A devastating earthquake of 7.0 magnitudes on the Richter scale hit the island of Haiti on January 12, 2010 just before 5:00 PM. The capital city of Port-au-Prince was the closest to the epicenter and sustained most of the damage. About a quarter million men, women and children have died and over 200,000 people are reported to have been injured. Out of the population of 10 million, 1-3 million have been internally displaced.

Haiti is already a country beset with extreme poverty, unemployment and disease in recent history, and this earthquake has further exacerbated these problems. Some of the statistics are staggering. There are very few children in Haiti; the average age in men is 53 years and in women is 56 years. One out of eight dies before they reach the age of 5. medical facilities are scarce; there are only 2000 doctors in the country for a population of 10 million. The majority of the popuplation has never seen a doctor in their lifetime. They also have the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the western hemisphere, second only to African sub-Sahara. The per capita income is equal to USD 450 compared to USD 42,740 in the United States.

The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA), one of the largest member associations of Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA) was among the first organizations to respond. Dr. Ismail Mehr, the chairman of IMANA Relief moved quickly, collaborating with Todd Shea, executive director of CDRS-Pakistan who has been providing logistics and much needed continuity in functions of IMANA and other teams in Haiti. Todd facilitated the connection with AIMER Haiti, a local community based organization. Bogeux Children Parc in Tibbare was converted into a mini hospital and an urgent care outpatient clinic. On day 5 post-earthquake, IMANA had a team on the ground in a functioning facility. So far, several teams of IMANA doctors from all specialties have come and gone, and teams are still arriving. A number of non-Muslim physicians form all creeds and beliefs have also joined the IMANA teams, giving a diverse flavor to the effectiveness of the relief work. Deployment of IMANA medical teams will hopefully continue through the month of March. Our team members are also assisting several other medical camps as needed. FIMA secretary Dr. Tanveer Zubairi was in Los Angeles, California (USA) and visited the headquarters of UCP and Wheels of Humanity in North Hollywood. He had a formal meeting with its office bearers and its president. Their future rehabilitation services to Haiti were discussed.

I had the honor of representing FIMA in Haiti. I left for Haiti on February 3rd with my son Dr. Imran Malik who had previously worked with me in Pakistan during the major earthquake of 2005. Within an hour on my arrival in the camp, I operated on a 9 year old Haitian boy for a large umbilical hernia. We joined the IMANA team and performed multiple tasks at the site, where the outpatient clinic served about 300 to 350 patients a dayfor mostly primary care. Many of these patients walked several miles to see our doctors, some of them for the first time. Many ailments were earthquake related, from infected necrotic wounds to post trauma syndromes. The lack of food, medications and medical support has exacerbated their pre-existing medical issues. Gastro-intestinal, resporatory and pulmonary infections exist in huge numbers, and we debrided a large number of infected wounds caused by crush injuries. We spent the latter part of the days and sometimes nights.

Dr Parvaiz Malik, President FIMA

Assalamualaikum WBT

My dear brothers in the leadership and membership of PIMA.

My thanks to your out-going president, Prof Tariq for requesting me to pen a few of my thoughts on the occasion of your Annual Meeting. I have been on 2 occasions to Pakistan to witness at first hand the activities of your esteemed organization. Most recently in Islamabad in January 2006 for our biannual FIMA exco meeting.

All our FIMA exco members were impressed at the efficient and professional manner in which PIMA managed the humanitarian relief following the earthquake. The leadership provided by your organization helped to anchor and collaborate the various IMAs and other relief organizations which sent their teams to assist with the relief works. This is undoubtedly a consequence of the wealth of experience which you have accumulated from the more than 20 years of relief works in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world. I hope you will continue this noble yet awesome humanitarian and medical undertaking. A feat which is difficult to emulate since the benchmarks you have set are gold standards.

The acute demands of relief works have not detracted your organisation from your other priorities. Our visit to the Pesahawar Medical College was most inspiring. Your universal concept of Tarbiyah has extended from the early years of training of Hafizs to the medical student with a holistic approach to medicine. These are excellent institutions of learning which would unceasingly perpetuate the legacy of your works in PIMA.

