Author: TEAM IOWD

In April 2005, Drs. Greg Owens, Julia Lee Owens, Stacey Wallach, Star Hampton, Ralph Chesson, Karolynn Echols, Cynthia Hall, Yong Tao Zheng, Rene Genadry and Clifford Wheeless performed 26 operations on Nigerien women.

Roger Thurow, of the Wall Street Journal, returned to Niger with us in order to gather more information for his article (printed in the WSJ on June 13,2005). We traveled out to the village of our special patient, Anafghat. The long, hot trip took 5 and a half hours. We had the opportunity to meet with Anafghat1s family, her teachers and the Chief of the village of Tarbiatt, all of whom welcomed us with great hospitality.
Marlene Lays, Director of UNFPA/Niger and Ira Margolies, Director, IOWD with Chiefs, Imams and Marabous in the district of Loga. Barbara and Ira Margolies traveled with UNFPA Country Director, Marlene Lays to the town of Loga. They met with doctors and medical workers at a local clinic; and the Prefect (Mayor) of Loga District, who pledged to help us find fistula women and send them down to Niamey for help. Our group also met with Chiefs, Marabous and Imams from the area. As this is a very traditional district, only Mr. Margolies was allowed to speak to the men — through a translator, he explained why they had come to Loga and asked these important men to think about the birthing problems that often occur when a girl is too young to have a baby — and to think about how they could help the women in their villages by asking them to wait until they were older before they marry.

The object of the trip was to begin sensitizing or educating people in rural areas as to the possible complications of birthing at home without proper medical help and the relationship of a very young girl, given in marriage at puberty, having a baby before her own body is fully developed.
Alison, a computer expert, worked with the English Language students at CES Rive Droite High School.
Alison Eisenberg, a good friend of Dr. Wallach, joined us in April also. Alison, a computer expert, worked with the English Language students at CES Rive Droite High School. The school does not have a computer hook-up yet, but Alison is working on fund raising in order to see that the English Club students will eventually have access to the Internet. Alison took students and teacher, Boukari Assoumane, to the Internet Kiosk, and began teaching them how to properly use a computer. It was a fantastic experience for all!! And what a wonderful way to introduce these eager students to the world beyond Niger!! Bravo to Alison for her patience (in 120 degree heat) and her determination to provide computer knowledge for these young adults!

February doctors included Tim McKinney, Julianne Newcomer, Lori Berkowitz, Clifford Wheeless, Ed Blumenstock, Michael Conley, Barbara Wiseman and Emad Hashemi.

In addition to the doctors, Martha Conley (wife of Michael), and Melissa and Cynthia McKinney (daughters of Tim McKinney) joined our group in Niamey. While the doctors were operating, Martha was busy visiting schools, playing and teaching the children in the Fistula courtyard, and teaching beading to the fistula women. Martha was a tremendous help to us – and we look forward to her return to Niger.

Cynthia McKinney had raised funds at home in New Jersey in order to purchase treated mosquito nets. Both she and her sister Melissa joined IOWD at CES Rive Droite High School when we presented the English Club students with hundreds of mosquito nets. This was the beginning of our Malaria Prevention Program. Using CES Rive Droite as a model school program, we hope to expand this prevention project with an educational program and more nets for students in other schools in Niamey.

The English Club students were very happy to have the opportunity to meet and talk with the American teenagers. And it was the first time for the McKinney girls to have this extraordinary experience in Africa!
IOWD encourages our readers to inform your own children or students in local schools to engage in fund raising to buy more treated mosquito nets for our students in Niger. It has been proven that using treated nets over a bed greatly reduces the chance of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. In Niger, malaria kills more people than does HIV/AIDS!!!! Each net costs $4 – as much as a double cup of ice cream here. But a net can save a life……

This mission brought Drs. Clifford Wheeless, Marcella Roenneburg, Charles Ascher-Walsh, Alfred Bent, Charles Canady, Lt. Colonel Jeff Clemons, Elaine Waetjen, Megan Huchko, and Andrea Wang to Niger. Roger Thurow, of the Wall Street Journal, also joined us to prepare a story for his newspaper.
It was a return trip for Dr. Roenneburg – who was accompanied by her teenaged daughter, Rachel. It was quite an opportunity for Rachel to “experience” Niger – to help with the women and children in the courtyard, and to assist her Mom during examinations by holding the hands of the patients, stroking their heads, and talking quietly to reassure them. It didn’t matter that Rachel didn’t speak their language – just being there with them during the exams was so calming for these frightened girls. Rachel also had collected money from her fellow classmates in Baltimore in order to help us purchase mosquito nets for students in an English Club at CES Rive Droite School in Niamey. The nets are part of a program to prevent malaria, a huge problem in Niger – one that kills children in larger numbers than HIV/AIDS!!! We are all very proud of Rachel and her accomplishments during her visit to Niamey.

In his second trip to Niger, Dr. Charles Ascher-Walsh began his official Columbia University Resident Exchange Program by bringing his Resident, Dr. Megan Huchko. Megan was a fabulous addition to our team and we look forward to her return. Dr. Ascher-Walsh will continue to accompany a Columbia Resident on each subsequent trip to Niamey. As this program progresses, Dr. Ascher-Walsh, in conjunction with Columbia, will bring Nigerien Residents in an exchange training program at Columbia/Presbyterian Hospital in New York.
Dr. Charles Canady began a special program at the Maternity Hospital in Niamey. He was a real “trooper” – and operated continuously under dire conditions. Being able to speak French was a great help, but no language could describe the frustration when Dr. Canady found Nigerien doctors using black garbage bags in place of non-existent exam gloves!!!! Fortunately, Charles had brought lots and lots of gloves with him – but the Maternity Hospital is truly desperate for basic supplies!! Dr. Canady is organizing a program for IOWD – so that other Obstetricians and Gynecologists can join us on our missions – and go directly to the Maternity Hospital to assist and teach Nigerien OB/GYN Residents. Dr. Canady and IOWD look forward to a successful collaboration with the Maternity Hospital. Won’t you join us in the effort to help begin a quality program for the benefit of women in Niger? Please contact IOWD for details.