Press Room

Mississauga Physiotherapist Ready for Challenges in Haiti

cbm Canada News Release

Mississauga, ON, Feb. 23, 2010 - Next week, Julie Hard will be leaving for a trip of a lifetime. But it’s not a vacation. For the next six months, she’ll be working as a physiotherapist for cbm Canada in Haiti, helping the most vulnerable people who have survived the earthquake.

“People can rebuild their lives through rehabilitation. As a physiotherapist, I have a heart for helping people by making lasting improvements in the quality of their lives,” says 35-year-old Hard who has Masters of Science degree in Physiotherapy.

Hard believes her clinical experience will give her a strong foundation for embracing the many clinical challenges that lie ahead. Over 300,000 people were injured in Haiti from the January 12th earthquake. Thousands have had their limbs amputated, leaving a generation of newly disabled people.

“Professionally, I have worked in a variety of settings that have helped me to prepare for work in Haiti,” says Hard, whose experience includes caring for people with disabilities in underserved communities both at home and abroad.

From 2003 to 2008, Hard provided rehabilitation support to individuals with disabilities in a rural community of Western Kenya through the International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation during a challenging time of drought and post-election conflict.

While in Kenya, Hard also provided training for people living with disabilities, as well as care givers who had complex neurological conditions, burns, wound infections and a multitude of injuries including amputation and traumatic injury.

Hard will be taking a leave of absence from her current job at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, where she specializes in acute care medicine and also coordinates initiatives to support rehabilitation for people living with HIV. She is currently living at Matthew House which provides shelter, guidance and support for newly arrived refugees to Toronto.

“I have a personal connection to the people of Haiti because of refugees I have met at Matthew House. It has reinforced the need for me to support our global community with my skills, training and experience,” says Hard.

“As a Christ follower, I am called to serve,” she adds. “I am fortunate to be able to offer my skills to help in this rebuilding process and to bring hope for a future in Haiti.”

Hard will be one of six cbm physiotherapists on the ground in Haiti, serving at different hospitals every day, treating about 30 patients per day.

cbm has been working in Haiti since 1976, with development projects throughout the country, including five programs for those with disabilities in Port-au-Prince. More than 300,000 people have been injured from the disaster.

cbm, Handicap International and a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) are meeting with the Haitian Secretariat of State for Integration of Persons with Disabilities to begin drafting a National Plan on Disability. The plan will create a framework that will channel all efforts by NGOs working on disability.

A leading international Christian humanitarian organization, cbm works to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world.

Editors note: Interviews and photos available on request.

Media Contact:
Sandy Hazell,
National Media Coordinator , cbm Canada
shazell@cbmcanada.org
(905) 640-6466 ext 246;
1-800-567-2264 ext 246
(416) 302-3166 (cell)

 

cbm Canada
NEWS Media Advisory – February 22, 2010

WHO: cbm Canada’s Executive Director, Ed Epp is in Haiti this week to witness first-hand how funds from Canadian supporters are impacting the lives of people with disabilities, especially the thousands of amputees, who are newly disabled.

Vital cbm programs and services include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, eye care, psychosocial counseling, and a children’s day care centre for young Haitians with disabilities who require immediate care and ongoing rehabilitation.

From Haiti, Epp will be available for interviews February 23 - 24, and upon his return to Toronto after February 26.

WHAT: cbm, Handicap International and a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) are meeting with the Haitian Secretariat of State for Integration of Persons with Disabilities to begin drafting a National Plan on Disability. The plan will create a framework that will channel all efforts by NGOs working on disability.

cbm has been providing emergency, life-saving care since the day of the Haiti earthquake on January 12 and will be there for the long run.

“For every child that has died in this earthquake, three will be left with life-long disabilities,” says Epp. “We know from our experience, how difficult life can be for those who need help the most. We will continue to provide immediate and long term care for these marginalized people. It is vital for all involved in disaster response to be a voice for those struggling to survive despite their disabilities.”

DONATIONS:
To help those in need in Haiti, call 1-800-567-2264, or donate online NOW!

