Iowans reach out to Haiti

A hospital in Haiti created and sustained by generous Iowans needs more help.

Four months since a devastating earthquake ravaged the island nation, Haiti has fallen out of the headlines. But Iowans remain on the job at the hospital in hard-hit Leogane, where they have delivered critical, lifesaving treatment to thousands.

Dr. Christopher Buresh, a University of Iowa emergency room physician, led the effort to establish the hospital in the wake of the quake.

Buresh already was involved in a rural health care initiative in Haiti when the quake hit, and he was able to swiftly round up resources needed to get a makeshift facility up and running.

Other Iowa doctors also have volunteered to provide health care at the field hospital, along with paid Haitian staff. The temporary, 35-bed hospital treats as many as 300 patients each day and has cared for more than 16,000 since the earthquake. Surgeries performed and babies delivered number in the hundreds.

“We've saved dozens of lives,” said Buresh, who is back in Iowa.

Delivering that care costs $20,000 each month, a remarkably lean price tag.

And yet, money is running out and the hospital's continued operation is threatened.

Once again, Eastern Iowans are answering the call.

“The problems are huge, and they don't go away,” said Marcia Rogers of Cedar Rapids, who is among several Eastern Iowans leading a fundraising effort. She is hosting a fundraiser at her home on June 13. “But here's a pocket where an Iowan is making a difference.”

Rogers, Buresh and others are hoping to raise $100,000 for the hospital, to keep it operating for several more months. The ultimate goal is to keep the doors open until a permanent facility can be completed by year's end.

If the temporary hospital is forced to close in July, it would be a big setback for the recovering community's hospital hopes.

And it would force its patients to seek treatment elsewhere from other temporary aid organizations.

“They would be completely overwhelmed,” Buresh said. “It leaves everything up in the air for these folks.”

If the hospital must close, Buresh said he's not giving up. He plans to take mobile clinics to people who need help, on donkey back if necessary. But keeping it open is critical, he says.

“There's a lot riding on this fundraiser,” he said.

Anyone interested in contributing can contact Buresh by e-mail at christopher-buresh@uiowa.edu or Rogers at marciarogers@imonmail.com

Contributions can be made to World Wide Village/Community Health Initiative and sent c/o Marcia Rogers, 2201 Ridgeway Drive S.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403.