Medical Reserve Corps honored for work during H1N1 pandemicDate: 5/18/2010 May 19, 2010.
By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
GREATER SPRINGFIELD -- The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic was exactly what the 17 Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) throughout Western Massachusetts were trained for to handle.
Their efforts to help avert a possible medical disaster were recognized recently by the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps and the U.S. Surgeon General for the Reserve Corps at a ceremony in Worcester.
"This was the first time in decades that a pandemic of this magnitude has hit our region," Kathleen Conley Norbut, coordinator of MRC Western Massachusetts, said. "Fortunately all governments had been putting [plans] in place and under the Patrick Administration and the combination of emergency responders and [MRC] personnel we train plan together [for such events]."
Conley Norbut noted that MRC Western Massachusetts volunteers, comprised of medical professionals and private citizens, compiled more than 1,074 hours of training and service. "If we were to pay people, that time would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars," she added.
The volunteers staffed clinics, provided H1N1 vaccinations and hosted education and outreach programs throughout the Valley.
"It's certainly always nice to be recognized and even more from the public health standpoint having the MRC help us out," Jeanne Galloway, director of the Health Department in West Springfield, said.
She added, "We had many of our volunteers who were medical professionals helping with [H1N1] shots, outreach workers and translators helping with paperwork."
Galloway noted her department vaccinated 500 adults and 3,000 children for H1N1.
"The Agawam Medical Reserve Corps provided many services to the community during the H1N1 outbreak," Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen said. "We recognize the importance of the time, talents and expertise our Medical Reserve Corps gave in helping to contain the spread of the H1N1 influenza and we certainly appreciate their efforts in assisting our community."
Capt. Robert Tosatto, director of the Office of Civilian Volunteer MRC, noted "the influenza season is still ongoing" and encouraged new member involvement.
Conley Norbut explained that volunteers don't have to be involved in the medical field to be a part of MRC. Volunteers are required to complete three two-hour training courses.
Volunteers are not required to join a MRC in their community of residence, she noted. The 10 MRCs in Hampden County include Agawam, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Greater Westfield, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Monson, Springfield, West Springfield and Wilbraham.
For more information about how to become involved in the MRC, visit www.wmmrc.org.
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