Clí­nica Universidad de Navarra

Tuesday 19 January de 2010

Alberto Lafuente, clinician at the Clínica, has been appointed medical coordinator for the Spanish contingent of Aid to Haiti

 

The anaesthetist from Pamplona, joined by Carlos Pastor, a surgeon also at the Clinica, went on one of the three humanitarian aid planes that set off from Torrejon de Ardoz for the Caribbean country that has been devastated by an earthquake of 7.3 on the Richter scale

Alberto Lafuente Jiménez, an anesthetist at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, travelled last night to Haiti, where he will be coordinating the medical assistance from the humanitarian aid contingent sent from Spain to the Caribbean country. Travelling with him as a medical volunteer was Carlos Pastor Idoate, a surgeon at the same hospital. Alberto Lafuente, a 37 year old from Pamplona, is married and has no children, and he has volunteered as a member of the emergency services and the Clínica to take part in the rescue mission to palliate the disaster that left more than 100,000 dead yesterday in the region of Haiti´s capital Port-au-Prince.

The anesthetist departed last night from Torrejon de Ardoz airport in one of the first military planes that left for Haiti as part of an initial emergency aid shipment. This was Alberto Lafuente´s response to the telephone call he received yesterday afternoon from the Head of AECID (Spanish International Development Cooperation Agency), part of the Spanish Foreign Ministry, where he acts as a coordinator of those who will take part in the initial medical assistance.

Emergency aid expert

This is the fifth international disaster in which Dr Lafuente has taken part as a volunteer. Previously, he was in Afghanistan during the war, and at the earthquakes in Pakistan (October 2005) and Indonesia (June 2006 and September 2009). His previous experience in emergency aid, his professional experience as an anaesthetist at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and his Masters training in Emergency Systems Management, make of Alberto Lafuente an ideal candidate to coordinate Spain’s medical assistance to international disasters. Yesterday at 10 pm at the Torrejon de Ardoz Airport, two hours before the flight to Haiti, surrounded by people coming and going, transporting different material and with the noise of the barking of police dogs, the anaesthetist from Pamplona was estimating he would have to coordinate around fifty sanitary personnel, medics, nurses, assistants and first aid workers.

Minutes before his departure, Lafuente thanked the Clínica for contributing to the aid effort by paying for the two clinicians while they stay in Haiti, as well as their colleagues who will selflessly cover for their absences in their respective specialties.

How was the phone call from the Head of the AECID asking for your help?

He called me a few hours ago (last night) and he was very direct; something like: Alberto get ready you are on board.

Experience is everything. Twenty years as a volunteer in emergency services.

This is the fifth time I’ll have take part in an emergency aid deployment in an international disaster. Previously I went to Pakistan, twice to Indonesia and to Afghanistan during the war.

Are you aware that this might be the worse disaster you have witnessed, with more than 100,000 dead?

It is probably the worst, although in Pakistan there were around 85,000 victims. Nevertheless, the scale of a catastrophe is not only measured by the number of victims. The overall damage left behind also needs to be assessed. But yes, it is possible that the earthquake in Haiti is the worst disaster in which I have taken part.

What precise area have you been assigned to?

We still don´t know that. Once we arrive we will be allocated to the worst affected areas with the personnel and materials we are carrying 

What do you expect to find on your arrival to Port-au-Prince and what will your initial  duties be?

I know we are going to find a heartbreaking sight. On our arrival we will have to perform an initial assessment of the damage so that we can respond to the deficits that arise later on.

What will be the initial medical assistance you have to provide?

The initial medical assistance will be treating numerous factures, wounds, burns and symptoms of asphyxiation. Although, we will also have to provide primary care to treat things like hypertension or bronchitis, that will exist in addition to the disaster.

What material equipment do you count on?

The Spanish government is mainly sending several field hospitals, drugs, minor surgery material, resuscitation and primary care equipment.

Do you think taking part in the emergency rescue mission associated to a disaster of this magnitude might take an important emotional toll?

I don’t think so. My experience in previous disasters and a degree of personal maturity will help me to cope emotionally with the situations we will have to face in Haiti.

Contenidos relacionados