Hun Hoe writes about his experiences before flying home from Haiti

Hi Yong Guan

This was HH's last update to us before he boarded plane to fly back to Singapore. He is still enroute now and will be arriving Sunday 24 at 0700am.

Sook Leung

From: H H Tan [mailto:hhtan_urology@pacific.net.sg]

Sent: Friday, 22 January, 2010 7:25 PM

Subject: Re: haiti earthquake (final report)

Dear faithful brothers and sisters,

I am now back to Santo Domingo for a short night's rest. Today we intended to have a small and simple half day clinic but it ended up being just as busy with 50+ patients, some of whom needed some time in our minor OT. The other cases were also just as time consuming and bizarre. We saw a number of STD cases, pregnant women with complications, comatose patients and Post-traumatic Disorder (PTSD) cases . We had a few comatose patients and one was dumped at our door step by some guys in a car which quickly disappeared .

The crowd insisted we treat him but I exercised caution as I thought there might have been foul play. There was no evidence of external injuries and eventually he woke up after I inserted a drip but he was too confused to tell us what happened. Perhaps he was on drugs. We took him in at this stage to recover.

Less procedures today yet busy due to the bizarre cases turning up. Big problem working without electricity means no light and ventilation and flies hovering round all the time in the OT. They were attracted by the smell of wounds and were a real nuisance landing every now and then on the wounds I had cleansed and on the instruments.

All in we saw for there 2 and half days about 200 patients, 95% needed some procedure. Each procedure would take half to 3 hrs to complete due to the complexity of the wounds and related problems.

Yesterday on the way back to clinic after lunch we met 2 vultures on two trees, one had some stuff in its beak. Later on I learnt from a fellow team mate who had gone about snapping photos that he came across a dead body by the pavement. Nobody seemed bothered by it despite the stench.

Our relief effort is unsatisfactory due to 3 issues:

1. Lack of relevant surgical specialist. I am about all they have. Urologist. Sorry, but I tried my best.

2. Inadequate supplies of the right kind

3. Terrible working conditions, hot, dark, noisy screaming and shouting people, inadequate facilities.

And though I feel sad that they did not have the best, yet I pray that the Lord will heal the 200 we ministered to. We did what we could, Lord help them. A new team takes over today consisting of mainly GPs including Jennifer Yeo and 1 Gynae and 1 Paeds. We pray for them to be anointed and be used by God to glorify Him.

Well, I am already thinking of that Margaret Drive CKT and to be home with family and all of you loyal prayer partners. Thank you so much for your prayers.

In Christ,

HH