NEED
Described as the strongest and most damaging storms to ever strike the Bahamas, Hurricane Dorian made landfall on Sept 1, 2019 with category five winds reaching 185 mph and storm surges greater than 18 feet. Intensifying the devastation, Dorian stalled over Abaco and Grand Bahama Island, the worst affected areas, exposing communities to extreme hurricane conditions for two days. Nearly 100,000 people were affected and 76,000 required assistance.
In the days following Dorian, health care needs mounted and were compounded by the risk of water and vector borne disease. The lack of access to proper medical care, medicines destroyed in the storm, medical supplies damaged or swept away by flood waters further exacerbated these issues. In the wake of destruction, nine health facilities were destroyed, and people were left without medical support. Those with emergent and chronic health issues had no way to access care. These remote island communities needed support to prevent even further pain and suffering.
NYCM RESPONSE
Within 48 hours of the event, NYCMedics advance team deployed to The Bahamas to finalize the official request for assistance with the Ministry of Health (MOH), secure field placement, prepare logistical needs and pave the way for the team of 10 volunteer medical professionals who would soon arrive.
Working with the MOH and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), NYCMedics team was tasked with caring for hundreds of evacuees from Abaco, one of the hardest hit areas. Given the harrowing days and prolonged exposure to the violent storm, in addition to supporting three medical clinics throughout Northern and Central Eleuthera, NYCMedics conducted mental health assessments on all evacuees, and completed medical needs and health facility damage assessments on behalf of the official response mechanism to ensure this community received the proper follow up and long-term care necessary for their recovery.
Given our successful history of accessing remote, difficult to reach areas, once our work on Eleuthera was completed, NYCMedics was retasked to Grand Cay. Accessible only by boat or helicopter, Grand Cay, the most Northern Island in the Bahamas had a population of approximately 500 people. Very little information was known about the status of the island community and NYCM was tasked with not only their care, but also with relaying critical information to the response mechanism to ensure recovery efforts would ensue. NYCM amassed the resources necessary to fly the team and gear to Grand Cay and arrived within 12 hours of the request.
Services:
- Daily outpatient medical clinics: Emergency and primary health care, wound care and debridement, emergency medical evacuation
- Home care to non-ambulatory patients
- Mental health needs assessments
- Medical needs assessments
- Damage and health facility assessments
- Clean up and temporary renovations to Grand Cay Health Clinic
IMPACT
Patients cared for: 197
Mental Health Assessments conducted: 460
Emergency Medical Evacuations: 3
Donated Medicine & Medical Supplies: $$/TBD
Duration: 7 days
Volunteers: 10
PARTNERS
JetBlue – Roundtrip airfare for all team members
Direct Relief International – medical, medical supplies, and medical tents
PATIENT STORY TBD