BACKGROUND:
cbm has been working in Haiti since 1976, with development projects assisting more than 80,000 persons throughout the country, including five programs for those with disabilities in Port-au-Prince. More than 300,000 people have been injured from the disaster.

A leading international Christian humanitarian organization, cbm works to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. For more information, www.cbmcanada.org.

Media Contacts:
Sandy Hazell National
Media Coordinator
cbm Canada
shazell@cbmcanada.org
(905) 640-6466 ext 246;
1-800-567-2264 ext 246
(416) 302-3166 (cell)

Christian Children’s Fund of Canada and cbm Canada Join Forces to Help Haitian Children

MARKHAM, ON, February 8, 2010 – Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) is partnering with cbm Canada (formerly known as Christian Blind Mission) to help children in desperate need, especially those with disabilities and their families following the devastating earthquake on January 12 in Haiti.
 
“This tragedy has deeply affected us all,” says Mark Lukowski, CEO, CCFC. “We believe this is a fitting collaboration with an organization dedicated to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. Together we can begin restoring lives and assisting children as we invest in this and other Haiti initiatives.”

“For every child who has died in Haiti, three will be left with lifelong disabilities,” says Ed Epp, Executive Director of cbm Canada. “The number of children now coping with loss of limbs, loss of sight, and other disabilities is catastrophic.  It is critical that organizations work together for the most efficient and effective response.”  

CCFC and The ChildFund Alliance - its global partnership including Ireland, Taiwan, New Zealand, and the United States - will make an initial contribution totalling more than $400,000, with $25,000 from CCFC’s Canadian supporters. This will support work for medical care, rehabilitation, and orthopaedic services primarily geared to help children in Haiti.
 
cbm has worked in Haiti since 1976 and has three child-focused projects in Port-au Prince. CCFC and cbm are working collaboratively with emergency relief specialists to assist the needs of children.
 
“We are proud to partner with cbm Canada who - like CCFC - is committed to the protection of children and other vulnerable people," says Lukowski. “We want Haitian families to know that we are standing with them in this time of desperate need.”

#    #    #

Christian Children’s Fund of Canada works to break the cycle of extreme poverty for children and families of all faiths around the world. Please visit www.ccfcanada.ca for more information on our global approach.

For more than 100 years, cbm Canada’s mission has been to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world, including Haiti.

Media Contact:

Philip Maher, Communications Manager, CCFC pmaher@ccfcanada.ca   
Voice 905-754-1015, Mobile 416-454-1620; visit www.ccfcanada.ca

Sandy Hazell, National Media Coordinator, Canada shazell@cbmcanada.org
1-800-567-2264, ext 246, Mobile, 416-302-3166.

February 3, 2010 – cbm Canada is providing a ray of hope for the crushed spirits of thousands of Haitians who have lost their homes, families and are now left with life threatening injuries or amputated limbs.

Through the organization’s Emergency Response Team, and trusted partners who have been working in Haiti for over 30 years, cbm is  helping those in greatest need rebuild their lives.

Plans are also in place to fund a Children’s Day Care Centre in Haiti to provide psychosocial needs for children who have been traumatized by losing their family members in the earthquake.

Other plans include Community Based Rehabilitation, community infrastructre and rebuilding medical and school facilties.

cbm has five projects in Port-au-Prince, three of which are hospitals that were affected by the earthquake: 

• Grace Children’s Hospital
• University Hospital
• Community Health Hospital

(Visit http://www.cbmcanada.org/haiti/projects.htm for complete details.)

cbm’s Emergency Response Team – including Valerie Scherrer, Michiel Steenbeek, and others – , have been actively providing occupational and physiotherapy for patients at the L'hopital de la Communaute Haitienne in Port-au -Prince.

Scherrer, cbm’s Emergency Response Coordinator, has been instrumental in organizing injury and disability meetings with other non-governmental organizations in Haiti.

“There is an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 people who have already had amputations,” reports Scherrer. “The exact number is difficult to determine because there were no records kept at hospitals the first week after the earthquake.”

Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other medical equipment are urgently needed.

