December 29th 2008 - After numerous delays HELP today, in conjunction with Knightsbridge International and US PACOM forces, delivered over $250,000 in medical supplies and equipment to the Ateneo de Zamboanga University School of Medicine on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. The life-saving gift will be distributed throughout numerous small rural clinics which the university staffs and operates.

During needs assessment operations last Spring I was astounded by the profound lack of medical resources in these clinics, each of which serve an average populations of 30,000 to 50,000 residents. Of the estimated 80 million inhabitants of the Philippines, 50 million live rurally dispersed throughout the thousands of islands that make up the Philippines. Most have little, if any, access to adequate healthcare.

In one clinic I visited, a man was brought in following a motorcycle accident with a deep laceration to his upper leg. The clinic had no local anesthesia of any kind and many do not even have antibiotics. The man was brought in, held down and stitched up. After much screaming he finally and mercifully passed out. In visiting many similar clinics in numerous 3rd world countries, this seemed like just another scene of heartbreak that is ever so prevalent in such locations. But these desperate needs continue to grow.

A few weeks after my return home to Arizona, I received an email entitled “A CRY FOR HELP” from one of the Doctors I met who chooses to work in the impoverished areas of Mindanao. The story tugged at my heart so I posted it to my website at www.disasterlogistics.org. It then started to tug at the heart strings of others around the United States and the world.

Soon we had a 40′ container filled with medical equipment and supplies perfectly suited for the needs in these clinics and especially focused upon the needs stated in the “Cry For HELP.”

The next step was to find $13,000 in financial support for the shipping costs from here to Manila, through customs, then down to the island of Mindanao. A private foundation generously stepped up to the plate and soon all wheels were turning. All looked good until the last leg of the journey - from Manila to Mindanao - when an unscrupulous shipper decided to attempt to shake us down for an additional $8,000 in fees. Not an uncommon practice in the Philippines, or most of the world for that matter. We however do not pay bribes or tolerate such games. Enter the fine people of PACOM.

Through our network, the plea was put out for assistance in helping us get this shipment delivered. My very good friend Ed Artis of Knightsbridge International and members of the U.S. PACOM forces stepped up, provided ground and sea logistics and transport, and earlier today, delivered these supplies to their destination. This shipment will save lives and greatly reduce suffering to the people of the southern Philippines.

This was a great team effort. Ed Artis and Knightsbridge International are well known in the Philippines and around the world for their similar efforts. Without their involvement from the very start, this effort would never have happened. While I am a very proud American and have enjoyed numerous similar relationships with our military in various disasters around the world, times like this make me profoundly grateful and proud of our men and women in uniform.

I hope you will take a moment to read the “Cry For HELP” story. This shipment was sent in memory of little 14 month old Myco who died, just hours after the photo above was taken, because the rural clinics didn’t have O2, nebulizers or ambu bags (all of which were included in this shipment).

The Ateneo de Zamboanga University is also the starting point for our telemedicine efforts in the Philippines, linking the Medical Center to rural clinics. There are many exciting efforts planned for 2009 and we are always looking for collaborators in telemedicine, rural critical care, disease mitigation, situational awareness and disaster management systems. If interested please contact me at rroberson@disasterlogistics.org, comment here or call me directly at +1-928-595-1127.

God Bless All Involved. Photos are expected in soon and I will post them ASAP.

For the Greater Good,

Randy Roberson

HELP is an Arizona USA-based non profit humanitarian relief organization devoted to meeting the needs of the many victims of natural and man-made disasters on a global basis. HELP is an acronym for our official name, Humanitarian Emergency Logistics & Preparedness Inc.

HELP President Randy Roberson has many years of training and experience in disaster response around the globe. His mentor was the late Dr. Larry Ward. Larry was named “White House Ambassador to the Hungry World” by former US President Ronald Regan and - for over 4 decades - was considered a leading international expert in the field of humanitarian relief.

