Trip to Haiti for Dedication of OT/PT Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Burn Advocates Network and Medical Angels Travel to Haiti for the dedication of the first Occupational and Physical Therapy Clinic in Cap Haitien, Haiti

27 April 2010 – Cap Haitien, Haiti – Haiti’s first Occupational and Physical Therapy clinic is a reality. Burn Advocates Network, a Teaneck-based not for profit organization has been leading the charge along with Medical Angels of Fort Lee to create the occupational and physical therapy clinic at Justinian Hospital in Cap Haitien, the second largest city in Haiti. In addition to outfitting the clinic, the rotations of therapists will treat hundreds of amputees and other patients as well as provide clinical instruction to the hospital staff.

Construction of the new clinic began mid-March with donations from many tri-state area based businesses including Hausmann Industries, Inc of Northvale, NJ, Jack Corradino, founding partner of the Corradino and Papa law firm in Clifton, NJ and the support of the public. A formal groundbreaking ceremony will be held April 27, 2010 in Cap Haitien.

On the wall at the entrance of the new clinic, a plaque will hallmark individuals and businesses who have contributed to the success of this project including University of Miami Medical School, The Haiti Ministry of Health, Burn Advocates Network, Medical Angels, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Ltd. which provided free shipping of all donated equipment from NJ to Labadee, Haiti their port of call approximately 5 miles from Justinian Hospital.

A team will travel to Haiti for the dedication ceremony and will consist of Samuel Davis, Founder of Burn Advocates Network, Jim Ressler from Medical Angels and Premier Home Health Care in Fort Lee, Karen Canellos a licensed physical therapist from Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and Dr. Thomas Bojko Senior Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs Department of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Director of Medical Services and Clinical Operations Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. In addition to attending the dedication ceremony, the team plans to locate a site for the first modern burn center in Haiti.

Burn Advocates Network focuses on the advocacy, rehabilitation and reintegration of burn survivors. Many of the victims from the earthquake were burned as a result of hot oil being spilled from local street vendor carts. Many sought medical help and refuge in Cap Haitien and are now in desperate need of rehabilitative services. For more information on Burn Advocates Network, contact Berger, Haiti coordinator, at 201-600-7698 or jordana@burnadvocates.org.

Medical Angels provides durable medical equipment and supplies to those who cannot afford them. Jim Ressler and Aimee Fink opened the not-for-profit in Fort Lee. Due to the disaster in Haiti Medical Angels has moved outside its core mission of helping local residents and is helping the victims of the Haitian disaster. Donations of top quality equipment are coming in daily from individuals who want to help. For more information, contact Ressler at 201-461 9595.

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