Haiti mission an eye-opener, MDs say

A medical team that completed a one-week mission in Haiti has returned to St. John's, inspired by what they saw and some vowing to return.

Team Broken Earth — a 26-member group of doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals — treated more than 500 patients in Port-au-Prince during intensive clinics. It was the project's fourth visit to Haiti since a devastating earthquake in 2010.

Anesthesiologist Dr. Jeff Zibitnew, who arrived back in St. John's on Monday evening with colleagues, said he saw everything from victims with gunshot wounds to newborn babies clinging to life.

He said he has never seen such resilient people.

"They are really amazing in what they are able to tolerate. They don't complain, they accept it as, 'this happens,'" Zibitnew told CBC News.

He said everyone on the team had to think on their feet and learned to improvise.

"It made me appreciate the resources that we have for health care here in Canada," he said.

Pediatric nurse Mary O'Brien brought her skills to Haiti, as well as much-needed supplies.

"There was these special pumps that you use in neonates and pediatrics, IV pumps and syringe pumps, and we taught them how to use them while we were there so they were very grateful," she said.

"One of the nurses practically cried when we gave her the pumps because they really needed them."