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Dedicated to helping the people of Easter Island by improving health care and education |
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Easter Island or Te Pito O Te Henua (the oldest known traditional name) is located in the Pacific Ocean 2200 miles west of the coast of Chile, and is truly one of the wonders of the world. The small island is a protectorate of Chile, but is culturally and ethnically part of the Polynesian chain of islands. Known as Rapa Nui by the locals, the island land mass is less than 63 square miles, has 4000 inhabitants, and is considered the most remote permanently inhabited land mass in the world. The native language of the island is a Polynesian dialect called Pascuense. However, most locals speak both Pascuense and Spanish. The island received its current well known name, Easter Island from the Dutch Admiral Jacob Roggeveen who became the first European to discover the island on Easter Sunday, 1722. Famous for its large stone carved statues, known as “Moai's” and Petroglyphs "carving on rocks". Much of the island’s history remains a mystery.
Merahi Rapa Nui Foundation Mission StatementThe Merahi Rapa Nui Foundations mission is to be a dedicated organization directly helping the people of Easter Island by raising money to improve health care and education. Improvements will come from purchase of new medical equipment for the hospital, training of existing staff, and providing funds to attract more highly qualified doctors, dentist, and educators to the Island. Sir Winston Churchill once said “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” The Merahi Rapa Nui Foundation (MRNF) is aware that in the world today there are many people in need and many demands on your money. Hurricanes Rita and Katrina along with other world events put many people in the US and other parts of the world in jeopardy and many of you have donated generously to help. Rising oil and gas prices are being reflected in not only our price of gasoline at the pump, but almost everything we consume today. However, a donation to MRNF is not just a donation to help health care and education, but a donation to help save a people and preserve a culture. The remoteness of Easter Island has served as a curse and a blessing. Its location allows for limited ability to develop commerce, other than tourism, and cannot readily receive assistance from any major modern population centers. The blessing is that much of original culture has been preserved, the Island is uncontaminated by much that modern civilization often brings. The Difference between MRNF and Other OrganizationsMerahi, the Easter lsland word for Angel and Rapa Nui, the indigenous word for the people of Easter Island have been combined to name a newly formed foundation, Merahi Rapa Nui (MRNF). There already exist numerous foundations which successfully raise money for the protection and preservation of Easter Island's archeological treasures and culture. The Moais and other archeological finds need to be preserved for future generations. We at MRNF hope that you will continue to support these organizations. However, they are focused on culture and archeology and do not address the health and educational issues of the island. Health and education are our focus and we hope you can help us help the people of Easter Island.
Lack of Qualified Doctors in Rapa Nui
The Island has one small rural hospital, Hanga Roa, which was built over 30 years ago. It has poor equipment and lack of medical staff. There are only: Pediatric Doctor, Surgeon(just arrived), General Practitioner, and, the Director of the Hospital(Orthopedic, MD) who is on contract just for the administrative work. In some cases doctors sent to the Island are still in training or recently out of medical school. There is only one dentist who is trained in general dentistry. They are sent from the mainland by the Chilean government. Because of the low compensation and isolated location of the Island few physicians, dentists, health care specialists, and educators want to live on the island. In addition to the 3 doctors on staff, the Chilean navy sends a team of physicians once a year to give general checkups to the community. As you can imagine, that is just not enough to provide adequate care for the inhabitants of the island.
Lack of Major Health CareOnly minor medical issues can be taken care of locally. Serious cases and emergencies require patients to be flown to mainland of Chile, a 2000 mile 5 hour commercial plane trip. This is an untenable situation. To go to a hospital on the Chilean mainland for care, the physician on the island must first determine that the case requires transferring the patient. The attending physician cannot send a patient without a mainland hospital agreeing to take the patient. This requires getting in contact with mainland hospitals, acquiring concurrence that the case merits the transfer, and making arrangements to transfer the patient. Over the years there have been numerous deaths related to lack of attention. In many cases it can take months before the mainland hospitals will agree to accept a patient. TransportationTransportation is problematic. Not only is it a long trip, but there is only one airline that goes to the Island with limited flights and seats. Lack of InfrastructureThe Island suffers from lack of infrastructure and funding for health care, medical facilities, and education due to its distance from the mainland. There is only the one antiquated hospital, built over 30 years ago and 3 doctors to serve the Island’s inhabitants and visitors. It suffers from the “out of sight, out of mind” syndrome". Because of its remoteness, being part of Chile, which is considered to be one of Latin America’s most prosperous econonomies, and other world health demands, the world health organizations have missed it. |
Tahira Pont Hey Born September 27, 2002 (Hypotonic Syndrome) Fundraising is underway for Tahira's treatments and surgeries. She suffers from a rare Cervical Malformation, only recorded case in Chile. Complete Story in Newsletter link. MAHANI TEAVEIn Concerto, Celebrating the Official Inauguration of The Merahi Rapa Nui Foundation HOUSTON, TEXAS
Mahani Teave is unique for being the only classical musician from her native Easter Island (Chile). Ms. Teave is a winner of numerous international piano competitions and is one of the most sought after pianists in Chile. Studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music, under the tutelage of Sergei Babayan.
Your support is needed and appreciated. MRNF needs your help to be able to improve the health and educational conditions in the Island. Contributions of all sizes are welcome.
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GIVING HOPE ONE LIFE AT A TIME
