Martin’s Point Health Care Providing Care for 6-Year-Old Haitian Boy in Maine for Treatment

Martin’s Point Health Care, along with NorDx Laboratories, Midcoast Hospital and the Maine Eye Center, are donating medical services to care for a 6-year-old orphan boy from Haiti who has come to Maine for eye surgery and treatment for a variety of other medical problems.

Dr. Deborah Patten, M.D., a physician with Martin’s Point Health Care in Brunswick who volunteered in Haiti early in her medical career, is leading the team providing general care for the child.

This is the first year of a program to bring children of Haiti to Maine for donated medical services. The program, called Children’s Medical Missions, is under the auspices of Knightsbridge International. Tracy Peck-Moad, the boy’s American host mother, approached Dr. Patten to provide the care.

“I said yes immediately, since I had lived in Haiti, know the people and have seen firsthand what the medical conditions are like there,” Dr. Patten said. “This has been a rewarding experience to know that we can make a difference in this boy’s life right here in Maine.”

“Martin’s Point is happy to help this young man,” said David Howes, M.D., the president of Martin’s Point and also a physician. “It’s important that we all lend a hand where we can.”

To date, the boy, whose name is Romil Cireus, has received a range of health care services including general exams and testing, immunizations and treatment of specific infections. He continues to be evaluated for other possible medical issues.

“Dr. Jeff Berman of the Maine Eye Center will donate the eye surgery,” said Dr. Patten. “His overall medical status is uncertain as there are no medical records, or historical information, so I am trying to do the necessary testing and procedures in a judicious way. I am delighted to be providing care for such a bright and energetic young boy.”

In 1981, Dr. Patten was the first non-Haitian permitted to work in the general hospital in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Established in 1981, Martin’s Point is a not-for-profit health care provider with facilities in Portland, Brunswick and Windham, Maine, and in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and serves patients in the areas of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, radiology, cardiology, and mammography, as well as other fields.

The Martin’s Point Health Education Center has a variety of related resource materials that includes publications and videos. The center also offers information and classes that focus on a host of other topics, ranging from weight loss and smoking cessation to disease management. For additional information, visit online at www.martinspoint.org.

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