Haiti Presentation

So, I have been shocked to discover how difficult it can be to put together a powerpoint presentation to play independently and have it posted on the internet as a video!  Evidently, I have not taken enough computer classes!  I wanted to have this as a YouTube video but haven't yet figured out how to do that so here is a link to the powerpoint on google docs:  "Health and Hope in Haiti"  

Bernard Mevs Hospital

This is the Bernard Mevs Hospital where we will be volunteering.  The Cholera Outbreak has spread and is now confirmed in the capital city.  Cholera in the Capital- Article.

The supply list has been updated- please visit the list.  Can't make a monetary donation?  Please consider donating supplies!!

Hurricane Tomas has caused even greater concern since Cholera is a waterborne disease and the flooded area are more at risk. 

Cholera Outbreak

So, there's an outbreak of Cholera in Haiti. Dr. P.J. Pitts (The Chief Pharmacy Officer @ Bernard Mevs Hospital) was interviewed in this report: Cholera Outbreak.  While friends and family are expressing concern it makes me even more determined to volunteer.  They need aid now more than ever.  I am almost finished with the presentation- just some fine-tuning.  I hope to show it to the pharmacy school this week and launch Kickstarter.  I am praying for a good response & donations.  I have posted the wishlist of supplies also- I want to do all that I can to help Medishare & the people of Haiti.

LA Times Article - Cholera Outbreak

Please donate today!

Presentation

So, I have a good start on the presentation that I intend to post on Kickstarter & present to the pharmacy school. I am hoping that it accurately represents the situation in Haiti, the Medishare Project and the value of the work we will be doing there. I have given myself a deadline of Friday to launch it on Kickstarter. I am hoping that will be enough time. I'm hoping that my good friend, Carissa will be interested in loaning her excellent radio voice to narrate the presentation!

I am so glad that the scheduling worked out. Laura Coker (a 4th year Mercer student) will be joining me the 1st week and Kim will join me for the 2nd week. I'm not sure how we are getting down to Miami & back just yet but we'll work it out.

Medishare Links

I wanted to share a link to the Medishare website. This is the organization I will be volunteering with. They are doing really great work and have brought the hospital a long way since January!

Dr. PJ Pitts is the Chief Pharmacy Director at Bernard Mevs. Her Blog, PJ Saves the World is one of the reasons I decided to volunteer with Medishare. I can't wait to meet her! She also has a facebook page that has a lot of photos.

This is a photo of PJ de-worming orphans.  Can't wait to meet her!

Want to know how I'll be helping in Haiti? Check out these links!

A Flyer

I'm still working on the Kickstarter project- I'm a little worried about making the video advertisement. I know that it needs to be nice but I have to be careful not to spend too much time on it that could 1.delay launching the project & 2.take time away from studying like I should.

But, we have decided on a title! "Health and Hope in Haiti".

I created a flyer last night and plan to create another one tonight, or perhaps just update the first one with more of the online information.

So, how do I post this flyer on the blog, I wonder?

Like this...

Going to Haiti

Hello blog!

We just found out today that our reservations are confirmed!  Laura, Kim and I will be leaving for Haiti at the end of December- provided that we are able to raise the funds needed to go!  I will be staying for 2 weeks to work as Pharmacy Interns at the Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port-au-Prince.  Laura will travel with me, leaving on Christmas day, leaving on New Year's day and Kim will come down New Year's day and we will leave together on the eighth.  This is currently the only critical care hospital in the country!

I am so excited about being able to volunteer in such a valuable way!  This will also be the first time I have needed to speak french since last summer.  I really feel that I have something to offer and feel very blessed to be able to provide my skills.

I am very excited about the film project!  There are some legal issues with filming so I'll need to find out what the restrictions are but will take photos & film whatever I am allowed.  Still haven't decided on the film title.  I'm thinking of "Bon Courage, Haiti!" or "Haiti: La Douleur et Le Courage" or "La Sante d'Haiti au Bernard Mevs"  It's still rolling around in my brain...

So, funding, funding, funding!  The more we raise the more good we will be able to do!  Any funds over those needed to pay our expenses will go toward supplies for Bernard Mevs & Medishare.