Expansion of post-operative care in Haiti

Seven weeks after the earthquake of January 12, which left up to 300,000 people injured, medical needs remain immense in Haiti, and they continue to grow. A crucial phase has begun, in which thousands of injured people require long term medical care just as some health providers that responded to the initial emergency phase of the crisis begin to leave the country and discharge patients.

Médecins Sans Frontières is expanding its capacity to care for the many wounded requiring extensive post-operative care – including secondary surgeries, medical follow-up, physical therapy, and mental healthcare – for at least the next several months.  In recent days, public hospitals or other medical teams leaving the country have referred more than 200 patients to our medical facilities.

“The immediate emergency phase may be over, but the long-term work is just beginning and it’s no less an emergency,” said Médecins Sans Frontières Haiti Head of Mission Karline Kleijer.

Patients requiring daily medical supervision

Every day, patients require bandage and dressing changes, cast removals, wound cleaning, removal of dead tissue, external fixator adjustments, x-ray monitoring of fractures, skin graft monitoring, and reconstructive and other specialised surgery.  

“Emergency surgery is one thing, but lack of or inefficient post-operative care will result in long-term hospitalisation or even in lifelong physical disabilities” declares Dr Nico Heijenberg.

After weeks of immobilisation as a result of traction, casts, external fixators, and amputation, patients are just beginning to regain mobility through physiotherapy. People who had limbs amputated may require additional procedures to ensure the good fitting of artificial limbs.

“Returning patients home in their current medical – and living – conditions is simply not an option for us,” said Dr. Michel Janssens, director of the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in the St. Louis neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.  The hospital, located on a former soccer field, will remain on site for at least a year.

Essential psychological care

Another critical element of post-operative care is the psychological monitoring and counselling of patients. For people who suffered horrible injuries, counselling and psychological support is as vital as physiotherapy and learning how to use crutches. 

Mental health services are being provided by Médecins Sans Frontières throughout the city. 

Survivors of the earthquake are often very anxious about their future. 

"I was an electrician, and who's going to hire a disabled person?” asked Ricardo, a 33-year-old father who suffered severe burns to his hands in the earthquake. “How will I find work to support my family?”

Médecins Sans Frontières will soon open additional post-operative facilities – that will operate for at least one year – in Port-au-Prince, Carrefour, Leogane, and Jacmel, with a total of approximately 1000 beds.