Canadian Red Cross nurse Suzanne Puzo removes bandages from 10-year-old Danise Diverge in Croix Desprez, Port-au-Prince, on January 18, six days after Haiti's devastating earthquake. With more than 40% of Haiti's population under the age of 14, many of the victims are children like Danise, who are now injured or orphaned.
The earthquake, which caused the deaths of more than 230,000 people and displaced more than 1 million, has prompted a huge response from the global health care community. The response from nurses has been overwhelming. At press time, according to National Nurses United, over 11,000 nurses had signed up to be a part of the relief effort and provide disaster nursing care. Despite the limited supplies, electricity, and lack of running water, the World Health Organization has identified 91 working hospitals in Haiti; 21 field hospitals and 59 hospitals in Port-au-Prince, 56 of which provide surgery.
But relief efforts are far from over. As the rainy season approaches, outbreaks of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and leptospirosis could worsen the situation for many Haitians. And many injuries and disabilities will require long-term rehabilitation, particularly physical therapy.
To read more about nursing efforts in Haiti, see our Special Report: Disaster in Haiti.
Alison Bulman, senior editorial coordinator