Canada sending military field hospital to Haiti

Canada will deploy a military field hospital to Haiti with more than 100 staff, adding to Canadian medical resources already at work in the earthquake-stricken country.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay said 1 Field Hospital out of Petawawa, Ont., will depart in the coming days for Leogane, at the epicentre of the Jan. 12 quake.

McKay said, Thursday, the hospital will include an operating room with two surgical teams, and and  critical-care beds.

“It has some laboratory capabilities, some diagnostic imaging capabilities, and the setting up of its own power generating capabilities.” said McKay.

One hundred medical staff will be leaving from the military base in Petawawa to Haiti, including surgeons, general practitioners, nurses and specialists.

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said federal officials have identified about 150 child-adoption cases that were underway before the quake struck.

Ottawa is working with the provinces and the Haitian government to fast-track adoptions already in the system, and Kenney said the first adoptees could start arriving this weekend.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said 13 Canadians have been confirmed dead in Haiti; another 357 are missing.

Relief supplies continue to arrive by the planeload, and a roll-on-roll off vessel will be departing Halifax later Thursday loaded with military vehicles.

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