From the earthquake ravaged neighborhoods of Colombia, El Salvador and Turkey, to the tragedy of floods, poverty and AIDS in Africa, to the heartbreaking refugee camps during the Kosovo war, to famine in India and Bangladesh - and on the Tsunami devastated shores of Southeast Asia and India, HELP has been there offering a cup of cool water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, medicine to the wounded and shelter to the homeless. All without regard for race, religion or creed and with no strings attached. Our “Hand Up Not A Hand Out” approach to relief and development ensure true effectiveness while also offering true accountability.

(Photo) Roberson in 1999 aboard US Marine helicopter surveying effected regions during initial needs assessment operations of the 1999 Turkey earthquake. Below 45,000 dead, 150,000 injured and 3 million homeless. This would also be Dr. Larry Ward’s last in a long list of disasters which he personally responded to in over 40 years of service to the humanitarian field.

HELP was there.

 HELP recently launched a web blog  at www.displacedrefugee.net by and for refugees from the Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe and other sub Saharan regions who have fled to Cape Town.  The refugees have been unable to return home due to ongoing violence, yet have experienced ever-lessening support from South African officials.

HELP has been working for numerous months to empower Dadier M. Abdalah of the Displaced Refugee Network,in his attempts to provide  voice for the forgotten refugees from throughout Africa.  “We are working to introduce a dynamic communication channel that would operate as an appropriate link with all shelter, police station, hostel and church representatives on behalf of the displaced refugees,” Dadier said.

The response and input, not only in South Africa but around the world, has been outstanding.  “Refugees are allowed to post stories of the plight they have expereinced,” said HELP’s Randy Roberson.  Their stories, poems and cries for help are being noticed around the world.  “Readers from as far away as the united States and the UK have been chiming in with their concern for human beings that are being denied assistance from ever direction they turn; it’s a real heartbreaking situation,” Roberson said.

HELP has established a wireless two-way audio/video telemedicine link to network officials in Cape Town.  “Our desire now is to find modest support to allow us to provide critically needed telemedicine support to these refugees who right now have no where to turn for medical help,” Roberson said.  “One of the benefits we can offer to groups who support this effort is the chance to see live in real time just exactly what their support is accomplishing,” he added.  “Between numerous diseases, wounds, rape trauma and PTSD, these fragile people are at critical risk so we simply must find a way to help them.”

Can you help us help them?  Even a small donation can make a huge difference.

December 5, 2008 - HELP today announced new plans for a network of telemedicine clinics to benefit medically un-served rural/remote populations.  The network allows small clinics the benefit of linking to doctors and specialists in metro hospitals in Kenya and through HELP’s telemed network around the world.

What is TELEMEDICINE?? Click here to learn.

HELP has been monitoring conditions in several locations throughout Kenya for the past few years and has provided support for ongoing water purification efforts in the Lake Victoria region in Southwest Kenya.  “I met last week with Mamma Zipporah from the Huruma Orphanage  just outside Nairobi,” said HELP President Randy Roberson.  “Although I have been communicating with them for nearly two years, I believe this is now the start of some very effective medical outreach to people in critical need,” he added.

In the early 1990’s, the orphanage added a school which provides education for 151 boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 17 and employs 15 teachers from the surrounding community.  18 of the children at the school are HIV positive and - along with the other’s ongoing medical needs - must travel to Nairobi for treatment. 

The plans are now to add a clinic to the school and orphanage, but this will serve far more than just the orphans.  “Mamma Zipporah wants to provide medical outreach to the surrounding un-served population of nearly 20,000 people,” said Roberson.  “They too have nowhere to go, especially in medical emergencies where time is of the essence.”  This reality came front and center just recently as Mamma Zipporah’s husband just recently died from a heart attack in a aplace where there was no rapid response capabilities.  Many here suffer similar emergency medical risk.  (Memorial video here)

However, this clinic will serve much more than just the local community.  Through a telemedicine network, utilizing HELP’s “Doc-in-a-Box” mobile medical clinics, HELP plans to expand the capabilities to neighboring communities throughout the region.  Additionally, there are areas where medical help can only be hand carried in.  As a result, HELP is also looking to use their solar powered telemedicine “Bring ‘Em Back Packs” to bring the same medical capabilities to even the hard to reach areas.

