Clifford Wheeless, Dr. Marcy Roenneburg, Dr. Rene Genadry, Dr.Michael Brodman, Dr. Leon Lewenstein, Dr. Cynthia Gyamfy, Dr. Kristin Keefe and Nurse Luny LeBrun worked with our permanent Nigerien medical staff at the National Hospital. Dr. Ralph Chesson, Dr. Margie Kahn, Dr. Bruce Crawford and Dr. Marsha Guess operated with Dr. Sanda Ganda at Lamorde Hospital. Between the 2 teams, 72 surgeries were performed during a period of 3 weeks.

A fistula patient with her milk and yogurt, supplied daily by IOWD.

IOWD has begun a supplementary food program that provides fresh milk and yogurt to all the patients who have been operated on. This program has been funded by a generous donation by the EILEEN FISHER CLOTHING COMPANY.

Nigerien President Tandja invited IOWD's Medical Director, Dr. Clifford Wheeless, Advisory Board Member, Dr. Michael Brodman and IOWD's Director, Ira Margolies, to a meeting to discuss the fistula program. President Tandja openly stated his support of our program - and offered to provide anything we might need to make this project successful. The meeting was nationally televised.

To our great delight, the First lady, Madam Laraba Tandja and Madam Zeinabou Hama, the Prime Minister's wife, made a surprise visit to the National Hospital. The women, and a huge entourage of people, accompanied our doctors through the wards to visit each and every one of our patients! At a meeting, following the visit to the wards, Madam Tandja and Madam Hama spoke in front of a large group of people and the television cameras. Both women graciously commended our doctors, as well as the Nigerien staff, for their work with the fistula women.  And both women pledged their continued support for IOWD's fistula program.

---

Following is a letter written by Dr. Rene Genadry regarding the April Mission:

Dear Barb,

Just a few words to express my sincere gratitude for all that you have done and continue to do to make this a most wonderful experience... It will take a long time to find the appropriate words to express such gratitude from one to whom words are laden with more meaning than they denote... It took a while to readjust to the "old routine" and appreciate the picturesque view of all that your efforts have produced in terms of effective goodwill and real benefit for those that are giving as well as those on the receiving end...And all things considered, more for the giver than the receiver! This has been the most fulfilling experience yet. Taking kids to camps and vacation, visiting needy people in various conditions, teaching folks to care for themselves and theirs are worthwhile endeavors and nothing gets lost. But improving a single person's life to such magnitude is so fulfilling that nothing comes close to describing the joy that elates both parties. And all this thanks to your effort and those of Ira who makes sure priorities are not misplaced and care is up to the standards we all demand for ourselves and ours.

One gets the impression that what one is doing is but a drop in the ocean of misery and resources could be better spent on prevention, education and more essential care. But in the meantime one realizes that there are human beings that are suffering emotionally and physically from lack thereof and need a helping hand today and now. You have sensed and seen that and have done something about it. In your trail you have taken us by offering us the opportunity to be of service...and this is an invaluable one for those who have been in waiting for such an opening...

Rene

Partially hidden in the rear, to the left, is Dr. Bruce Crawford.
Seated in the front and to the right is Dr. Margie Kahn and Dr. Ralph Chesson.
The other people in the photo are the staff at Lamorde Hospital.

From left, Dr Sabou, Director of the National Hospital, Madam Hama, Prime Minister's wife; First Lady, Madam Tandja and Barbara Margolies at bedside of fistula-repaired patient.

atima Ataher, a 14 year old patient, being told she can go home by her surgeon, Dr. Marcy Roenneburg.

Click to Read Next Mission.

Click to read: • April 2007 Mission. • February 2007 Mission. • December 2006 Mission. • September 2006 Mission. • April 2006 Mission. • January 2006 Mission. • September 2005 Mission. • April 2005 Mission. • February 2005 Mission. • December 2004 Mission. • September 2004 Mission. • June 2004 Mission. • April 2004 Mission. • January 2004 Mission. • December 2003 Mission.