Page 147 - Demo

www.MOSTmag.com || FASHIO N MAG A ZINE || 147The reception the volunteers received from the community was truly remarkable. Haitians were trusting and happy to see their family%u2019s health improving. As the group of volunteers was leaving, Haitians did not say, %u201cAre you coming back?%u201d but rather %u201cWhen are you coming back?%u201d With this sentiment, the group knew they would return to the beautiful country of Haiti to continue in its restoration.Returning a second time in November 2010, they knew they needed to establish a non-profit. A non-profit would give them the structure necessary to build an organization that could grow, sustain, and make a longterm impact on Haiti. With this inspiring conviction, the group decided to start the non-profit organization Hands Up for Haiti. It%u2019s amazing but after only two visits they started a non-profit.%u201cIt became clear we were a group of individuals who wanted to commit ourselves and our resources to improving health care in northern Haiti. Despite what we had heard about Haiti, seeing so many people with so little access to health care was a shock. We were the first doctors that many of the people we treated had ever seen. The lack of availability of practitioners, medications, vaccinations, and technology that we take for granted in the developed world, is appalling in a country so close to our own.%u201d They set goals, a mission statementand got to work.Hands Up for Haiti (HUFH) is a grass-roots organization of doctors, nurses, and students committed to improving the quality and sustainability of healthcare delivery in Haiti. Teams of volunteers are sent to various clinics to provide medical and surgical services to patients. There is currently no system for Haitians to receive care when they need it, and, unfortunately, HUFH doctors and nurses cannot address all the infrastructure problems. Working with the Cap Haitien Health Network, Hands Up for Haiti can support established clinics, hospitals, and outreach programs by providing direct patient care and education programs.