Physicians for Peace and Old Dominion University to Sponsor Collection Drive for Haiti's Amputees

NORFOLK, VA (01/15/2010)(readMedia)-- Internationally recognized Physicians for Peace, which has been providing amputee rehabilitation services in Haiti since 2005, is sponsoring a drive to collect prosthetics, wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches for victims of the Haiti earthquake. The event will be held at the Webb Center on 49th Street on the Old Dominion University (ODU) campus on Saturday, January 23 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. ODU students and Physicians for Peace (PFP) volunteers will be collecting the donations, refurbishing as necessary and then sending to PFP's rehabilitation centers in Port-au-Prince.

"We will be sending this equipment by container to be used when the critical relief activities are near completion," said Mary Kwasniewski, PFP's Senior Director for Global Health. "Then, we'll work directly with our two primary partners there, Healing Hands for Haiti and St. Vincent's Orphanage, who we know will be seeing an increase in amputee victims resulting from this tragedy."

During the drive, cash donations will be accepted, however, donations of other equipment, clothing, etc, cannot be accepted.

This drive is part of PFP's "Walking Free" program, recognized around the world for providing prosthetics and other devices as well as training to prosthetists and physical therapists to help amputees live fully productive lives.

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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