Your respected elders had a firm hand in the embryonic and formative years of FIMA. And you are continuing this excellent tradition of leadership in FIMA. Many of our major projects in FIMA are parked in PIMA namely our FIMA secretariat, FIMA Hi-Tech Centre and chairmanship of CIMCO.

Your annual meet would be an ideal occasion to celebrate these grand achievements and simultaneously endow you the confidence and the empowerment to climb greater heights. It is also a period of reflection and contemplation to search inwardly how much as individuals and an organization you have endeavoured to beseech the Mardhatillah (Pleasure of Allah) through refinements of your human character and service towards mankind.

I pray to Allah that he bestows your organisation the best of rewards and bless your annual meeting of minds and hearts.

Humbly yours
Dr. Musa Mohd. Nordin
President FIMA 2005-2007

Our Honourable Chief Guest, Haji Muhammad Yusuf Kalla, Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia
All our distinguished guests :
The Coordinating Minister of Economy
The Coordinating Minister of People’s Welfare
The Minister of Health
The Minister of National Education
The Minister of Social Affairs
The Minister of Religious Affairs
The State Minister of National Development Planning

His Royal Highness, Sri Sultan Hameng Ku Bowono, Governor of Jogjakarta Province
Haji Mardiyanto Govenor o Central Java
All MUSPIDA Members of Jogjakarta Province

Prof. Rusdi Lamsudin, Chairman of the OC
All our distinguished delegates
Ladies & Gentlemen.

FIMA 2006 in Indonesia is exceptional because 4 major international events have been programmed in succession

The 8th FIMA International Student Camp was held in Bandungan, Semarang from 11-15 July. 150 medical students from 11 different countries participated in the camp. The 100 boys and 50 girls had a wonderful time undergoing a holistic program to embrace the concept of the 5 star medical student.

I would like to thank our bros & sis in FOKI (Indon. Forum of Islamic Medicine); MUKISI (Fed. of Indon. Islamic Hospitals) IMANI (Islamic Medical Assoc. & Network of Indon) and the Rector and staff of UNISULA (Universiti Islam Sultan Agung) for the excellent hosting of the camp.

Yesterday we concluded our 23rd FIMA Council Meeting attended by rep of IMAs from all over the world. FIMA has 50 country IMAs affliated to it with a representation of about 50,000 doctors.

In the next 2 days, we would be deliberating on major issues related to disaster management in our FIMA International Scientific Convention.

3 collossal calamities have struck humanity within a short space of time. Many of our IMAs have direct experience of the rage of the Tsunami, the Earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina. Apart from dissecting the medico-psycho-social and economic ramifications of these natural disasters, it affords us an excellent opportunity to plan ahead for better collaboration and preparedness.

We emphatise with our Indon bros and sis on the recent Tsunami & Earthquakes. FIMA & her partners in humanitarian relief have been present in large numbers to assist in the acute medical response and medium term recovery needs. And through the offices of IMA Indonesia we would continue to assist in the long term needs of capacity building.

The International Convention would be followed by 2 international workshops on Medical Education & Hospital Management from an Islamic perspective.

It now leaves me to thank the IMA of Indonesia for their marvelous organization of the 4 international events. It augurs well for the excellent collaboration between FOKI, MUKISI & IMANI.

I would like to thank Prof. Rusdi Lamsuddin for his distinguished leadership and all members of his OC for their hardwork over the past 12 months.

My sincere thanks to all members of IMAs who have traveled from far and wide to attend this annual FIMA convention.

On behalf of FIMA, I would like to thank our Honourable Chief Guest, Hj. Muhammad Yusuf Kalla, Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia for his gracious presence in inaugurating our FIMA International Scientific Convention.

Wabillahi Taufiq Wal Hidayah
Wassalamu alaikum WBT

Dr. Musa Mohd. Nordin
President
Federation of Islamic Medical Associations