Humanitarian Work
September 7-14, 2013: Humanitarian trip to Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien, Haiti
“Scores of patients waited for several days, many traveling long distance to have their eye and facial problems diagnosed”
Dr. Harris and Dr. Call returned to Port-au-Prince to examine and treat patients in the State University Hospital. Scores of patients waited for several days, many traveling long distance to have their eye and facial problems diagnosed. The doctors were aided by the residents training in ophthalmology at the hospital. Several dozen surgical procedures were performed on children and adults ranging in age from 1 year to over 90. One major improvement to the operating room included an anesthesia machine, which allowed the doctors to perform cases under general anesthesia. Dr. Call and Dr. Harris later traveled by plane to the town of Cap Haitien on the northern coast of Haiti. A clinic was established there by several former residents of the Port-au-Prince program. It is supported by several international NGOs, including Charity Vision. Dr. Harris and Dr. Call performed 9 surgeries in the day they were there and learned about the success of the program. Plans were made to replicate the clinic in Port-au-Prince. Read Dr. Harris’ blog post on the subject by clicking here.
Patients waiting for surgery in Cap Haitien, Haiti.
May 6-10: Humanitarian trip to Yerevan, Armenia
“Armenians are amazing people who remain resilient and happy despite significant poverty and social challenges”
Dr. Harris and his wife Micki travelled to Armenia, a former Soviet bloc country located north of Iran and east of Turkey in the heart of the Caucasus Mountains. Their culture is one of the oldest on the planet and they have deeply held religious views. Poverty is a serious problem in this country of high unemployment and stagnant economic growth. Few have any type of health insurance and there is minimal government assistance with healthcare. Dr. Harris worked with Dr. Armine, one of the only oculoplastic surgeons in the country, to introduce new techniques and deliver needed equipment donated by the LDS church. LDS Charities sponsored the week long trip, which concluded with a trip to Artashat, a town to the south of Yerevan, where a new general ophthalmic clinic has been established and future projects to teach oculoplastic surgery will hopefully take place. Read Dr. Harris’ blog post on the subject by clicking here.
Teaching eyelid surgery in Yerevan, Armenia
March 9-15: Return trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti
“The repercussions from the 2010 earthquake are still being felt…”
Dr. Matheson Harris returned to Port-au-Prince to visit the Haitian State University Hospital to perform oculoplastic surgery cases. Dr. Branson Call visited the hospital in December and both doctor will be making semiannual visits so that every three months one of them is present. The repercussions from the 2010 earthquake are still being felt and many people still have injuries that have not been completely treated. The surgical cases included many traumas, pediatric ptosis repairs, facial scar revisions and tear drainage surgery. The need for external help is still great and any donations can be sent to Charity Vision, a division of the private charity Deseret International. (click here to read more about Dr. Harris’ experience on our blog)
Young man with medial orbital wall fracture
August 27-31, 2012: Humanitarian trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti
“The average Haitian lives on $2 a day and few have adequate basic living conditions, let alone access to affordable medical care”
Dr. Matheson Harris and Dr. Branson Call traveled together to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to volunteer several days of clinical and surgical work on behalf of one of the teaching hospitals there in the capital. Dr. Call, who recently retired from private practice to pursue humanitarian work full-time, has visited Haiti on a number of occasions, including being present and operating at the time of the devastating earthquake in January of 2010. The average Haitian lives on $2 a day and few have adequate basic living conditions, let alone access to affordable medical care. The doctors saw dozens of patients and performed scores of surgeries on adults and children. Charity Vision, a division of the private charity Deseret International, also brought along medical supplies. Both doctors are already planning their next trip to Haiti as the people are in significant need. If you are interested in supporting their efforts, contact Deseret International. (click here to read more about their experience on our blog)
Several post op patients
March 6-11, 2012: Humanitarian trip to Dong Anh Hospital, Northern Vietnam
Dr. N. Branson Call and Dr. Matheson Harris traveled to Dong Anh General Hospital outside of Hanoi, Vietnam. Supported by LDS Charities, Tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment were donated, local doctors were trained, and 40 surgeries performedthe doctors brought a new operating microscope and two trays of facial plastic surgical instruments. They provided instructional lectures to the doctors on eyelid and facial reconstructive surgical techniques. They also performed 40 surgical procedures while giving the local doctors hands on training. The Vietnames doctors were able to perform some of the procedures on the second and third days of surgery and quickly showed proficiency in the new techniques. Drs. Call and Harris also toured another outlying eye hospital in Ninh Binh and assessed their needs for a future project. Dr. Call went on to the Phillipines the following week to assess future vision projects in that country. (click here to read about their trip and see photos on the UtahOC blog)
