Local Doctor Returns from Haiti and from Endless Need

Bloomington, Minn. - A Twin Cities doctor, just back from Haiti on Friday, says the medical needs are going to last a long, long time.

He's one of a handful of Minnesota doctors and nurses who've been part of creating a hospital and clinic in the middle of a Port-au-Prince neighborhood.  They're giving a lot of help, but they could use some, too.

Every day, twice a day if they can, the hospital sends a truck through the poorest of Port-au-Prince's neighborhoods.  People with severe injuries that have gone untreated are brought in. The doctors and nurses have come from across the U.S., but much of the coordinated effort comes from the Twin Cities.

Up until a month ago the makeshift hospital was mainly an orphanage and a women's shelter.  When the earthquake hit, Heartline Ministries immediately put the call out for doctors and nurses.  Dr. Peter Melchert, of Abbott Northwestern and Children's Hospitals, got home Friday after two weeks in Haiti setting bones, treating deep cuts, even amputating a child's finger.

Dr. Melchert was there with four other Minnesotans.  The man getting the doctors, nurses and the medical supplies to Haiti does it mostly from his business in Bloomington. 

As for the doctors, they pay their own way to get to Florida, arrange time off from work and arrange their own replacements.

Dr. Melchert hopes to go back. With walls still collapsing, new injuries occur daily. And for that reason most people are still living outside.  Heartline Ministries is trying to raise money to keep their clinic going.

If you want to help, or simply learn more, visit heartlineministries.org .