Spent yesterday organizing, preparing meds, wound care. Alex, our refugee coordinator, organized a meeting with some camp leaders. These folks are refugees. They are eager to help us and figured out a system that they will manage to keep crowds under control and ensure our safety. They shared their stories and their frustrations at being [...]
We are here on a beautiful Greek island setting up to work outside a refugee camp in “the jungle“ - the overflow of 4,500 people. The conditions are appallingly terrible. People are living in small tents, some have tarps, most don’t. There are only three porta potties so people are urinating and defecating in plastic bottles. [...]
Our Hands On Global team is heading to Samos Island, Greece on FEB 20th. We had a medication packing party at my house and now have six 50 lb. bags of medicine ~ all ready to go. We have a portable exam table packed up, a portable ultrasound, a nebulizer and Marcia just called from [...]
Moria Refugee Project - November UPDATE Winter has set in on Lesbos Island Greece. With it has come torrential rains and cold. Many of the refugees at the MORIA REFUGEE CAMP are living in tents and shelters made of tarps. Their tents and tarp shelters are wet. The electricity has gone out many times. They [...]
Our last day in Moria. It was busy, we saw 105 patients. Not much time to think about it being the last day. My day started with a young man, maybe 24, injured in a fight last night, he had been sent to the hospital, he had sutures on his chin, a broken jaw and a [...]
Monday - today as we turned onto the road to the camp there was a police check post. Then, as we entered the camp there was a heavy police presence. I found out later in the day that they were looking for refugees who were to be deported. When their asylum is denied many ( 50 [...]
Sunday and back to work. This clinic is the only medical provider open on Sunday. There were many sick kids today. I worry because when the cold weather comes they are so vulnerable and the MSF vaccination campaign is still on hold. This little guy in the photo, 4 years old from Iraq, was smiling all [...]
Ahhh Saturday ~ our day off. We all met for a long leisurely breakfast at Melis, our favorite coffee juice bar. I have become addicted to fresh squeezed green apple juice. We went in different directions. Scott ran 7 miles. He is recovered and back to marathon training for the Athens Marathon he will run on [...]
Everyday is different and unpredictable at Moria. Today was wound day. There were many new wounds to treat along with the ones I follow up on daily or every few days. A fight the night before sent 4 men to the hospital, 3 with significant stab wounds that were stitched up at the hospital but needed [...]
I went to a meeting with the NGOs providing healthcare in the camp. Medicine Sans Frontiers, International Refugee Committee, Rowing Together, Doc Mobile and Boat Refugee Foundations. All are frustrated by the broken system. The Greek Government Clinic is STILL closed and that is where we send referrals for X-rays, blood tests, and appointments for [...]
