Mid-Missouri Doctor to Serve in Haiti

Pediatrician wants to return to Haiti to treat quake victims

Posted by Lauren Gores on Thu Jan 14, 2010
Last updated Mar 31, 2010

Dr. Doug Boudreau returned from treating kids in Haiti a mere few months ago. Now, in the aftermath of a disaster that destroyed its capitol, he is going back to the grief-stricken country to to help its youngest victims.

"The level of suffering that's there makes me feel like I need to respond," said Boudreau.

Boudreau describes Port-au-Prince as having scarce medical supplies and few doctors, and fears hundreds of thousands of people are not getting the treatment they need. Boudreau says it is his responsibility as a pediatrician to aid injured children whose survival may depend on it.

"These are people that don't have anything," said Boudreau. "They've been trying to stand up for a while but their legs have just been taken out from under them."

And taken from too many of the victims is their health-- a devastating reality that is driving Boudreau to return to Haiti once more-- to help the thousands of children with no access to the health care they need to survive. They are victims of a disaster that has destroyed their homeland.

"All of the available medical facilities are just swamped," said Boudreau. "There's so many people that need help they can't possibly keep up with the demand."

Makeshift hospitals are scattered through Port-au-Prince, but it will not be enough to treat the victims.

"You're going to see people displaced who are basically homeless, who are going to be much more susceptible to diseases and not have anywhere to go," said Boudreau.

Boudreau wants to treat some of the victims through a mobile clinic-- one he says is part of his call to serve. He does not know when he will be able to go because he will need both medicine and a place to stay.

Boudreau plans to go with other doctors and a support staff through the same Christian mission group he went to Haiti with in October.

The Christian group has 15 translators working in Haiti that he and other staff members have been unable to contact since the quake hit. Boudreau hopes it is merely a communication problem.