Tulsa doctors heading to Indonesia to help tsunami victims

Monday, January 10th 2005, 10:00 am

By: News On 6

A group of Tulsa doctors will leave later this week to help with the tsunami relief efforts. They will set up a makeshift hospital to treat those now threatened by infections and disease.

News on 6 anchor Craig Day says Dr Mitch Duininck is part of a group of doctors that will leave soon to help Tsunami survivors.

Those 15 doctors, mostly from Tulsa, will work on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, one of the hardest hit areas. "Sometimes the degree of human suffering can be overwhelming and the compassion in our heart wells up. And what we do is try to take that and say what can I do? How can I help? How can I apply my gifts and skills here?"

The doctors will use those skills over a two week span to help Tsunami survivors. When the doctors get there, they obviously won't be practicing medicine in clinics or facilities like they are used to. They will mostly do medical work in a makeshift tent medical clinic and hospital that they will take along with them. All of the doctors have traveled internationally.

Dr. Duininck has experience dealing with disaster ravaged areas. In 1994, he provided medical care during the Rwandan refugee crisis. He also traveled in 1998 to Honduras to help with hurricane relief efforts. â€œObviously nobody has seen to the extent that we're going to be involved in. But prior experience is always important. This is not a trip for novices."

The trip is part of a non profit organization called "In his Image," which is a faith based residency training program for doctors. â€œThe Bible says to whom much is given, much is expected." They will take that faith and their expertise with them thousands of miles away and hope to provide at least some relief where it is desperately needed.

If you would like to find out more about the "In his Image" mission, you check out their website. You can also find out how to make a donation to help buy supplies and medicines.