Canadian Red Cross sends team to Haiti to provide medical support

The Canadian Red Cross has sent a team of highly skilled humanitarian experts and equipment to Haiti to help provide essential health care to communities devastated by the recent earthquake.
 
The team from Canadian Red Cross is working in support of the Finnish Red Cross-led field hospital.  Collectively, the Red Cross is providing critical health care to communities devastated by the recent earthquake and is working in cooperation with the Haitian Ministry of Health and the Haitian Red Cross who are leading ongoing relief efforts. 
 
With at least two million people exposed to the effects of the earthquake and evacuations of local hospitals due to structural damage, the Red Cross field hospital will help ensure communities receive safe and dignified health services including emergency obstetric and newborn care, internal medicine, general and orthopedic surgery, and psychosocial support.
 
Quick facts:

• The Canadian Red Cross presently has nine personnel in Haiti assisting with operational planning in health, assessments, logistics and communications.
• The field hospital is being led by the Finnish Red Cross and staffed by Red Cross teams from Canada, Finland, Haiti, Switzerland, Germany, and France, with aid workers including emergency response staff, doctors, and nurses.
• In addition to personnel, the Canadian Red Cross has also sent equipment that has been integrated into the Finnish Red Cross field hospital, including generators, tents, and medical equipment.
• Immediately following the earthquake, the Canadian Red Cross sent essential items to Haiti, which included hygiene kits, buckets, tarpaulins, emergency shelter kits, mosquito nets and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• In collaboration with the Finnish Red Cross, and at the request of the Haitian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross will continue to help meet critical health needs of affected communities. 

QUOTE
“The needs of people in Haiti continue to be immense following the earthquake, with dozens of hospitals and health centres damaged or destroyed. After working in Haiti for more than 30 years, the Canadian Red Cross is well-positioned to respond with personnel and funding to support the health needs of those affected by the earthquake. Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, we have been able to send humanitarian experts and equipment from Canada to help save lives and alleviate the suffering of the people impacted by earthquake. We are in close contact with the Red Cross teams in Haiti and we remain committed to supporting emergency response efforts as the needs evolve.”  
Canadians who would wish to help people affected by the earthquake in Haiti are encouraged to make a financial donation to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal online at redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111.
 
Money raised will be used for immediate and ongoing relief efforts, recovery, resilience, and preparedness for future events in Haiti and impacted regions, including consequential events related to the earthquake.
 
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Canadian Red Cross Social and Contact Information:
@RedCrossCanada | facebook.com/CanadianRedCross | redcross.ca/blog  
Red Cross donor inquiries: WeCare@redcross.ca or 1-800-418-1111
 
About the Canadian Red Cross
Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies – the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supporting them in strengthening their resilience.
 
MEDIA CONTACTS
English Media: 1-877-599-9602
French Media: 1-888-418-9111