Traditional Chinese Medicine Guide

GAMAH Association (Medical Support Group for Haiti), chaired by Dr. Jean-Marie Bernard, a surgeon of Haitian descent, is a party to settle a month in the department of Nippes, south-west of Haiti. The first mission of 14 persons, including 2 surgeons and 3 GPs, who will enroll in the medium term. “The Daily” with him.
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The huge truck filled to the brim with materials brought from Port-au-Prince seems to make the soul each of the laces off dirt road that climbs the heights of Miragoane. “Christ Straw, Straw for Christ,” says the sign at the entrance of the town. The 26 000 inhabitants of the village trying to survive somehow. And since the earthquake is worse, even if the Department of Nippes south of Haiti has suffered less than Port-au-Prince. “The population has increased by at least 10%,” sighs the mayor Paillant, welcome members of the mission GAMAH.
Check the day before the team prepares to spend his second night in Haiti. It moved its headquarters to the town hall, a building in the rustic comfort, with no running water (electricity not working that night), which seems almost abandoned. The men sleep on cots, and women housed in guesthouses, shared rooms with real mattresses, but living conditions are equally sketchy.
The moment No one seems to take offense. They are happy to be there, some have had to decide in 48 hours. All are volunteers and most have paid trip out of pocket. Jean-Marie Bernard, president GAMAH, initiated the project enjoys. Hometown Miragoâne, he spent his childhood. Like many Haitians, he left the island and studied medicine at Montpellier and Paris before exercising general surgery (abdominal surgery and trauma of the limbs) in the Mayenne (Pays de Loire). In 2003, he resumed contact with the island in 2006, he decided, with other practitioners of Haitian descent, founded an association to “provide material support and participate in health development in Haiti.” After two trips in 2007 and 2008, during which he established contacts with the health authorities of the region and supports organized screening of cervical cancer and cervical cancer programs and treatment of cardiovascular diseases . At 66, retired last year, he intended to devote himself fully to his association.
Emergency operations were not part of the program. “When the earthquake hit, I decided to leave,” says Dr. Bernard. The major associations did not have the opportunity offered. “They all refused, regretted he. He decided to rely on GAMAH and appeal to Dr. Jean-Joseph Aubron.
Medicine field.
In 69 years, it has a long experience missions in Africa. “I took advantage of MICA in 2000, with the ulterior motive of doing something else, says he. I remember my three years in Algeria after my military service, one of my best times on a medical level. In Togo, Mauritania, Senegal, Benin, Chad and the Comoros, but also in Peru, he had the opportunity to reconnect with the “medical field”. “Jean-Marie had already contacted GAMAH in 2008, but I decided to stop to enjoy retirement with my wife,” explains the humanitarian activist for whom “the medicine of the poor should never justify poverty medicine. ” The earthquake changed everything. “We had to do something, ‘says he. With Dr. Bernard, they take their pilgrim’s staff, organize a meeting in Paris, home of Haiti **, operate their networks. “I suggested to Jean-Marie has agreed to appeal to members of the association AGIRabcd (General Association of Retired players actions of volunteers for Economic Cooperation and Development), which I am a member since 1990 and has 3 000 members, including 300 in health, “says that all call” Jean-Jo “. They are accustomed to support from local organizations or support of other associations. So that will be part of the first mission Marie-Annick Aubry, nurse anesthetist (Lille), Annie Auffret, nurse (Gard), Brigitte Auger, nurse and social worker, and Anne-Marie Montassier, nurse.

The project took shape.
Fundraising is difficult. Different requests from the Foundation of France or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs unsuccessful but the association does, through cultural events, collecting a modest nest egg to start working. “We need about 88 000, we are way behind,” said Dr Bernard. Never mind. They received a call from the hospital director of Miragoane, Dr. Jacques Laroche, who is seeking the help of GAMAH. The project took shape. “We were now remote earthquake. The idea was to register in time with teams who will take over at least six months and will be available not only for institutions but throughout the department, where there are needs to support the local teams’ , said the president GAMAH. This objective is related to that for which the organization was created: To establish a lasting collaboration with health institutions Nippes in agreement with health authorities and local policies.
