CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Worldwide Healing Hands' volunteers rapidly responded to attend to the Pawnee fire evacuees in Lake County last month.

Dr. Paula Dhanda and her volunteer staff visited both evacuation shelters daily.

She wrote essential prescriptions for evacuees, as the Red Cross is unable to write them, while other volunteers called in prescriptions and dispensed donated medications such as Tylenol, Advil and Nexium as well as inhalers.

In addition, glucometers were donated at the two evacuation sites in the county for diabetics who had left theirs behind.

Although most people tried to evacuate with their prescriptions, some of them simply didn’t have the time. Many of these patients could have ended up in the emergency department if it weren’t for the quick response of Worldwide Healing Hand’ dedicated volunteers.

The fire started June 23 and Worldwide Healing Hand volunteers were on hand almost immediately to help. As one evacuee said to the volunteer staff, “We knew you would come."

Founded in 2001, Dr. Paula Dhanda MD, FACOG, FACS leads Worldwide Healing Hand volunteer teams that travel to underserved areas of the world, to train local physicians and midwives to provide health care services to women and children.

In addition, Worldwide Healing Hand is also active in Lake and neighboring counties, providing free health care screenings for the growing homeless and indigent population with urgent care, supplies and medication.

For more information about Worldwide Healing Hands visit www.worldwidehealingshands.org.