FIELD
REPORT
Jun e 2013
Disaster
Response
in Syria
and around
the world
Caring for Moms
in South Sudan
Debbie Bailey, Emergency Relief Team Coordinator
Years of civil war have left the health care system
in South Sudan destroyed. Conflict, famine,
poverty, and lack of education and access to care
have all contributed to the region’s appalling health
and development statistics. South Sudan has
the highest maternal death rate in the world;
1 in 7 women die from pregnancy-related causes.
Our disaster response teams are working in
this volatile region of the world to address lifethreatening health issues affecting women and
Syrian Refugee Response
children. In addition to providing medical care, our
volunteers and staff are also training people in the
Joe DiCarlo, Director of Emergency Relief & Security
community to serve as birth attendants, midwives
Syria has been torn apart by a devastating conflict—one of the worst
and health educators.
humanitarian disasters in our world today. Over 70,000 people have
been killed and millions are homeless.
Since the crisis in Syria began, Medical Teams International has shipped
medicines and medical supplies valued at nearly $350,000 for distribution
to more than 100,000 people affected by the conflict.
What You Can Do: Your gift of $20 can help
us provide training to help 20 expecting moms
in South Sudan learn good prenatal care.
Go to medicalteams.org to donate today.
But the recent refugee influx into Lebanon has stretched the capacity
of the country’s government and local and international agencies to provide
care. While much is being done to provide food, shelter, and sanitation in
the refugee settlements, there are huge gaps in available medical services.
With your support, we’re helping fill those gaps.
At the end of May, we sent our first medical volunteer team to join our
partners in the area in caring for refugees living in border settlements in
Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and will continue to deploy teams as needed.
To address what could be a long-term crisis, we’re also preparing to
implement a community-based health program to prevent disease and
illness in the refugee settlements. For updates on our response to this
crisis, go to medicalteams.org/donate/syrian-refugees-relief.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Pray for peace in Syria and the safety of all who
are providing care in the surrounding countries.
Preparing
for
Disaster
Our Emergency Medical Care team of staff and volunteers
are promoting disaster preparedness and response in the
regions we serve by:
❚Training local people in the countries we serve in First
Responder and Emergency Medical Training courses.
❚Partnering with local governments to design and deliver
the best emergency response service possible.
❚Helping local and national governments build wide scale
response capacity.
❚Shipping emergency response supplies to countries
so health care providers can respond to disaster and
ongoing emergency needs.
The Faces of Kisoro
Earlier this year, Sharon Tissell, R.N., was part of a medical team providing care
in Uganda when the area experienced an overwhelming influx of more than
4,000 Congolese people fleeing renewed violence.
Medical Teams International has established a healthcare outpost at the refugee
reception camp in Kisoro to address the overwhelming medical needs of many of
the refugees. Here is a glimpse of the people Sharon met and their stories. …
A Good Neighbor
Chrispin
Chrispin is a Congolese teacher
who was beaten and captured by
rebels who attacked his school.
He miracously managed to escape
and came to the clinic for pain
meds for his injuries. It will take far
more to recover from the terror and
loss he has experienced.
Two and a half year old Tohir and her brother
Darius
had been left in the care of a neighbor in the
camp while their parents left to find food.
Darius came to see us for symptoms
The man recognized the little child was ill and
of malaria. He is a refugee and an
brought her to our clinic. She was severely
orphan. While in school in the Congo,
dehydrated and unresponsive. Thanks to this
many of his classmates were captured
neighbor’s action, we were able to provide
and killed by rebel soldiers. When he
immediate care and transport Tohir to the district
learned his parents had been killed
hospital where they were able to stabilize her.
as well, he escaped to Uganda and
is alone in the refugee camp.
Your
gift of
50
$
can help us ship
humanitarian aid
to help
200
suffering
people.
Go to medicalteams.org to give today.
220 Miles
14days
1Goal
Having faithfully served at the helm of this organization since 1997, MTI
President Bas Vanderzalm will officially retire. Under his distinguished
leadership, we have grown to be one of the most respected Christian global
health and disaster response organizations in the country. Bas has chosen
to CELEBRATE God’s grace and blessings on his years with Medical Teams
International in a unique way.
Beginning June 13, he will walk 220 miles over the course of two weeks
from our office in Redmond, Washington to our international headquarters in
Tigard, Oregon with the goal of bringing attention to the needs of suffering
people around the world.
There are a number of ways you can come alongside Bas and be part of
the CELEBRATION WALK. Go to www.medicalteams.org/walk and …
Follow the footsteps: Read Bas’ reflections from the road and track his
❚
progress as he walks.
Support each mile: Help Medical Teams International change the health
❚
and lives of people in need by matching the miles with your gift of support.
Join us in honoring Bas and his commitment to the mission of Medical Teams
International by supporting the CELEBRATION WALK. We are grateful for his
leadership, vision and unfailing compassion for those we serve and wish him
all the best in his retirement.
With the help of volunteers, donated supplies, and people like
you, we were able to care for more than 2.7 million people
around the world last year. There’s
a place for everyone on this team
… if you haven’t lately, join us at
medicalteams.org to find out all the
ways you can make a difference.
FIELD REPORT is an official publication
of Medical Teams International.
www.medicalteams.org
The mission of Medical Teams International
is to demonstrate the love of Christ
to people affected by disaster, conflict
and poverty around the world.
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