The American Friendship Foundation has been tapped to help facilitate a US Agency for International Development (USAID) validation study for the testing of a gravity IV monitor device. The device was developed to help reduce delivery deaths in Haiti and around the world.
In Haiti, babies die regularly due to a lack of monitored medications during delivery. AFF volunteers Jeff and Terry Clark traveled to Haiti in May along with Dr. Lindor, the founder of the device. The team spent time in the medical clinic in Canaan along with other hospitals run by Dr. Bordes to launch a small study of 100 deliveries in 30 days.
The trip focused on training a few staff to monitor the device and gather necessary data for enhancements or validation of use.
Dr Lindor said, “Many babies and moms die due to lack of monitoring infusion of critical drugs during delivery. This small, easy to use,inexpensive device provides the ability to now know proper rates, and total volume.”
The monitor device is made by Shift Labs, a startup company looking to bring this basic level of technology to the developing world. The DripAssist Infusion Rate Monitor is used to maintain count and calculate the drops for Gravity IV Infusions. A demo video of the product can be seen below.
The initial response has been very positive. Large facilities such as Partners in Health embraced the opportunity immediately. Dr. Bordes reports that the physicians and nurses in his clinics love the technology so far.
AFF is excited about this opportunity because it stands to make the delivery process safer in Haiti and will create local jobs during the testing period. It is the strong relationships developed over the past six years which have provided this chance to partner with Dr. Bordes and Shift Labs.
