Quake Survivors Return to Haiti and Participate in the June MDAs

First visit for Rick Santos after January earthquake

‘I was inspired and I was humbled,’ said IMA President Rick Santos recently after his return from his first visit to Haiti since the January earthquake. Together with IMA colleagues, Dr. Sarla Chand, Vice President for International Programs, and Ann Varghese, Program Officer, he was trapped for 55 hours in the rubble of the Hotel Montana before being rescued. Two Methodist colleagues who shared the ordeal with the IMA staff, Rev. Sam Dixon and Rev. Clint Raab, did not survive.

January 12th, 2010, Port au Prince, Haiti, was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake. The city was nearly destroyed, and as many as 300,000 people perished. Almost 5 months later to the day, Santos returned to the country, which continues to struggle to survive. A stirring moment occurred when they stepped from the plane and viewed, really for the first time, the immense destruction.

‘While the destruction and the sheer loss of life staggered me, I was uplifted when I participated in the mass drug administration in Jacmel and other areas. The IMA Haiti staff surpassed my expectations: not only did they survive the earthquake, but they worked tirelessly with Health and Education Ministry staff for weeks to make sure this important health event continues to serve the Haitian people. Their work is an inspiration to the entire health system,’ Santos said.

In three short weeks in June, the mass drug administration, funded by USAID and led jointly by IMA and the Ministries of Health and Education, reached out to the Northeast, Southeast, Nippes and South Departments of Haiti. Over 4,000 community volunteers trained by IMA provided hands-on help to distribute the drugs to treat Lymphatic Filariasis (which leads to Elephantiasis) and soil-transmitted worms. Nearly 1.4 million people (20% of the national population) were treated in one month.

‘As I left Haiti,’ said Santos after his return, ‘I felt so sad and powerless to help the many who are in such desperate conditions. But I was greatly inspired by the work of our IMA team as they restore confidence in the delivery of essential health services. As I assured our Haitian partners and government officials, IMA will continue to walk with its Haitian brothers and sisters as long as it takes.’