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Activities
The AMHE is active on different fronts. The following is a sample o programs
and activities of the AMHE.
HIV
Task Force
Chair: Edouard Hazel, MD
The HIV Task force is a sub-committee of the Central Committee of the AMHE
established to coordinate the activities of the Association as it relates to
issues concerning the HIV infection and its impact on the community.
Mission
Our mission is to remain abreast and inform our membership of the latest
development in HIV research and management, to educate the community and the
policy makers about the specifics of the epidemic in people of Haitian
origin.
Goals
Contribute to the implementation of effective programs for the prevention
and the care of HIV infections in the Haitian community.
Objectives
Increase the involvement of AMHE members in the fight against AIDS
Increase the level of awareness of members of the community about the
condition
Obtain the allocation of appropriate resources for prevention and treatment
Making HIV, a national priority
Build an effective coalition to achieve our stated goals and objectives.
Membership
Chair: The TASK force is presided by an AMHE member with appropriate
credentials nominated by the president and approved by the CEC.
Members: the president in consultation designates Members with the
chairperson and with approval of the CEC. They are Physicians or Scientists
of Haitian origin who have expressed interest in the field and are committed
to advance the committee goals and objectives.
Reporting
The chairperson or his designate reports quarterly to the CEC. The committee
may also at the request of the CEC make presentations to the general
assembly and as appropriate to other committees of the Association.
Functions
- Regularly collect and review the statistics of the Epidemic in people
of Haitian origin.
- Organize and/or participate in forums where these data can be
discussed with the appropriate professionals to establish the extent of
their impact on the community.
- Network with relevant Haitian, American and international institutions
to learn about resources available for research, prevention and treatment.
- Participate in prevention programs for the youths and the community at
large.
- Contribute in advocacy work aiming at the allocation of resources to
fight HIV in the community.
Breast Cancer Taskforce
Chair: Dr Louis J. Auguste MD FACS
The Breast Cancer Taskforce was created by decision of the President of
the AMHE and the Central Committee of the same association. The goal of
the taskforce is to coordinate the efforts of the AMHE and its members, so
that the outcome of this disease in our community can be improved. The
taskforce aims at designing programs
To provide the latest update in breast cancer care to the Haitian
physicians
To educate the lay Haitian population about the disease, its epidemiology,
its presentation, its early detection and its treatment.
To organize screening programs in the needy segments of the population in
Haiti as well as the Diaspora.
To offer all possible educational and technological support for the care
of breast cancer in Haiti
In its first year of operation, the taskforce has focused on the creation
of a breast cancer awareness and screening program in Haiti. This issue
will be taken up at the upcoming Annual Convention of the Societe
Haitienne d'Oncologie (SHONC) in July 2002, at El Rancho Hotel,
Petionville. This meeting will gather under one roof multiple groups with
direct or indirect interest in breast cancer, namely:
a. SHONC
b. Ligue Contre le Cancer
c. GSCC (Groupe de Support Contre le Cancer)
d. Haitian Ministry of Health
e. Association Médicale Haitienne
f. Members of the written and spoken media
g. Representatives of AMHE
In order to properly approach the problem in the Haitian context, it
was important to first understand it from the point of view of the Haitian
woman. Therefore, a survey was carried out with the help of Margarett
Osselyn-Abrams, M.D. of 300 women of the region of Petionville, as well as
100 primary care physicians and specialists. These results will be
presented at the Annual Convention. They will help in determining
strategies for the education of the population, via the radio and TV
stations. At the convention, guidelines will be also discussed for the
practicing physicians in Haiti, given the economic and social context,
stressing the need for breast self-examination, annual medical examination
and mammograms and breast sonograms. It is expected that this meeting will
leave in place a permanent, albeit limited, structure for the education
and the screening of the population for Breast Cancer.
Effort over the next years will focus on securing funding through AMHE
fund raising and grants from philanthropic organisations to maintain this
program and extend it to other areas of the country.
Visiting Professor Program
This project, which for many years had been longed by the School of
Medicine of the State University of Haiti and the AMHE alike, had started
out in the Spring of the year 2001. The initial session conducted both at
the School and the State University Hospital at Port-au-Prince discussing
on the Recent Developments in the Management of Breast Cancer, had been a
success, which led to an outpouring of marks of appreciation.
The design of the program has resulted from hours of labor and
negotiations between the Scientific Commission of the AMHE and the Faculty
of Medicine of Haiti. A score of activities has been planned for the
introduction of many of the advanced techniques in the practice of
medicine: Renal Dialysis technique, Ventilator management, ICU monitoring,
Management of trauma, Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, Screening of Cancer
and Management of AIDS and Tuberculosis.
The AMHE is at this point well equipped to take on this program, thru its
affiliations and with its Faculty developed over the years within its
conventions. Your collective involvement by your contribution is also
required for the Association to respond to the financial obligations
associated to this commitment.
AMHE Medical Supplies Fund
The need of material, medical equipments, medical products, medical
instruments, medications and medical books is immense in Haiti. Each and
every one of you might have had access at one time or another to some of
these products thru your hospital, your pharmaceutical agent, and thru
your contacts. The daunting task of shipping these materials must have
also stopped you in this effort. As a group we can together face this
hurdle. Your contribution to our special fund will make this possible for
everybody to bring this impulse to fruition. The transportation from your
doors can be provided. The shipping will be guaranteed, and in Haiti the
reception will be provided by a reliable organization functioning under a
non-governmental agency for an equitable distribution of the donation to
the designated recipients.
AMHE Medical Missionary Fund
This program is intended to facilitate those who might desire to spend
time in Haiti in an institution delivering care for few days, a week, two
weeks or even more. Your vacation time in Haiti can become quite
productive thru this program.
The contacts have already been made with various hospitals waiting to
participate.
All information about the facilities and the means of access will be
provided. It is expected to be also an opportunity for our young American
or Canadian trained physicians who are seeking to connect with the country
or in need of some exposure to tropical medicine. Your help is again
essential in order to provide the basic necessities needed to maintain
this program
AMHE Building Fund
The time has come for the AMHE to get its own nest, in order to conduct
its business and for a visible reflection of its own goals and
aspirations. This Building Fund, which has started a few years ago with
the forceful vision of an interested member, needs to be revived, for an
expeditious achievement of this dream, so dear to all of us. Please come
forward and do the right thing.
AMHE Scholarship Fund
These scholarships Funds named after Dr Lionel Lainé and Dr Jean Claude
Rémy are already up and running under the vigilance and the active
involvement of the Chapter of New Jersey. Many so far have benefited from
this effort. Their continued success depends still on your support and
your generosity
Public Medical Education Fund
The AMHE accepts willingly this important duty, which it had been
fulfilling thru different formats for the Haitian community over the
years. The need is pressing however for a more structured and a
better-financed program.
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