IMR and GOALS Haiti launches partnership

In mid January 2019, a medical team from International Medical Response (IMR) travelled to the Destra community for a training seminar for local healthcare practitioners, followed by a clinic.  The IMR team was comprised of physicians, nurses and EMS techs, with this venture representing the inauguration of what will likely be an on-going collaboration between GOALS and IMR.  This initial trip was highly successful--ten trainees were tapped from the local community to engage in a day-long training seminar, and then assisted with patient care in the following days in the clinic.  Nearly two hundred patients were seen, ranging from eight days old to 97 years, many of whom had rarely seen a physician prior.  IMR also identified a one of the trainees to serve as the local healthcare agent in Destra for follow up care, with remote support from IMR until the planned return in July 2019.   

In addition to the large number of patients who were cared for at the clinic, we had two big saves that otherwise may have resulted in lives being lost.  As IMR and GOALS continue to work in partnership, we hope to establish an ongoing presence in Destra.  IMR's primary goals are to build a network of healthcare agents on the ground to address the concerns of the community, and to create a triage system by which we can direct patients to the appropriate care they require. 

This would not be possible without the support IMR has received from GOALS; they have been instrumental in providing the guidance required to addressing community needs directly.  We look forward to building on this trip, and creating a reliable service to the people of Destra. 

Jonathan Kaplan MD, Volunteer Physician

Joshua Schiller MD, IMR Medical Director