Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Grey Bruce Health Services
GBHS Employee Returns from Nepal Earthquake Relief
On Monday, May 11, members of the Canadian Medical Assistance Team (CMAT) returned to their home provinces after responding to the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Kathmandu, Nepal on April 26.
Kate Auger, GBHS Nurse Practitioner and CMAT Vice-Chair, led CMAT Team 1, comprised of 15 medical volunteers including doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, paramedics and logistics support people, who after the earthquake struck, mobilized immediately and were on the ground in Kathmandu, Nepal within 48 hours.
In collaboration with the Worth Health Organization, the CMAT team established a clinic site in a remote region of central Nepal, and began serving 11 villages. CMAT volunteers have been assessing and treating hundreds of patients on a daily basis at the clinic. Along with primary care, the volunteers have been doing basic procedures such as setting fractures, suturing lacerations, wound care and providing newborn care.
“We continue to see direct and indirect effects on community health as a result of the earthquake. Local health infrastructure is compromised as both the medical clinic and birthing center were completely destroyed,” said Kate. “CMAT is committed to ongoing coordination with both the WHO and local District of Health to ensure health needs are met, and we will continue to provide assistance until the community health resources are fully functioning."
CMAT Team 2 is set to deploy this coming weekend, and the organization hopes to assemble subsequent teams over the coming weeks to prepare for deployment to Nepal. All donations made until May 25, 2015 will be matched by the Government of Canada.
Media Contact:
Mary Margaret Crapper
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Grey Bruce Health Services
519-376-2121 ext 2806
mcrapper@gbhs.on.ca
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