Nationwide Drives to Collect Prosthetics for Haiti's Disabled Expands

NORFOLK, VA (02/01/2010)(readMedia)-- Shortly after the January 12th earthquake in Haiti, Physicians for Peace began launching a nationwide drive -- Walking Free in Haiti -- to collect monetary contributions and prosthetics in anticipation of the tremendous increase in amputees and disabled as a result of the devastation. Physicians for Peace has announced that the drive has been extended and expanded to meet the growing need.

Physicians for Peace's partner, Healing Hands for Haiti, has operated the primary medical clinic and prosthetic and orthotic workshop in Port-au-Prince for the past 11 years, and Physicians for Peace, which is primarily a training organization, has been supporting Healing Hands for the past five years. Healing Hands is working with Handicap International and other organizations on the ground to build temporary facilities and to eventually rebuild the permanent facilities destroyed by the earthquake.

Both new and used prosthetics can be donated to Physicians for Peace, which will take them to Haiti once appropriate facilities are operational.

"Physicians for Peace is fully committed to help Haiti over the coming years ," said Mary Kwasniewski, who oversees the Physicians for Peace Walking Free program which has sites in Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Central America. "We will facilitate prosthetic and orthotic production, clinical and academic education programs, direct patient care, surgical and medical management, and public education. It is a long, deliberate process of rehabilitation."

Celebrity activist charity campaigner and United Nations Foundation Goodwill Ambassador Heather Mills helped announce the Walking Free-Haiti campaign and is organizing collection centers throughout England to ship materials to Physicians for Peace.

Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics, the U.S.'s largest manufacturer, has opened its more than 670 sites throughout the U.S. as drop off points for prosthetics. For drop off locations, see www.physiciansforpeace.org. Hanger locations cannot accept any donations other than prosthetics.

"We've seen a great outpouring of people who want to help us. Our first need is cash and prosthetic devices," continued Kwasniewski. "But lots of people have wanted to organized campaigns to collect crutches and other mobility devices. It is incredible how people want to be so helpful."

Individuals who want to donate items other than cash or prosthetics should go to its website, www.physiciansforpeace.org/collection_resources.html for an instruction guide on how to collect and ship materials to Physicians for Peace.

ABOUT THE PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE WALKING FREE PROGRAM

Throughout much of the world, amputee victims of land mines, earthquakes, motor vehicle accidents, industrial and agricultural accidents, birth defects, disease, and war receive little or no medical treatment. Physicians for Peace designed the Walking Free program to assist such victims by establishing sustainable prosthetic and rehabilitation centers in developing nations worldwide. Efforts include prosthetic and orthotic production, clinical and academic education programs, direct patient care, surgical and medical management, and public education. The Walking Free program has had much success conducting dozens of research, education, and training missions. Additionally, we have helped more than ten thousand patients with prosthetic and orthotic needs, providing millions of dollars in prosthetic and orthotic in-kind contributions, including rehabilitation and surgical supplies and equipment.

ABOUT PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE

Physicians for Peace is an international private voluntary organization that mobilizes healthcare educators to assist developing nations with unmet medical needs and scarce resources. Through effective, hands-on medical education and training, clinical care and donated medical supplies, Physicians for Peace creates long-term, sustainable, replicable, and evidence-based projects to help partner nations build medical capability and capacity to help themselves. Volunteers for the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization have conducted medical missions in more than 50 countries.

With its headquarters in Norfolk, Va., Physicians for Peace has programs in 22 countries and offices in Manila, the Philippines; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Asmara, Eritrea. In 2009, the organization celebrated its 20th Anniversary.

For more information, go to: www.physiciansforpeace.org

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For five consecutive years, Charity Navigator, the nation's premier charity evaluator, has awarded Physicians for Peace a four?star rating ? their highest honor, ranking the organization in the top 5% of nearly 5,000 rated charities.