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Doctors: Recovery of Haiti to Take Three Decades
Tuesday 09 February 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, February 9 (TASR) - Slovak paramedics and doctors who provided relief to earthquake-stricken Haiti expect that the reconstruction process of the country will take some 30 years, Tropical Institute director Vladimir Krcmery said after his meeting with Slovak Premier Robert Fico on Tuesday.
"Recovery of the country will be a lot harder than the recovery operation involving human lives," said Krcmery. Along with five colleagues on the medical team from St. Elizabeth's University for Healthcare and Social Work (Bratislava), and 13 paramedics from Central Emergency Service they all received commemorative awards from the Slovak Premier.
"I've invited you over to thank you in person for your act of humanity," Premier Fico told the doctors and paramedics. He said that a great human being is being defined mostly by willingness to spontaneously provide help to others in need. "I thank you for your courage, and thank for the work you've done for the people of Haiti. Without a shadow of a doubt, you've strengthened Slovakia's reputation abroad," said Fico.
On behalf of the doctors, Professor Krcmery thanked the Government for its logistics support. He also thanked the paramedics for setting up a field hospital within the ruins of a university. "We worked there, aware that trapped beneath us were some 200 live or dead students. The spirits of many doctors have been scarred, but that's part of our profession as well," said Krcmery.
He added that paramedics also disinfected stricken areas, established three field hospitals, as well as rescued survivors from the rubble and dealt with dead bodies. "There are many kind-hearted people in Slovakia, as this initiative has set off a chain reaction of charity concerts, donations and fund-raisers ... a chain reaction of solidarity," said Krcmery.
He said that another batch of doctors left for rescue works in Haiti on February 8, with paramedics from the Central Emergency Service to follow suit in near future. If sufficient amount of financial resources would be gathered, the paramedics plan to build 21 water purifiers for hospitals in Haiti.
The earthquake there last month claimed more than 200,000 lives.
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