B

Recommendation to IAPB agencies

regarding humanitarian responses in Haiti

As members of IAPB, we all feel that eye care is crucial, but provision of eye care as part of the response to the earthquake in Haiti, is not indicated at this time.

Here’s why:

• The humanitarian space is very limited and the influx of unnecessary people and programs will hinder lifesaving efforts and efforts to restore infrastructures needed to provide water, food and basic public health interventions. Your good intentions may cost lives.

• Post earthquake environments are unsafe. Responders and relief workers are prone to punctures, lacerations, broken bones, etc. from having to moving around in rubble. There are additional dangers from unsafe structures collapsing and downed electrical wires. Adding to the danger in this environment is the potential for civil unrest. There is no need to put your staff in this unnecessary danger.

• Appropriate humanitarian responses are based upon evidenced need. A team of ophthalmologists from the University of Miami is based in the US Army hospital which has been set up at the airport. CBM have people in Haiti and are working with the Haitian ophthalmologists in the country. At present there is no evidence or strong indication that there are pressing needs for additional ophthalmic or optometric services.

This does not mean that there is never a place for eye agencies or that there is never a time for eye care services in humanitarian emergencies. Agencies that are operational and on the ground before the disaster, are often well placed to help in the general response. Vehicles and local staff with local knowledge are both vital in the initial general response.

It will be a minimum of weeks, and more likely months, before it would be appropriate for eye agencies to consider undertaking new programs in the earthquake affected area. As that time come near, the decision to implement eye services or blindness rehabilitation projects should be done in consultation with, CBM and with the appropriate entities of the Haitian government.

I have asked Valerie Sherrer, CBM Emergency Coordinator, to collaborate in this response. Valerie is now in Haiti and reports at this point in time, those individuals with vision impairment are in need of water, food and protection rather than specific rehabilitation. Valerie emphasized the lack of humanitarian space - “It is very important to underline the congestion of the logistics here, and that adding more people will endanger the Haitian population.”

Continued…

Appendix B continued…

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to remind all that we are in the process of drafting standards and guidelines for eye care in humanitarian emergencies. These guidelines will be compliant with the SPHERE minimum standards in disaster response and will be submitted for VISION 2020 endorsement once finalized. After the initial draft is ready, we will be seeking substantial review and comment from both the eye community and from the humanitarian relief community. If you have experience with responding to conflict or disaster affected populations, we would like your input on this process.

Questions are welcome.

Jerry Vincent OD MPH

Blindness Prevention Advisor

International Rescue Committee

Jerry.Vincent@

Valerie Sherrer

Emergency Coordinator

Christoffel Blindenmission

valerie.sherrer@

Appendix C

From: Maryanne Diamond [mailto:Maryanne.Diamond@]

Sent: 27 January 2010 01:05

To: Penny Hartin; Arnt Holte; 'M N G Mani'; 'Larry Campbell'; packland@; Christian Garms (christian.garms@)

Subject: Haiti

EMERGENCY SITUATION IN HAITI

Note from the SCRPD:

The international disability community is concerned about the thousands of people with disabilities in Haiti and the thousands more that will acquire disabilities as a result of the earthquake.  Search and rescue, disaster relief and recovery teams will need to consider the needs of persons with disabilities in their efforts.

In the context of reconstruction, attention should be given to both, rehabilitation of individuals, as well as "social rehabilitation". The concept of social rehabilitation can be explained as the evolving concept of rehabilitation – not only targeting individual persons with disabilities but also their communities and society as a whole. Persons with disabilities are adversely affected as a result of their disability in a disaster, often compounding their disabilities.  In this context, societies need to be "accessible" and "inclusive" in all disaster management and reconstruction efforts, as they play a decisive role in future reconstruction and transitioning to a development phase.

A number of relief efforts are underway by the UN system, bilateral and regional agencies, as well as DPOs and civil society organizations. We must all work to ensure that every facet of relief operations and reconstruction are disability-sensitive and inclusive.

Current efforts underway for persons with disabilities in Haiti include:

The Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD) has established a Working Group focused on the reconstruction of Port-au-Prince. GPDD is an alliance of Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs), Government ministries, bilateral and multilateral donors, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), national and international development organizations, and other organizations, committed to promoting economic and social inclusion of people with disabilities in low-income countries. The Working Group has been established to ensure that reconstruction and community rehabilitation efforts in Haiti include and involve people with disabilities in all stages of the emergency management and reconstruction efforts. The Group will also ensure that all rebuilt and new infrastructure is fully accessible and barrier-free to persons with disabilities. Work is underway to develop a common strategy and cooperate, establish partnerships among interested parties, and coordinate advocacy efforts. More information: .

USAID, in coordination with the GPDD and its Working Group, as well as organizations of persons with disabilities, is working along with the United States’ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Currently, guidelines are being established for a coordinated U.S. Government response to the functional needs of Haitians with disabilities. USAID will engage with its development partners to assess their current level of involvement in Haiti and guide recovery efforts in a coordinated way, as well as make funds available for recovery and development efforts in the future. To help assist the thousands of aid workers responding to the Haiti earthquake, K4Health has organized the Haiti Relief Toolkit, a collection of practical and technical resources to help health workers respond more effectively to the relief efforts underway. The toolkit covers all vital sectors related to disaster relief, including  health, water and sanitation, food security, and shelter, as well as key  field activities supporting the operations, such as logistics. More information: , .

CBM, an international development organization, is working with 12 partners in Haiti, five of which are in Port Au Prince, the capital city. Their emergency coordinator and regional staff are now on the ground assisting with emergency efforts and assessing the situation. They have a three-part emergency response plan in place and are pulling together resources from across the world to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in disaster. CBM has been recognized as a professional organization for persons with disabilities by the World Health Organization and has Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. More information: .

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