KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A local doctor who led a medical team on a journey to Haiti will share her experiences in a special event in February.
Dr. Paula Dhanda will speak at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, at The Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, 3825 Main St., Kelseyville.
She and her team invite the community to join them for this free gathering to learn more about their experiences in Haiti and about other local and global missions that are being planned.
Dr. Dhanda led a nine-member medical team to provide desperately needed medical care to the people of Haiti.
The team consisted of four physicians, a nurse practitioner, three nurses and a medical assistant.
They partnered with Haitian health care workers as well as international doctors, nurses, pharmacists, EMTs and physical therapists at Project Medishare, the only critical care hospital in the country.
During their two week mission they worked excruciatingly long hours performing numerous surgeries, caring for babies and children in intensive care, and seeing hundreds of patients in the clinic.
The physical and emotional toll on those who provide care in places like Haiti is immense.
“An important part of our mission is to provide training to the local staff but we really all learned from each other,” Dhanda said.
During their stay in Haiti, Dr. Dhanda and her volunteer team witnessed the increased tension and anger caused by the presidential election. Rioting in the streets and gunshots could be heard outside of the hospital.
The volunteers were protected by armed guards outside their sleeping quarters as well as at the hospital gates, and for their safety they were advised not to leave the hospital compound.
The Haitian staff at the clinic expressed gratitude to the volunteers for choosing to stay during this difficult time.
As the international community and news media lost interest in Haiti's plight to favor reporting on areas of the globe, Haiti has progressively received less aid both in the way of volunteers and donations.
One year after the earthquake that devastated Haiti's capital, only 5 percent of the rubble has been removed.
More than 3,000 people have died from the ongoing cholera epidemic and one million people are still living in tents.
Dr. Dhanda expressed her hope for a country that has touched her heart. “I have great admiration for the resilience of the Haitian people who have endured so much hardship and yet continue to be strong and hopeful.”
She added, “I am uplifted by the outpouring of good will and generosity of this community. Global and local missions would not be possible without this vital support.”
In addition to the expense of travel, the volunteers paid for vaccinations, prophylactic medications for malaria, and donated to Project Medishare to cover the cost of food and housing.
Other urgently needed medical supplies that were donated included morphine, antibiotics and surgical supplies, including sutures, surgical packs and gloves.
In order to help fund future needed medical aid trips such as the one to Haiti, Dr. Dhanda has created a personal skin care line offering free skin consultations along with highly effective product solutions to common problems such as wrinkles, acne, dry skin and fine lines. One hundred percent of all sales profits go to fund future mission work.
For more information please call Dr. Dhanda’s office at 707-279-8733 or visit her blog www.drpauladhanda.com .
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