This week marks the six-month anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.

As relief efforts continue, two clinical pharmacists at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Jessica Sandy and Irina Sheyko, in addition to Natalie Furlong, MD, president of the medical staff, were among the countless clinical workers who experienced first-hand the destruction and deplorable conditions when they traveled to the region to provide humanitarian help in their field.

Sandy and Sheyko, both graduates of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, assisted with therapeutic recommendations, compounding, dispensing and providing drug information during their stay in Haiti.

Dr. Furlong traveled with her husband and young adults to La Croix Haiti Mission in La Croix where she worked in the clinic at the mission with their native physician.

“We worked with some earthquake-direct victims, but met many who had family they had lost in the earthquake. The people are strong and their faith in God is growing despite the disaster. The La Croix mission is run by Pastor Pierre and his wife Ermithe. They have been able to reach out to earthquake victims that have migrated to the city of Paul.  Currently they are undertaking a building project to provide homes for earthquake victims,” Dr. Furlong said.

Sheyko said she and Sandy became involved in the relief project through the American Pharmacist Association. Her impressions of the region and the people were that “this is a really disastrous area and it will take the country a while to recover. The people there are very grateful for the care they are receiving.”

Both pharmacists said they would like to do more humanitarian help, in Haiti or in other countries.

“I know there are many places out there that are in need of medical care,” Sheyko said.

“I would like to return to help with the relief effort eventually,” said Sandy. "Project Medishare is building a more permanent hospital and are continually in need of volunteers from every medical specialty.  I am planning on either returning to Haiti next year with some of the medical volunteers that I met there, or if not Haiti, another medical mission trip with the same people.  We were only there one week, but I met some of the most amazing people, both patients and volunteers that I hope to see again.”

In the photo: Jessica Sandy, left, and Irina Sheyko in Jefferson Regional’s pharmacy.