Winter has come to the Gulf Coast. Nighttime temperatures have plunged into the 30s, forcing Hurricane Katrina survivors to abandon their tents in favor of heated shelters that reopened in mid-November. Volunteers at free health clinics throughout the hurricane-devastated region have begun to worry about not having enough doctors to treat respiratory infections and other winter ailments.
Hurricane-Ravaged Region Still Needs Volunteer Doctors
By Leslie Champlin
11/21/2005
Patients gather for primary health care services, top, at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, Miss. Outside the church, bottom, tents serve as temporary homes -- until cold temperatures send people back into shelters.
One such volunteer is Dawna Howell, coordinator for medical services at the Christus Victor Lutheran Church disaster response center in Ocean Springs, Miss. The center serves hurricane survivors from Pascagoula on the eastern Mississippi coast to Biloxi on the central Mississippi coast.
"We still need volunteer doctors starting in December and going through March," said Howell. Her center operates health clinics at Ocean Springs and Biloxi that care for 30 to 40 patients a day. Another health service in Long Beach sees 170 patients a day and, likewise, has an ongoing need for volunteer physicians.
"Most people are living in tents and waiting for trailers," said Howell on Nov. 16. "With colder weather, we're going back into the (emergency response) process again. Eight shelters reopened last night so people could get out of the cold. The church boxes up food for the families, and people are still lined up around the building to get them."
And the people need primary health care. Clinic staff members have provided preventive care, such as tetanus and other shots. They've also treated sinus, respiratory and other infections; lacerations and bruises; a broken finger; and other nonemergent conditions. Hospital emergency rooms are available for serious medical problems.
The Christus Victor response center provides a sleeping area at the church, meals, showers and computer access; volunteer physicians must provide their own transportation to the center.
Physicians can contact Howell at (228) 860-7197 or via e-mail at clhjchseh@yahoo.com to volunteer and begin the process of obtaining a temporary Mississippi medical license. Mississippi physicians also can volunteer through the Mississippi Physician Volunteer Registry by calling (800) 844-0500 to sign up for service.
"We still need volunteer doctors starting in December and going through March," said Howell. Her center operates health clinics at Ocean Springs and Biloxi that care for 30 to 40 patients a day. Another health service in Long Beach sees 170 patients a day and, likewise, has an ongoing need for volunteer physicians.
"Most people are living in tents and waiting for trailers," said Howell on Nov. 16. "With colder weather, we're going back into the (emergency response) process again. Eight shelters reopened last night so people could get out of the cold. The church boxes up food for the families, and people are still lined up around the building to get them."
And the people need primary health care. Clinic staff members have provided preventive care, such as tetanus and other shots. They've also treated sinus, respiratory and other infections; lacerations and bruises; a broken finger; and other nonemergent conditions. Hospital emergency rooms are available for serious medical problems.
The Christus Victor response center provides a sleeping area at the church, meals, showers and computer access; volunteer physicians must provide their own transportation to the center.
Physicians can contact Howell at (228) 860-7197 or via e-mail at clhjchseh@yahoo.com to volunteer and begin the process of obtaining a temporary Mississippi medical license. Mississippi physicians also can volunteer through the Mississippi Physician Volunteer Registry by calling (800) 844-0500 to sign up for service.
