Like many of you, Aloha Medical Mission (AMM) holds the people of Haiti in our thoughts and hearts as they cope with the terrible tragedy and aftermath of the recent earthquakes. While some AMM volunteers are in Haiti with other organizations, AMM is organized for missions using volunteers which are planned many months in advance. AMM does not have capacity or programs for large-scale or immediate disaster response. We were able to help in a limited way after the typhoon and tsunami disasters last September in the Philippines and American Samoa. AMM is conducting four missions to the Philippines and Bangladesh in January-February 2010, and had fifty volunteers working overseas at the time of the earthquake. AMM will continually assess whether we may be able to help in the longer term rather than with emergency response.

We have received inquiries about how to join relief efforts in Haiti. To the best of our knowledge, a good organization to contact for Haiti health and relief purposes is Partners in Health. This organization founded by Dr. Paul Farmer (of Mountains Beyond Mountains) has been working in Haiti for over 20 years, and is currently running hospitals that are still functioning. They have sent teams of medical professionals.

We are also familiar with Operation Giving Back of the American College of Surgeons. Information on the surgical response in Haiti can be found at their website at www.operationgivingback.facs.org/content2911.html

Many thanks for your interest and support, and for thinking of Aloha Medical Mission.

AMM Honored by Pacific Buddhist Academy

Aloha Medical Mission is honored to receive the 2009 Pacific Buddhist Academy's "Lighting Our Way" Inspirational Community Leader award for unwavering commitment to excellence in education and health care.

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AMM Needs Your Help!

Aloha Medical Mission requests your support during this severe economic downturn to meet increased demands at our Honolulu Clinic and to maintain our commitments to overseas missions.

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Dear Friends of Aloha Medical Mission,

The economic crisis felt at home and around the world impacts Aloha Medical Mission (AMM) with increased demand for our free health services in Hawaii and goodwill missions abroad The patients without medical insurance whom we see at the Honolulu clinic now reflect the burgeoning unemployment which has cost workers and their families not only their jobs, but also their medical coverage. Although our services are provided by dedicated volunteer physicians, dentists, nurses, and laypersons who still treat our patients at no charge, we are still challenged to meet clinic costs.

In addition, Aloha Medical Mission continues its well-known overseas surgical and medical missions throughout the year. Again, our volunteers pay their own travel expenses and provide free professional services to those who do not have access to medical and surgical care, and respond to disasters. Although we obtain many donations for medications, supplies, and equipment, we rely on donations from people like you to make these missions a complete success.

In 2008, our Honolulu clinic was able to assist almost 3,000 patients. Missions to the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Bangladesh treated almost 4,000 patients overseas. Please help us to continue our mission of “bringing hope and changing the lives of the people we serve overseas and in Hawaii” with your generous donation.

Sincerely,

Bradley Wong, M.D.
Board President