Humanity First: Nine from Underwood-Memorial Hospital take expertise to Haiti

"There are lots of other volunteers who are working there, but there will be all kinds of other people that will be needed down the road." Dr Farooq Padder. HFUSA

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | 
Source & Credit:  The Gloucester County Times | February 13, 2010
By Carly Romalino | cromalino@sjnewsco.com

 They packed their mosquito nets and sunscreen, but the eight-day trip to the Caribbean won't be a vacation for nine Underwood-Memorial Hospital doctors and nurses.

Today, emergency department nurses Donald Trauger, Kathy Dohanicz and cardiac catheterization nurse Marcus Treadgill will ship out for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where they will work with victims of the Jan. 12 7.0-magnitude earthquake.


The team will fly into Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, and either charter a small United Nations flight or drive 10 hours to the Haitian capital city, according to Dr. Farooq Ahmad Padder.

Padder, an Underwood cardiologist, organized the mission through Humanity First USA. He leaves for Haiti on Feb. 19 with physician Dr. Abhilasha Ponnameneni, ER nurses Kristyn Kennie and Nicole Dimichele, and cardiac cath nurse Frances Duffy. Underwood-Memorial Hospital chipped in supplies and some $3,000 for transportation costs that will also be funded in part by The Alysha and Ali Padder Foundation. Humanity First covers the volunteers' transportation and lodging expenses while they are in the Caribbean.

"I'm a little bit nervous, not for myself, but because of the people who are coming with me," said Padder, of Moorestown. "I hope they come back safely to their families and feel that they had a fulfilling mission."

The teams expect to treat some 200 patients per day in Port-au-Prince. Padder, who sees some 40 patients a day at Underwood, heard from other physicians volunteering with Humanity First that victims in Haiti are suffering from wound and other infections including skin and gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea, and scabies. The teams will be armed with medical supplies that could include first-aid provisions, antibiotics and other medications.

"Scabies is kind of a problem there, too, because people are living in dense and close proximity," he said.

Padder said the Underwood medical staff has been vaccinated against H1N1, influenza, tetanus and hepatitis A and typhoid, and other precautions will keep them from picking up infections like scabies and malaria, which are prevalent in the region.

Donald Trauger, a 12-year nurse, said crises like Haiti are what medical professionals train to be able to handle.

"There is some nervousness, some anxiety and some excitement," said Trauger, of Greenwich Township. "That's why we are in this field. We like the unknown."

Trauger, who leads the first team to leaving for Haiti, has worked for fire departments and Emergency Medical Services for 16 years. His training in mass casualty and disaster situations will carry him through the eight-day mission, he said.

"I'm trained in mass casualty and disaster, but I've never been involved in anything like this," he said. "I think I'm somewhat prepared. I was a boy scout, and I'm into the outdoors. I think there are going to be some adjustments we'll have to make, but I hope everything goes well."

As Haiti repairs its broken cities, Padder said more volunteers will be needed in other areas in addition to medical services. He plans to recruit more volunteers for return trips to the country to assist with Humanity First's programs to open medical clinics, support orphanages and supply clean water.

"There are lots of other volunteers who are working there, but there will be all kinds of other people that will be needed down the road," Padder said.

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