The Chair of the United States National Member Society of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (U.S. ISPO), Rob Kistenberg, MPH, CP, FAAOP, wrote the following statement (shown in edited form) to the O&P professional community that describes international efforts to provide care to earthquake survivors in Haiti:
On February 1, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted a nongovernmental organization (NGO) conference call regarding response and recovery efforts for persons with disabilities. In the call, the following points were noted:
No records of amputation surgeries were kept in the first week following the earthquake, but based on surgical records since then, it is estimated that there have been 2,000-4,000 amputations due to fractures and infections. During a recent meeting in Haiti, at least seven separate organizations indicated plans to work with prosthetics.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested that Handicap International (HI) and Christian Blind Mission take the lead in forming a sub-group to coordinate assistance for Haitians suffering from traumatic injuries leading to both short-term and permanent disability. (HI is working closely with Healing Hands for Haiti.)
A member of the call noted, “The goal is to establish some agreed guidelines so that all people fitted with prosthetics will be able to be treated and have them repaired anywhere in the country.” This means that recycled components will have uncertain value in the rehabilitation of Haiti’s amputee population. For now, those in charge of coordinating this effort strongly advise that groups don’t send donations without coordinating with the subgroup. There is a group working with the Haitian government to coordinate efforts.
Until the course has been charted, coordination established, and donations have been approved by the working subgroup on prosthetics in Haiti, please do not send recycled components. The priority need now is for wheelchairs and crutches for those with bilateral amputations, bilateral fractures, and external fixators.
Additional details as to the strategy for the provision of P&O rehabilitation services will be forthcoming in the next week or so. We need to work together to build a system for P&O rehabilitation in Haiti.
For more information, visit www.usaid.gov/helphaiti/ or through www.healinghandsforhaiti.org.
