Assistance to Haiti

During the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Cuban Association, charged with coordination of the relief efforts from Miami, in association with Malteser International, rotated ten teams of doctors and nurses, based in Miami, who donated their time away from their work and families assisting in the support of this devastated nation. They worked with transport organization of teams from Germany, Italy, and France.

The Cuban Association organized the acquisition of very necessary items, from trucks to medical equipment, and arranged for their transport into the country. The Cuban Association is one of the 25 National Associations of the Order of Malta that are members of Malteser International, the Order’s international relief arm.

Since 2008, the Cuban Association has also been helping the parish of Nazon, in Haiti, through its Pastor Father Anistus Chima, CMF.

There were ten teams of doctors and nurses who spoke French and Creole rotating visits to the Hospital that Malteser International had setup at Leogane, in the vicinity of Port Au Prince. Our association was able to ship more than 160,000 pounds of food, medical supplies and clothing donated by residents of South Florida, thanks to donations of more than $55,000 and in-kind supplies. Overall, we shipped four containers, plus some medical supplies that were shipped by air during the first four months after the earthquake. During the month of March 2010, Malteser International, led by the Grand Hospitaller and other representatives, held a meeting in Florida to review the progress of the Order’s relief effort in Haiti, and later gave recognition to the more than 50 volunteers that had participated from the Cuban Association.

Assistance to Haiti

During the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Cuban Association, charged with coordination of the relief efforts from Miami, in association with Malteser International, rotated ten teams of doctors and nurses, based in Miami, who donated their time away from their work and families assisting in the support of this devastated nation. They worked with transport organization of teams from Germany, Italy, and France.

The Cuban Association organized the acquisition of very necessary items, from trucks to medical equipment, and arranged for their transport into the country. The Cuban Association is one of the 25 National Associations of the Order of Malta that are members of Malteser International, the Order’s international relief arm.

Since 2008, the Cuban Association has also been helping the parish of Nazon, in Haiti, through its Pastor Father Anistus Chima, CMF.

There were ten teams of doctors and nurses who spoke French and Creole rotating visits to the Hospital that Malteser International had setup at Leogane, in the vicinity of Port Au Prince. Our association was able to ship more than 160,000 pounds of food, medical supplies and clothing donated by residents of South Florida, thanks to donations of more than $55,000 and in-kind supplies. Overall, we shipped four containers, plus some medical supplies that were shipped by air during the first four months after the earthquake. During the month of March 2010, Malteser International, led by the Grand Hospitaller and other representatives, held a meeting in Florida to review the progress of the Order’s relief effort in Haiti, and later gave recognition to the more than 50 volunteers that had participated from the Cuban Association.

Today, the Cuban Association continues the support of activities that assist the medical profession in Haiti. Volunteers from the group of nine graduate nurses and nurse practitioners of the Cuban Association with roots in Haiti, the Angels of the Caribbean, have participated in training missions on CPR and assisting local doctors in the care of low-income patients at the Grande Riviere Du Nord Community Hospital in the north part of the country. During a recent mission, they trained 51 local practitioners in CPR, and joined four local doctors in serving 65 registered patients and 25 walk-ins during their two-day medical mission. They have also sent medicines and supplies to assist these locations.

GALLERY

Cholera outbreak, October 2010

The breakout of cholera throughout various areas of Haiti, with 500,000 people affected, also led to an increase of cholera cases in Darbonne, where a Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) was integrated into the already existing Health Center. The team of Malteser International at Leogane taught and distributed hygiene kits for the children of the area, in Darbonne, at the orphanage “L’enfant de L’Espoir.”

From March 2011 to February 2012, more than 1,000 heavily affected patients were treated in the unit. Prevention measures at local level prevented further spread of the disease.

In the hospital Sacré Coeur in Milot, supported by the Order of Malta for several years, the medical staff was prepared for the treatment of up to 1,000 cholera patients.

Order of Malta

Cuban Association

d/b/a Foundation Order of Malta, Inc.

2655 S. Lejeune Road

Suite 918

Coral Gables, FL 33134

Phone: (786) 888-6494

info@foundationorderofmalta.org