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Australian Volunteer Helps Crash Victims at HEAL Africa

Latest posting from Col Peet (April 18)

Things are still holding here in Goma. Due to the speedy reaction by the medical and nursing staff at the HEAL Hospital only one patient has passed away after the disaster. He original presented with a large gash to his side and was quickly sewn up. There was internal injuries that did not initially show and as a result of those injuries he was taken to theatre. Unfortunately the internal injuries were extensive and sadly he passed away on the table.

One of the visiting US Doctors noted that the reaction, in the time of crisis, here was a good as anywhere in the world, although in the western world patients would have been initially treated  indoors, where here that was not possible. He also noted that every patient had received some treatment within 10 minutes and all patients were on fluid drips within 15 minutes.

One major concern is that as the plane landed on the market many of the patients have no money for follow up treatment or surgery. There is an immediate need for funds to support these people.

I have attached photos of the plane that I took at 9.30pm on the night of the accident. You will see that there is still fire, mainly because there are no fire engines and the only way that water got to the site was by water tanker and them pumped using portable water pumps.

The other photos are of lists of patients posted on the gates to the hospital. This lists not only the patient's name but also their injury and condition.

Yesterday we had visits by the Mayor of Goma, the Governor of North Kivu province and the Congolese President's brother, who is chairman of the airline. So far this morning we have had a delegation of congressmen from Kinshasha, including the Speaker of the Parliament. It is interesting to note how they all duck when a plane takes off from the airport. We are directly under the flight path and only 500 metres from where the plane crashed. Only God's grace saved the plane from landing on the hospital.> >

I hope that my post generates some interest and we can get some support for the patients. Yours in Christ from Goma

ColP    

April 16

We have been really busy as the plane was taking off when something went wrong and it landed on a market and a lot of houses before bursting into flames. Fortunately we had a group of American doctors having their arrival briefing when we were told to expect patients. 

I was given the role of people and victim movement. I think my three helpers and I carried 50 stretchers to triage and then later those people, who were being admitted, to wards. One of the problems was there was a doctors' strike at the community hospital so we and the UN hospital were the main sources of help. The doctors were on strike because nobody at the government hospital has been paid for 3 months. 

Crowd control was a real issue and we had difficulties getting the ambulances, utes with stretchers, into the hospital grounds without the masses of people trying to getting into the hospital. We had 96 survivors come to the hospital, 50 were admitted and 11 didn't  make it. There are some horrendous burn victims and I'm not sure if some of them will make it. When I finally got away at 9.30pm things were pretty much under control with all patients stabilised and broken bones cast.

We have patients everywhere and this morning my team and I will be building some temporary accommodation where the old UNHCR Tents were. We will try to get some tents in the first instance but if not make some canvas/plastic housing. On the way home we went via the crash site. I met the UN doctor in charge. He told me that this morning they will dig into the rubble to retrieve the rest of the bodies. At this stage we don't know how many but Tuesday is the busiest day at the market. This morning we will clear out the new depot building to create a bigger morgue.

It was amazing to see how well the hospital reacted to the disaster,remember Dr Jo Lusi and most of the senior docs are away, as is Lyn. Please let everyone know that I am OK and ask them all to pray for the people here.

Col Peet

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