Jewish Health International

In 2005, following the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, JHI made a commitment to respond to disasters when and where they occur. The January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti brings us to respond again. The initial rush of aid has ended – but the needs are still great. From the very basics of providing medical care, food, water and shelter to the hundreds of thousands of people living without homes – the long and difficult rebuilding process lies ahead.

JHI will provide both emergency and long term aid to the victims of the earthquake. Initial efforts are focused on sending delegations of healthcare professionals to alleviate suffering. The delivery of medical supplies and equipment to treat the sick and injured are among the services JHI provides. We anticipate a long term investment of time and effort to rebuild the medical infrastructure of Haiti.

If you have already donated and are capable of more, even a little more – we urgently ask your support of these important projects to help the people of Haiti in their time of need. Click “Donate Now” to send us your gift.

NEWS: A new law allows you to claim donations for Haitian relief on your 2009 federal tax return, which you will be filing this year. The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, between Jan. 12, 2010 and March 1, 2010. Cash contributions made by check or credit card may be claimed on your 2009 federal tax return.

Healthcare professionals from JHI’s database are jumping at the opportunity to visit Haiti to help relieve the suffering. Our objective is to get our volunteers on the ground quickly and in the safest manner as possible; to deliver much needed medical care. JHI expects to make a long term commitment to the people of Haiti by assembling and deploying teams of healthcare professionals to help in two phases:

Short-Term
• Help revive and restart medical service
• Recovery – help mend the populace.

Long-Term
• Adopt a hospital
• Train local healthcare professionals
• Provide hands on services
• Educate the healthcare professionals and community members

The healthcare crisis will take years to overcome and JHI expects to be there for the long term, to help rebuild the medical infrastructure of this impoverished nation.

You Can Help

If you have not yet donated – there has never been a better time. No donation is too small. JHI is among those experienced agencies, working in relief efforts that will make an important difference in Haiti. You can fulfill your personal commitment to Tikun Olam by donating now the JHI’s disaster relief fund.

Check our web site for mission updates; join our e-newsletter by sending your email address to jhi@jhiatlanta.org; submit a volunteer application to participate on a mission; make a donation on-line (or mail a gift to JHI, 1440 Spring Street, Atlanta, GA 30309) to our disaster relief fund which will help in Haiti and other natural and/or man-made disasters.

Raising Community Awareness

Students at The Epstein School have been working hard to raise awareness and money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, including a 3 on 3 basketball tournament: Hoops For Haiti at Yom Tzedakah. The Hoops for Haiti Tornament is the creation of Alex Platt and Ari Soran as their mitzvah project, to combine their love of basketball with their desire to help the people of Haiti following the devasting earthquake.  Registration fees and donations will go to the Disaster Relief Fund of Jewish Healthcare International.
 

Hurricane Katrina - 2005

In late August and early September 2005, right after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast; the phone rang off the hook at JHI with calls from medical professionals all over the United States and Israel, asking us to make arrangements for them to participate in providing the much needed medical assistance to the victims of the storm. Unfortunately, at the time, there were no systems in place locally or nationally to deploy medical volunteers. A successful partnership was developed with a clinic in Vidalia, Louisiana and thus began the dispatching of medical volunteers to provide immediate service and support for the clinic.

As the devastation from the storm was assessed, it became very clear that a long-term recovery plan needed to be developed. We began development of a partnership with Operation Blessing, working at their clinic in Slidell, Louisiana. We deployed medical volunteers to assist with the diverse medical needs of residents throughout the area, in dire need of medical care. Local hospitals continued to serve emergency requirements but patients with other health needs were often not able to find medical assistance. The clinic being run by Operation Blessing provided essential health care for all local residents, regardless of financial means or medical insurance coverage. JHI continued to provide volunteers to the Operation Blessing clinic through December 2007 when the State of Louisiana discontinued the Good Samaritan Act which allowed for medical practitioners not licensed in Louisiana to be credentialed temporarily.

As a result of the extended recovery process, JHI came to the realization that a national comprehensive Jewish disaster response network was needed. In 2007, JHI partnered with NECHAMA (Hebrew for comfort), a voluntary organization providing cleanup and recovery assistance to home owners and businesses affected by natural disasters. Together with NECHAMA and the United Jewish Communities (UJC), we began discussions for a broad ranging, national Jewish disaster response framework using the acronym JVOAD (Jewish Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). In 2008, over 30 representatives from various Jewish organizations met to discuss organizational direction and operational objectives. JVOAD is now operating under the auspices of UJC and we continue to maintain an integral role in the new entity.

JHI has made the commitment to continue responding to national disasters requiring medical support and services.