Author: TEAM IOWD

October 2010

Going to Rwanda for the first time, our “regular” October members included Dr. Joan Blomquist, Dr. Aditya Dash,
Dr. Jeffrey Freed, Dr. David Glazier, Dr. Sharon Knight, Dr. Soo Kwon, Dr. Andrew Smith, Janet Dewan, Nurse Anesthetist, and Nurses Suzy Arencibia and Melanie Haller. New to IOWD were Dr. Eric Fassler, Dr. James Greenberg, Dr. Darla Klokeid, Dr. Abner Korn, Dr. Gene Kramolowsky, Dr. Bill Morgan and Dr. Ralph Pennino.

One hundred and twelve patients were waiting for us and every woman was examined. We had the use of a new building on the grounds of Kibagabaga for our exams, the anesthesia consultations and for housing the patients. Originally built for drug resistant TB patients, the Minister of Health provided the building for our use in April and again in October. Beds, mattresses, sheets, blankets were moved quickly to accommodate the patients. Rwandan nurses were assigned to care for the post operative patients. Cleaning crews came down all day to keep the rooms and bathrooms perfectly clean. The patients couldn’t have been more comfortable than they were…the Kibagabaga staff were wonderful and assisted us in every detail.

April 2010

Our first medical trip to Rwanda was a wonderful experience. The Kibagabaga team was extraordinarily welcoming, and worked so hard to help us set up our fistula program. Joining us on this trip were: Dr. Karolynn Echols, Dr. Briana Walton, Dr. Sharon Knight, Dr. Cynthia Hall, Dr. Roberta Blandon, Dr. Kristi Pielstick, Dr. Ralph Chesson, Dr. Greg Owens, Dr. Josh Holden, Dr. Jeannie Kim, Dr. Scott Eder, Dr. Fatai Ilupeju, Anesthetists Janet Dewan and Sarah Ranahan, and Nurses Suzy Arencibia, Louise Gilbert, Kathleen Scott and Elyse Sevigny, Gail Simmons, Nana Mensah and Nataki Jarrett-Henry.

October 2009

In October, IOWD doctors and nurses traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam to work in the National Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology. Participating in this new and exciting program were Drs. Kaytan Amrute, Joan Blomquist, Jeffrey Freed, David Glazier, Sharon Knight, Vanny Le, Paul Ritchie, Stacey Wallach and Nurses Njoki Ng’ang’a and Evangeline Epper. Our friend, volunteer, DeAnna Stevens, also joined the team.

Dr. Vanny Le, an anesthesiologist, spoke fluent Vietnamese and was much in demand for translating!! Vanny was a valuable new member of our team!! We truly appreciate her language skills in the operating rooms and in meetings.

The generosity and graciousness on the part of the Vietnamese people was absolutely fantastic! We were made to feel ‘at home’ immediately. Wherever we were…in the hospitals, in the streets, in restaurants, in shops…we were welcomed. It was a wonderful beginning!