MaximsNewsNetwork: HAITI 2,000 AMPUTATIONS & NOW REINFECTIONS (U.N. MINUSTAH)

MaximsNewsNetwork: 03 February 2010 - U.N. MINUSTAH: Port-au-Prince, Haiti - The United Nations (UN) said that current estimates of 2,000 amputee cases in Haiti as a result of injuries sustained from last months earthquake are likely to rise. And that number could go even higher because patients are having to return for more surgery as a result of reinfection.




According to OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), there are currently 150 health facilities operational in Port-au-Prince but only 46 have surgical capacity with limited x-ray equipment.




Most of the injuries from the quake were a result of crushed syndrome where infection occurs after being trapped under the rubble for days.

But lack of antibiotics and sanitary conditions have Haitians who have had limbs amputated now fighting another battle of recurring infection. Unfortunately, this is becoming more common creating a major concern for doctors.




SOUNDBITE (English) Noel Gibner, doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières:
"There is huge amount of disability here. Many patients have lost their limbs, many of the wounds are infected at this point in time. There is a lot of surgery required to maintain the wounds and prevent the infections. Its made more difficult by the conditions obviously here and antibiotics are not always available and the right type and that always creates a problem.

Moise had his first surgery only one week ago, now he has to have another.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Moise Soisfils, earthquake victim:
I was operated on before and I went to my home to Leogoane, my wound got infected again and when I went back to the hospital, they said they have to amputate it again. They will do it tomorrow morning.

Rehabilitation is another challenge. Handicap International said it was working with some additional groups to put together a rehabilitation hospital and prosthetics shop this month.

SOUNDBITE (English) Noel Gibner, doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières:
"The next step is going to be really important, its rehabilitation and prosthetic and certainly with good rehabilitation and prosthetic many people can. Its going to be very, very challenging in this environment though with the numbers of people that I think that have probably had amputations and damaged limbs to provide care for them in a timely fashion.

Hospitals run by Médecins Sans Frontières, the Red Cross, US Health and Services Department along with the US Navy together are caring for over 40,000 patients. Almost 2,000 have undergone surgery. ................................................................................­............................. ( STABILIZATION MISSION IN HAITI: MINUSTAH ) ................................................................................­................................ MaximsNewsNetwork:
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