Meanwhile, the network was enriched. They are now a quarantine want to take part in the adventure. The first will be decided very soon after the announcement of the first commercial flights to Port-au-Prince. To have a broader scope of skills, two other associations, Gynecology Without Borders and the NGO (MARS Movement assistance and supportive resources), supported by the foundation of RATP company specializing in the purification of the water and electricity, will lend a hand. On February 28, 14 and they will find themselves at Orly. Despite the storm that hit the France, no defection will be regretted. The group is ready with its two surgeons, Dr. Bernard and Dr. Yves Chouteau, orthopedic, three general practitioners, Dr Aubron, Drs Françoise Darnaudet and Christian Gregory, her obstetrician, Dr. Michel Vignal accompanied by a midwife, Warrick Lucile, both of GSF, with 4 nurses ACT, the two technicians, and Rene Peignen Stéphane Collet and his logistician, Bernard Girard, hospital director to retire in a year . A psychologist will join them later.
It begins with a birth.
Moving to Port-au-Prince has shaken. A field of ruins, gutted buildings, heaps of rubble and tents invading any vacant space. “A horror is worse than the images seen on TV,” said Annie Auffret, “A traumatic visit,” adds Dr. Darnaudet. General homeopath based in Negrepelisse (Tarn et Garonne), she immediately tried to leave. “I was ready to go alone. She responds to the announcement of the association and GAMAH not hesitate to close his office. “I could not stay in my corner family. I have a job, I wanted to serve in Haiti, says it simply. Caring in emergencies, wounds, physical and psychological trauma. Here in the capital, she feels that the needs are immense and can be useful, despite the visible presence of numerous NGOs.
Many in the team share the feeling that the trip southward by the National Highway 2, will only increase. At Carrefour, after leaving Port-au-Prince, Gressier Leogane or near the epicenter where “a house does not seem to have been spared,” says Stéphane comb, visibly impressed. On the outskirts of Leogane, specifically, the floor was broken into a large crack that runs along the road several meters. The MINUSTAH soldiers watch over the traffic. Grand Goave, Petit Goâve, as and as we approach Miragoâne, the less damage is, even if fields of tents recall the many homeless and refugees.
The first contacts in the clinic and Paillant Hospital Sainte-Thérèse (Miragoâne), yet packed with patients, have sown doubts. “Do they need us, people lack everything but seem organized? The question crosses the mind. Yves Chanteau, the orthopedic trauma specialist heavy thought having to deal with the complications of emergency surgery (secondary infections of wounds, stumps of occasions) expressed her disappointment: “For now, it n ‘ is nothing like that. “
Tomorrow he will make an inventory of surgical equipment available at the hospital. But tonight, it’s hard to Paillant two anniversaries to celebrate, including his own. At age 70, Dr. Chanteau still has the resource. Since his retirement in 2005 after a long international career in Gabon (1989-1995) and Madagascar (1995-2000), he continues to provide support missions, including Benin, at the Hospital of St. John of God, where He crossed the road “John Jo. Hence his presence Paillant and glasses raised to him and his brother the day, Dr. Michel Vignal. In addition to his sixtieth birthday, he sprays the birth day of his first baby delivered by caesarean Haiti. A girl of course, because, he quipped, “I have the reputation of never deliver only daughters. Lucile, the midwife who carries with him to the hospital With nods. The atmosphere is relaxed, the bottle of Barbancourt “bought in a rush in the grocery store is probably something. All are waiting to see their first action the following day.
> Dr. LYDIA ARCHIMEDES
* GAMAH, 06.82.08.32.08
** 94 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris, 09.61.29.96.33.
The Doctor’s Daily: 23/03/2010