Heart to Heart establishes free medical clinics in New Orleans area

Humanitarian group recruiting medical volunteers for seven- to 10-day shifts

OLATHE, Kan./September 4, 2005 — Heart to Heart International Inc., a leading humanitarian organization, today announced that it is spearheading an initiative to provide free medical care in strategic locations in and around the New Orleans area. The first free medical clinics have been established in Slidell and Marrero.

“The healthcare situation in New Orleans is alarming,” said Dr. Gary Morsch, Heart to Heart’s founder and president, who has been stationed in Jefferson Parish for the past three days. “Only one or two hospitals in the city are functioning—and that’s just for intensive care. We haven’t seen a doctor’s office or clinic open for days, so we’re starting to take patients at our two locations. We need medical volunteers to come to New Orleans and work alongside us.”

Heart to Heart has already sent several shipments of aid to the Gulf Coast region and is providing free medical care under an open-air tent in Slidell and within an emergency operations center in Marrero.

Medical professionals interested in volunteering for seven- to 10-day shifts are encouraged to contact Heart to Heart by phone at 913-764-5200.

People can continue to support Heart to Heart’s hurricane-relief effort by making donations at any Sam’s Club store in the Kansas City area. A FedEx truck will be stationed at each store location to help collect donations of nonperishable food items, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and bottled water.