US Doctors for Africa Sends Medical Team to Deliver Katrina Aid

*update*Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, the Governor of Louisiana sent a letter of appreciation for our efforts during the crisis. To view the letter, please click here.

LOS ANGELES, WASHINGTON D.C., - September 9, 2005- U.S. Doctors for Africa (USDFA) is sending a volunteer medical team to provide urgent aid to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the gulf coast region. USDFA will focus its efforts on helping Katrina survivors in initial crisis phase along with long term preventative care near several gulf coast emergency shelters.

While the Department of Public Health has already declared public health emergency in regions of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and Florida, a widespread outbreak of disease including cholera and typhoid from exposure to contaminated waters is of grave concern to health officials. Immediate medical treatment and preventative health care is essential to numerous displaced individuals, who may be at risk while residing in shelters for an unknown period of time. Founder and CEO of USDFA, Ted M. Alemayhu says that although the demand for their services has been high in Africa and also by those devastated by Caribbean Hurricane Frances last year, they have an obligation at home.

"USDFA has tremendous appreciation and we have been successful in our current and past projects. This is a call at home and we have an ethical obligation to help our people at home," said Alemayhu. USDFA hopes to expand relief in the coming weeks. Volunteer medical professionals are encouraged to assist in emergency relief efforts for USDFA. Further help from all medical sectors will be needed.

Hurricane Katrina Volunteers Needed!

USDFA is currently recruiting healthcare professionals and relief personnel to assist with the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort. We need volunteers with expertise in the following areas:

* Clinical Physicians
* Nursing Assistants/Nursing Support Technicians
* Nursing Staff Directors
* Dental Forensics
* Paramedics
* Dentists
* Patient Transporters/Volunteers
* Pharmacists
* EMT
* Psychologists
* Physician's Assistants or Nurse Practitioners
* Epidemiologists
* Physician Chiefs of Staff
* Radiologic Technicians
* Respiratory Therapists
* RNs
* Laboratory Technicians
* Medical Examiners
* Mental Health Workers
* Veterinarians

*This category added as of September 9, 2005. All volunteers must be legal U.S. residents.

If you are a Healthcare Professional with expertise in the above areas and would like to participate, please submit an application through our volunteer page http://www.usdfa.org/volunteersignup.htm and then refer to the instructions that we will provide in a follow up via email.

Please be advised that individuals must be healthy enough to function under field conditions.

This may include all or some of the following:

* 12 hour shifts
* Austere conditions (possibly no showers, housing in tents)
* No air conditioning
* Long periods of standing
* Sleep accommodations on bed roll
* Military ready to eat meals
* Portable toilets
These workers will be non-paid temporary Federal employees, and will therefore be eligible for coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act for liability coverage and Workman Compensation when functioning as HHS employees. Although there will not be any salary, travel and per diem will be paid.

Assignments may last 14 days or longer. It is required that applicants have Hepatitis B and Tetanus/Diphtheria immunizations for this assignment.