medi for help, the nonprofit arm of medi USA, Whitsett, North Carolina, announced that it has donated a $15,000 grant to the Nova Southeastern University (NSU), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Haiti Initiative – Bring Hope to Haiti. The grant will support initial startup costs for the Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) Clinic at Hospital St. Croix, Leogane, Haiti, as well as the salaries for the master clinician, technicians, patient coordinator, and local physician oversight.
LF is a parasitic infection spread by mosquitos. The nematodes live in the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes, which impairs the lymphatic flow over time, resulting in lymphatic obstruction and lymphedema. Also known as elephantiasis, LF, is among the leading causes of global disability. It is a common path to limb impairment, amputation, mobility loss, and premature death. (Editor’s note: For more information on LF, read “Providing Effective Footwear in Less-Resourced Environments,” in the May 2012 issue of The O&P EDGE.)
The NSU initiative is focused on eradicating LF in Haiti by 2020; currently 88 percent of the population in Haiti is in a risk zone for LF.
