IOWD’s January 2009 mission in Niger included returning staff, Drs. Alfred Bent, Joan Blomquist, Tim McKinney, Greg Owens, Nurse Anesthetist Janet Dewan, Suzy Arencibia RN, Yolande Aqui RN, Louise Gilbert RN and Holly Rae Stone, RN. John Alexander, our wonderful friend who organized IOWD’s supply room and put all items on a spread sheet, returned again to continue his fabulous work teaching guitar to English Club students at our favorite High School.
Dr. Ahmed Safaan, urologist from Egypt(Ahmed spent 2 years working in Niger previously) brought a colleague, anesthesiologist, Dr. Sameh El Awady to round out the team at the National.
New to our group were Dr. Jose Amaya, anesthesiologist; and Fellows, Dr. Tatiana Sanses and Dr. Charu Dhingra. Nancy Strong, RN also joined this mission.
An incredible team made up of Dr. Josh Holden, Dr. Jacquin Matthews, Surgical Tech Angie Slagle, accompanied by our dedicated RN, Holly Rae Stone, took the Gazobe Maternity Hospital by storm! They worked with the new Stryker laparoscopic equipment ( donated through the efforts of Dr. Scott Eder), teaching the Residents how to handle this costly gift!! Thanks to the intense instruction, Residents at Gazobe are now performing surgeries numerous times a week using the Stryker equipment!