Helping Puerto Rico Recover

Earthquakes and aftershocks have served to undo many of the accomplishments achieved by Puerto Rico following recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The southwest region of the island has seen significant damage but nowhere and no one on the island has been spared. Persistent aftershocks continue to destroy houses, causing hundreds to be homeless and furthering threats from landslides. Two weeks without electricity means that access to potable water and sewer service threatens a return of many of the acute illnesses seen after the hurricanes. Individuals managing chronic diseases cannot power oxygen systems or preserve medications that require refrigeration. Every resident of Puerto Rico is under stress because of the unpredictable nature of earthquakes and the damage they create. Mental health concerns are mounting as the island continues to be rocked almost daily by ongoing aftershocks and people are living in fear of more destruction. There have been several suicides reported.

MCN’s office in Puerto Rico works to further our long-standing health programs and partnerships with community health centers. Our staff on the island are safe and are responding to requests for help from coordinating supply distribution to developing needed trainings to distributing Spanish-language resources for clinicians and their patients on the front lines.
        

Please join us as we carry out our mission of health justice. Your contribution will help, no matter how big or how small.

We are also asking for supplies to help Puerto Rico, which can be sent directly to MCN's Puerto Rico office.

MCN 
Att: Dra. Marysel Pagan-Santana
Suite 104 Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust
105 Carr. #21, Km. 0.8 Bo. Monacillo
San Juan, PR 00927

As we face this latest crisis we embrace the powerful sentiment and words of our colleague, Dr. Jose Rodriguez, the medical director of a health center in the mountains of central Puerto Rico, “We are a hospital of the people for the people and no one can stop us from coming out this darkness.” Together, we can make a difference and help Puerto Rico.