Physicians for Peace Becomes Charter Member of New Haitian Amputee Coalition

NORFOLK, VA (02/19/2010)(readMedia)-- Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. (Hanger) and its philanthropic organization The Hanger Ivan R. Sabel Foundation announced yesterday the launch of the Haitian Amputee Coalition in partnership with Physicians for Peace, Shepherd Spinal Center, and the Harold & Kayrita Anderson Family Foundation and the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS). The Haitian Amputee Coalition is creating a long-term prosthetic and rehabilitation center on-site at HAS, an undamaged local hospital with a high clinical reputation located 60 miles from Port-au-Prince in Deschapelles, Haiti.

To be staffed by volunteer U.S. prosthetic experts from Physicians for Peace and Hanger Orthopedic Group and in conjunction with local Haitian medical professionals, the Haitian Amputee Coalition prosthetic and rehabilitation center at HAS will be functional by the end of February.

"Prior to the devastating earthquake, there were an estimated 800,000 disabled people in Haiti," said Ron Sconyers, President and CEO of Physicians for Peace. "That number has obviously skyrocketed; there are now even more amputees in the country without access to specialized treatment. This new and permanent facility will provide the critical and rehabilitative care these children and adults so urgently need."

More than 8,000 lbs of prosthetic fabrication equipment and machinery have been shipped to Deschapelles with an additional 5,000 lbs to be on the ground this week. A mobile prosthetic care unit donated by Otto Bock Healthcare, a global manufacturer of prosthetic products and services, will enable the delivery of care to those who are unable to be transported to HAS. Additionally, the Haitian Amputee Coalition plans to create a training program to educate local Haitians to become prosthetic practitioners and technicians for the provision of long-term care in Haiti.

The development of the Haitian Amputee Coalition formalizes Haiti relief efforts that have already been underway by Physicians for Peace and Hanger Orthopedic Group. Physicians for Peace has been working in Haiti since 2005 as part of its "Walking Free" program. Shortly after the earthquake, Physicians for Peace responded with a fundraising drive to support its two partners in Port-au-Prince, both of which were reduced to rubble. Recently, Physicians of Peace sent checks of almost $27,000 each directly to these partners, Healing Hands for Haiti and St. Vincent's School for Handicapped Children.

Additionally, Hanger's 670+ patient care centers nationwide are serving as collection sites for a prosthetic limb drive to benefit amputees in Haiti, in conjunction with Physicians for Peace and activist charity campaigner Heather Mills. Dozens of cities, agencies and companies are now sponsoring local drives and Physicians for Peace has become the "go to" agency to donate desperately needed mobility equipment. The organization's 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse is now overflowing, and it has partnered with Arpin Van Lines and Hampton Roads Moving and Storage for additional storage capacity. These items will be shipped via container to Haiti over the coming weeks.

To learn more about the Haitian Amputee Coalition, visit www.haitian-amputee-coalition.org. To make a financial donation or to volunteer expertise in Haiti, visit www.physiciansforpeace.org.

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

# # #

229 West Bute Street, Suite 200 | Norfolk, VA 23510 | P 757.625.7569 | F 757.625.7680 | info@physiciansforpeace.org | www.physiciansforpeace.org

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.