More than 200,000 people have been injured from the earthquake that shook Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, leaving 170,000 dead, as well asver one million people homeless.

As plans are being made for the future of rebuilding Haiti, “Governments and nongovernmental organizations should give serious consideration to the needs of all people in Haitian society, especially those left with permanent disabilities,” said Epp.

“Before the earthquake, the number of Haitians living with disabilities numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Now, the numbers are staggering. cbm is there to help, now and for the long haul.” 

cbm Canada has been helping more than 80,000 people with disabilities in Haiti each year, since 1976. 

A leading international Christian humanitarian organization, cbm works to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. 

To make a donation to help those in desperate need in Haiti, the public can call
1-800-567-2264, or visit cbm Canada’s web site: www.cbmcanada.org. Every dollar contributed for earthquake relief to cbm Canada will be matched by CIDA for Haiti relief efforts.

 

For Immediate Distribution

January 19, 2010

cbm Canada Responding to Growing Number
of Survivors with Disabilities in Haiti

Numbers are catastrophic
For every child that has died in the Haiti earthquake, three will be left with lifelong disabilities.  In the aftermath of this disaster, the number of surgical amputations is astounding. 

With more than 200,000 estimated dead, and 1.5 million homeless, this disaster presents a new challenge to relief agencies.

“Unlike the tsunami in South Asia, the number of survivors coping with loss of limbs, loss of sight, and other disabilities is catastrophic,” says Ed Epp, Executive Director, cbm Canada.

For more than 100 years, cbm Canada’s mission has been to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world, including Haiti. The nonprofit organization has been helping more than 80,000 people with disabilities in Haiti each year, since 1976. 

“With partner organizations and hospitals in Haiti, cbm is providing immediate medical attention, and is well positioned to provide long term development solutions for those with disabilities,” says Epp.

cbm is also urging other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) now working in Haiti to be a voice for those struggling to survive, especially those with disabilities.

“It’s a matter of life and death, of human rights and justice,” says Epp. “This is the time to give serious consideration to the needs of all people in Haitian society, especially those left with permanent disabilities. Even before the earthquake the number of Haitians living with disabilities numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Now, the numbers are staggering.  cbm is there to help, now and for the long haul.” 

To make a donation to help those in desperate need in Haiti, the public can call 1-800-567-2264, or visit cbm Canada’s web site: www.cbmcanada.org.  Every dollar contributed for earthquake relief to cbm Canada will be matched by CIDA for Haiti relief efforts.

A leading international Christian humanitarian organization, cbm works to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. 

#    #    #
Editors note:  cbm’s emergency relief specialists are available for interviews from Port-au-Prince, via satellite phone. 

cbm Canada
www.cbmcanada.org
3844 Stouffville Road
Stouffville, ON L4A7Z9
1.800.567.2264

 

For Immediate Distribution

January 13, 2010

cbm Canada Responding to the Haiti Earthquake

WHO:	cbm Canada is responding to the Haiti earthquake. cbm is sending emergency relief specialists to Haiti to assess the needs, meet with partner agencies, and determine immediate and long term responses. Members of the response team will be available for interviews on Friday, Jan. 15 from Port-au-Prince. Ed Epp, Executive Director, cbm Canada is available for interviews regarding the disaster, and the organization’s response to the Haiti earthquake.
WHAT:	cbm has worked in Haiti since 1976, including five development projects in Port-au-Prince, among many throughout the country assisting persons with disabilities. “Our hearts go out to those affected by this devastating earthquake in Haiti,” said Ed Epp, Executive Director, cbm Canada. “Due to the magnitude of this disaster, the number of people with permanent injuries, resulting in disability, is expected to increase dramatically. These are the most vulnerable people in a disaster. cbm is there to meet immediate medical needs, and we’ll be there in the long term, ensuring human rights for those with disabilities.”
DONATIONS:	To help those in need in Haiti, call 1-800-567-2264, or donate online: Haiti Earthquake.
BACKGROUND:	A leading international Christian development organization, cbm works to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. For more information, www.cbmcanada.org.