An Israeli physiotherapist provides rehabilitation in Haiti

Israeli physiotherapists were part of five delegations of paediatric rehabilitation specialists travelling to Haiti to help earthquake survivors. The delegations were the initiative of the charities ISRA-AID and Tevel B'Tzedek, and the ALYN hospital in Jerusalem.

The delegations teamed up with staff at the St Germaine rehabilitation centre in Haiti’s capital, Port au Prince, and treated children with amputations, traumatic brain injuries, orthopaedic and other injuries. The Israeli physiotherapists also spent time training local staff.

"It was an exciting and moving time,” said Coos Weber, a member of the Israeli Physiotherapy Society who participated in the delegation. “The number of injuries to children, and their severity, were horrific. It is rehabilitation on a different scale than we’re used to, but we found out we can make a big difference in these kids’ lives.”