Kings County Hospital Center, a member facility of NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), has responded with urgency to the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. HHC President Alan Aviles appointed Antonio D. Martin, senior vice president of the Central Brooklyn Family Health Network, to be coordinator for HHC’s corporate-wide initiative. This network includes Kings County Hospital Center, lead facility, located at 648 Albany Avenue in the heart of NYC’s Haitian Diaspora in East Flatbush.
Kings County Hospital has launched a basic three-pronged approach to its Haiti relief efforts:
• Provide grief counseling and mental health services with a special 24/7 Hotline number with Creole-speaking staff: 718-245-2314.
• Identify medical volunteers with emphasis on Creole speakers and specialties, whichare vital for treating earthquake survivors. Some KCHC doctors have traveled to Haiti on their own, however, teams will be deployed when requested by the federal government.
• Aggressively raise funds to assist the Haitian people, with donations being directed to the “HHC Foundation – Haiti Relief Fund,” established specifically to supplement the efforts of credible agencies working in Haiti for medical and humanitarian support.
Donations can be made online at www.thehhcfoundation.org, or mailed to The HHC Foundation of NYC – Haiti Relief Fund, 160 Water St., Suite 1129, New York, NY 10038.
With many of its own staff impacted directly and indirectly by the tragedy in Haiti, Kings County Hospital has devoted special attention to offering staff support, as well as patient support groups and counseling. Senior Vice President Antonio D. Martin and his staff are collaborating with community organizations, churches, elected officials, and the Mayor’s Office to coordinate strategies for Haiti’s recovery and give support to the Haitian community.