This network will not only address the ongoing day to day medical needs of populations that all but forgotten, but it can do much as well.  “The disease monitoring and other data collection capabilities will also help them proactively address numerous health and safety challenges in the area,” said Roberson.  “It now just come down down to the need for financial support,” he added.

Can you help us help them?  Even small donations can truly help!

TELEMEDICINE FROM ANYWHERE TO ANYWHERE

The same telemedicine technology in HELP’s award winning “Doc-in-a-Box” is now available in a lightweight, easily transportable backpack. The “Bring ‘Em Back Pack” features all the state of the art telemedicine tools HELP is known for (EKG, pulse oximeter, spirometer, digital stethoscope, otoscope, multi exam cam for throat-eyes and wounds, automated defibrulator and much more) all in a pack that weighs approximately 10 kilos (weight fluctuates slightly depending on equipment options).

SOLAR POWERED

The backpack is also perfect for extended deployments into areas with little or no functional infrastructure. The various folding solar panel configurations can provide many hours of daily use while only recharging itself with sunlight. The same solar configurations can also power the various communications transceivers for satellite and other use.

COMUNICATIONS

Backpacks can be deployed with:

• BGAN satellite uplinks
• Cellular & other Broadband
• Rapidly Deployable MESH Networks

OPTIONS

• Digital Ultrasoud
• Paramedic Saddle Bags
• Patient Databases
• Disease Migration & Monitoring Databases
• Disaster Management Databases (Situational Awareness-Surge Capacity)
• Larger Solar & Battery Arrays (Day & Night Use)
• Customized to suit your specific needs.

CALL TODAY (  +1-928-595-1127  ) TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE LOW COST, EASILY DEPLOYABLE TELEMEDICINE SOLUTIONS.  DETAILED TRAINING & DEPLOYMENT CONSULTING ALSO AVAILABLE!

HELP Clinic Containers - High Tech Clinics for even the most remote applications.

HELP has been receiving international acclaim for implementation of high tech telemedicine and communications tools integrated into their Doc-in-a-Box mobile medical clinics. These 20′ cargo containers are retrofitted into a working….

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Click here to download a brief podcast that provides an overview of our work, the people we serve and the human challenges we strive to address.

This is the story of a 14 month old boy born to an 18 year old mother on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. This report/plea for assistance came in recently from a Philippine Physician at one of the remote rural clinics HELP visited during "Needs Assessment" operations recently.

Letter of Urgent Need from the Front Lines
of HUMANITARIAN CRISIS in southern Philippines

One afternoon on a very busy consultation day at the rural health unit, one little fellow carried by a young lady caught my attention. I was stunned to see a little boy who looked like a 75 year old man, weak and in respiratory distress. Upon seeing the patient…… CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY

REAL-TIME MEDICAL NETWORKING & DIAGNOSTICS

Telemedicine utilizes broadband satellite communications, the Internet and cellular technologies to allow field personnel in real-time to diagnose critical patient information with the assistance of medical specialist anywhere in the world. Think of it as video teleconfrencing with medical devices attached that can also be seen by people on both ends of the secure connection.

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HELP President Randy Roberson recently returned from the Philippines where he performed needs assessments at numerous remote rural medical clinics from Zamboagna del Norte on Mindanao in the South to Luzon in the far North. In addition he was asked to present telemedicine and disaster management demonstrations at the Rural Critical Care Conference on Mindanao and to government and military leaders in Manila.

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BAD WATER IS WORLD’S LEADING KILLER

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

According to an assessment commissioned by the United Nations, 4,000 children die each day as a result of diseases caused by ingestion of filthy water. The report says four out of every 10 people in the world, particularly those in Africa, and Asia, do not have clean water to drink.

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For excellence and innovation, HELP has received international honors and recognition for advances in our cutting edge telemedicine relief projects.
Click here for links to some great stories.

Stay up to date with the humanitarian efforts of HELP. Click on the link below for a quick and simple sign up form. Your email address will never be shared with anyone else. You will enjoy periodic updates on HELP’s internationa humanitarian relief efforts, the latest in telemedicine research and global implementation and exciting news about how you can be involved. Please sign up for HELP Newsline today!

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