Category: Missions

The New Year started off with our 11th mission to Niger. Returning again were Dr. Charles Ascher-Walsh, Dr. Julianne Newcomer and Dr. Alf Bent. Joining our team as new members were Dr. Joan Blomquist, Dr. Michelle Germain, Dr. Mary Pat Fitzgerald, Dr.Linda Fan and Nurse Njoki Ng’ang’a. Our group also included IOWD Board Member, Ambassador Barbro Kirkpatrick, Deborah Lindholm, Executive Director of Foundation for Women, Dr. Anders Siem, Executive Director of Health and Development International, Irene DeWatteville of the Seth Sprague Foundation and Michelle Walter and Camilla Walter…

One hundred and two women were examined during this mission; forty-four surgeries were performed. Many of those examined were former patients returning for follow-up exams. Others were asked to return in April for surgery, as time did not allow for more operations.
Our Peace Corp Volunteer, Kim Riley, continues to be an incredibly important component of our program. When our team is not present in Niger, Kim is representing IOWD when dealing with local and international organizations in Niger. She also makes sure that a radio announcement is sent out, informing the women in villages beyond Niamey, that the American team is arriving to help them. When the women come to the Hospital, Kim interviews all of them, recording pertinent social and medical information. This has proved to be a tremendous benefit for IOWD and the National Hospital – as to keeping up-dated medical records on the patients. Kim is also teaching Mariama, Saadatou and Haoua basic language skills, and overseeing their progress in learning nursing aide skills. Kim translates for our doctors in the Operating Rooms; and she goes on twice-a-day “Rounds” with the doctors when they visit their patients in the Wards. Indeed, Kim has so many responsibilities in seeing that our program moves along with the least amount of “hitches” – it would take pages to list all that she does for IOWD!!

September’s Mission included “returning” doctors. Charles Ascher -Walsh, Janet Li, Charles Canady, Jeff Wilkinson and Bruce Crawford. New to our group was Mark Morgan, Ed Stanford, Soo Kwan, Larissa Meyer, Margaret Villers and Operating Room Technician, Michael Draddy.
Dr. Canady, Director for IOWD’s Obstetric and Gynecological program, started working in another hospital on this trip, Poudriere – a small, regional hospital in Niamey. Dr. Diatta, the Director of Poudriere, was so delighted with Dr. Canady’s assistance, he pleaded with him to return on every one of IOWD’s missions to Niamey!! Every morning, Dr. Diatta had a driver bring Dr. Canady and his Mother, Miriam Guichard, to the hospital! Dr. Canady would operate in Poudrierre in the morning and then returned to the Maternity Hospital in the afternoon to work with the OB/GYN Residents. Despite his often “difficult” schedule, Dr. Canady kept up this hectic pace with smiles and enthusiasm and plans for his next trip in September, 2006. On behalf of IOWD, Dr. Canady presented a large amount supplies and sutures and over 6,000 pairs of gloves to Poudrierre and the Maternity hospitals. Any doctor, midwife, nurse physician’s assistant or hospital professional who might be interested in joining Dr. Canady’s team in September, please contact him immediately at charles.canadyjr@verizon.net. We are presently setting up the schedule for September.

A good friend of IOWD, Miriam Guichard, returned again to help translate in the Operating Room and at meetings. Having spent 30 years in Africa , 12 of which were for the State Department, Miriam has a special understanding of how things work in this part of the world – and her French language skills are remarkable!! . Mrs. Guichard has become an invaluable member of our organization!

It was the first time we had an OR tech with us – and what a fabulous job Michael Draddy did!!! He set up the OR’s for the doctors; showed the Nigerien nurses how to prepare an instrument table, organized our supply room and wrote supply lists for the next team. Although Michael had never been to a developing country before – and certainly never worked in one – he did an outstanding job for IOWD!!! We look forward to his return trip with us in 2006.

High School student, Paul Stanford, also joined us. Paul did an outstanding job teaching computer skills to students from CES Rive Droite High School. It was marvelous to see the interaction between Paul and the Nigerien students. It’s amazing to see teenagers from completely different cultures and backgrounds come together, sharing and laughing and enjoying that special time. We are all very proud of Paul and what he was able to accomplish on this September trip.

Following is a letter written by one of our September doctors:
“I am so grateful to you that I have been given the opportunity to serve. In so doing, I have found peace and hope that I have not experienced in a long time. What you are offering to Niger and its women and us is a gift. I will always be thankful for allowing me to see what is important in life. . .”

And from Michael Draddy:
“The experience one has in Niger is not one that leaves when you depart. It stays with you and finds its way into your everyday life; your demeanor, your decisions and your thoughts. It was a privilege to be of some help, and the Nigerien people are very appreciative of any help one can offer.”

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!