CURE International Responds to Crisis in Haiti

Jan. 16, 2010 - PRLog -- CURE International, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, has responded to the urgent need caused by the earthquake in Haiti.

“We are extremely saddened by the earthquake in Haiti, and our prayers are with the suffering people of this country,” said Dr. Scott Harrison, CURE’s founder and CEO. “We are now responding to the crisis. Because CURE operates a hospital in the Dominican Republic and sends medical teams to Haiti on a regular basis, we are uniquely positioned to provide both the immediate emergency medical care that is needed and the additional care that will be needed in the weeks and months to come.”

Here is a summary of CURE’s relief efforts:

● A CURE relief team is in Port-au-Prince. The members of the team are: orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Nelson, pediatrician Dr. Dielika Charlier, nurse Lucia Hernandez, nurse Susan Beemer and the executive director of the CURE International hospital in the Dominican Republic Steve Bostian.

The team has set up a base in the city and is now providing urgently needed medical care to injured victims. Others are expected to join it in the days to come.

● CURE International’s hospital in the neighboring country of the Dominican Republic is ready to provide acute orthopedic surgical care to hundreds of Haitians coming across the border. CURE’s hospital, located in Santo Domingo, is but 160 miles from the epicenter of the disaster, the closest specialty hospital equipped to treat these types of injuries.

● The organization has established a relief fund for those who wish to contribute to CURE's emergency medical assistance efforts to victims of the earthquake.

People can give in one of two ways. They can donate online at helpcurenow.org/haitirelief.

They can also give a $10 gift from their mobile phone by texting CURE to 85944. (The charges will appear on their mobile phone bill.)

For updates, please visit blog.helpcurenow.org.

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CURE International is a nonprofit organization that is the largest provider of pediatric specialty surgical care in the developing world, transforming the lives of physically disabled children and their families through medical and spiritual healing.