The Irish Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery plans to send a 12-strong surgical team to treat survivors of the Haitian earthquake. At least three orthopaedic surgeons will be included in the party which will leave Ireland on February 13. The institute has called on medical companies to donate the supplies required to treat the injured.

This will be the first of a series of teams that will spend time in Haiti to provide ongoing treatment to those who require it. While in Haiti the Irish medics will work closely with the US organisation Partners in Health which has been operating in Haiti for 20 years. Dubliner Dr Louise Ivers, who was in the news in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, works with Partners in Health.

On Tuesday an Irish Government chartered aircraft, carrying a consignment of 50 tonnes of essential humanitarian supplies, arrived in the Dominican Republic. The shipment, which included plastic sheeting and tents for shelter, water containers and sanitation equipment, was then transported overland to Port-au-Prince to be distributed by Concern and Trócaire.

This is the second consignment which the Government has provided for the Haitian people and brings the total aid supplied to more than 130 tonnes.

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