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In March 2007, Jason Prystowsky, MD, MPH led a team of Emory medical students on a medical mission to a remote rural area in Haiti's Central Plateau region near the Dominican Republic border.
When not leading, or working on, missions such as this Haitian effort, Dr. Prystowsky practices medicine full time on the Chinle Indian Reservation in Arizona (United States). Dr. Prystowsky has also served as an ER physician at Emory University, and worked as a medical professional in economically developing countries such as Uganda and Nicaragua.
Dr. Prystowsky was introduced to MedShare International by a nurse who had recently volunteered at the facility. Before his team of twelve doctors left for Haiti, they visited MedShare to participate in a volunteer medical supply sorting session and "shop" for all the items they would be taking to Haiti on the medical mission.
In addition to recovering medical supplies and donating them to hospitals and clinics throughout the world, MedShare International maintains a medical mission team "store." Healthcare professionals are invited to visit this store to stock up on supplies before their trips. The suggested donation for supplies is $25 for the first forty pounds and $1 per pound after that. Teams can make an appointment to visit the store by calling 770-323-5858. In 2006, MedShare supported over 150 medical teams.
During this group's time in Haiti, Dr. Prystowsky and the students used their skills and the MedShare-provided supplies to treat over 2,000 people. According to Dr. Prystowsky, most of the cases to which they tended were related to malnutrition and poverty. In this region, the average annual income is approximately $250 US. Despite being one of the least wealthy countries in the Americas, Haiti has a history of overcoming adversity. Haiti is one of the world's first independent Black republics and was the second country, after the United States, in the Americas to successfully declare independence from Europe.
The entire team was moved and motivated to action by the spirit of the typical Haitian in the face of hardship. Many students were surprised to find people waiting more than eight hours in extreme heat to see a doctor. Plus, when medical attention is available hospitals and clinics are often lacking simple items like gauze, gloves, splints and thermometers.
Dr. Prystowsky hopes the young professionals on this Haitian trip will "develop a lifelong commitment to serve those sick and injured human beings whose voice might not otherwise be heard." Dr. Prystowsky - a model physician and caregiver as well as an advocate of sustainable resources, nutrition, and healthcare for the world's developing regions - believes that humanitarian trips are of vital importance in teaching the next generation of doctors about the world. With the assistance of MedShare, these students learned how people, though poor, bring inspiration through character, communication and creativity.
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Shipment Update
During the month of April, MedShare International shipped containers filled
with vital medical supplies and equipment to healthcare institutions in
different countries. The recipients were:
- El Salvador
Hospital Mazzini
- Ecuador
Provincial Hospital of Azuay
- Ecuador
Provincial Hospital of Galapagos
- Uganda
CURE International Hospital of Uganda
- Honduras
First Lady of Honduras (various Hospitals)
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