Local Doctors’ Skills Helping

In Port Elizabeth, South Africa


By Erica Settoon, Assistant Administrator
Baton Rouge Cardiology Center

Doctors and nurses often dedicate their lives and careers to saving the lives of others.   This takes heart and dedication, but a medical team from Zachary will soon travel over 8,000 miles to use their medical skills to help the people of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

 

Mary Boland, PA and her co-workers started the Mending Hearts Foundation, a non-profit foundation whose main goal is to open and maintain a medical clinic on the eastern cape of South Africa.    

 

“We are going down for our first mission in June.   It will be Dr. Yunus Moosa and myself, a  nurse and an attendant,” said Boland.   “We chose the location of the clinic because it allows us access to local communities that have trouble getting medical care.   Additionally, Dr. Moosa has family living on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth.”

 

The medical team is working on getting needed funding for the project through grants and donations. “For those wishing to donate, we have a tax identification number that gives donators a tax write off,” she said.     “We hope to send medication and supplies over pretty soon.   Since we have to ship everything from the U.S., the cost of shipping is really expensive.”

 

The clinic will perform general procedures; no big surgeries.   “We are expecting to treat dehydration, upper respiratory infections and chronic diseases such as hypertension.   Through donations, we are going to be able to treat these conditions and many more with antibiotics, fluids and preventative medications such as vitamins,” said Boland. “Although our upcoming trip to Port Elizabeth will only be 2 ˝ weeks, we hope to have the funding and the support to keep the clinic open year round.” Dr. Moosa’s brother will run the clinic the remainder of the year.

 

“Right now, he is actively preparing for our arrival by marketing and spreading the word about the clinic opening,” explained Boland.   “Dr. Moosa’s sister has a reserve in the area that will provide shelter for our staff’s first mission.”

 

The medical team is hoping that once everything is set up doctors in Port Elizabeth will want to help out when Boland and Moosa return to Zachary.