A Charlotte team of relief workers returned to Haiti this weekend to deliver an ambulance and more than 41,000 pounds of supplies to the devastated nation still reeling from the Jan. 12 earthquake.
With support from Myers Park United Methodist Church and Presbytery Church of Charlotte, five members of the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti team returned to the northern region of the country. The doctor, physical therapist, EMT, and project manager left on Friday. They will return June 19.
“The need is still there,” said Sabine Guerrier, who is leading the group.
(This is one of two groups that I followed during my second trip to Haiti in February. You can read more of our coverage on their work here.)
In addition to delivering the ambulance and supplies, Guerrier said the team will also provide medical training to about 15 local doctors and nurses, operate a mobile clinic, which will travel to nearby villages to provide medical care and deliver other supplies.
Guerrier said the team is also working with federal representatives and a local mayor to receive approximately 10 acres of donated land, which will be used to build housing and a rehabilitation clinic.
The team purchased the used ambulance this spring with more than 200,000 miles for $3,000 at a city of Charlotte auction.
It was serviced and repainted before being driven to Miami last month where it was loaded onto a cargo ship for delivery to Haiti.
Guerrier said the ambulance will be donated to Justinien University Hospital, a public hospital in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. The struggling hospital does not have an ambulance.
"What a bliss," Dr. Jean Gracia, medical director of Justinien University Hospital, wrote in a letter to the team and city of Charlotte. "... My staff and the patients are very grateful and lucky to have organizations like yours thinking about their well-being when they are most vulnerable."
With support from Myers Park United Methodist Church and Presbytery Church of Charlotte, five members of the Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti team returned to the northern region of the country. The doctor, physical therapist, EMT, and project manager left on Friday. They will return June 19.
“The need is still there,” said Sabine Guerrier, who is leading the group.
(This is one of two groups that I followed during my second trip to Haiti in February. You can read more of our coverage on their work here.)
In addition to delivering the ambulance and supplies, Guerrier said the team will also provide medical training to about 15 local doctors and nurses, operate a mobile clinic, which will travel to nearby villages to provide medical care and deliver other supplies.
Guerrier said the team is also working with federal representatives and a local mayor to receive approximately 10 acres of donated land, which will be used to build housing and a rehabilitation clinic.
The team purchased the used ambulance this spring with more than 200,000 miles for $3,000 at a city of Charlotte auction.
It was serviced and repainted before being driven to Miami last month where it was loaded onto a cargo ship for delivery to Haiti.
Guerrier said the ambulance will be donated to Justinien University Hospital, a public hospital in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. The struggling hospital does not have an ambulance.
"What a bliss," Dr. Jean Gracia, medical director of Justinien University Hospital, wrote in a letter to the team and city of Charlotte. "... My staff and the patients are very grateful and lucky to have organizations like yours thinking about their well-being when they are most vulnerable."
Photo: Fort Mill paramedic Thomas Hall(right) drove the ambulance to Miami where it was loaded onto a cargo ship headed for Haiti.
Its great to see local efforts are still underway to help Haiti. Merci!
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