On our April 2009 trip, IOWD presented Dr. Madi with some new and wonderful supplies!

A group of IOWD staffers gathered in Dr. Madi's office for the presentation. It is a great joy for us to donate much needed equipment and supplies to Gazobe Maternity Hospital! Working with Dr. Madi and his staff is always a wonderful and rewarding experience for IOWD doctors, nurses and technicians.

Nurse Holly presenting sutures to Dr. Madi		Nurse Holly unwrapping some gifts for Gazobe Maternity Hospital. Dr. Madi, on right, is a happy man this day!
Anesthesiologist Kristi Pielstick, Nurse Holly Stone, Anesthetist Janet Dewan with the only Anesthesiologist working at Gazobe Maternity Hospital!

January 2009... As an extension to the fistula work performed by IOWD physicians several of the doctors have served as instructors to ob/gyn residents at Maternite Issaka Gazoby Niamey. This is the country's maternity hospital, located in the capital of Niamey, that serves as both a referral and teaching center. Working with Residency Director, Dr. Madi, physicians and midwives of our team, have offered instruction, both didactic as well as surgical to the residents. Dr. Scott Eder who has served three tours of duty with IOWD has taught Nigerian physicians and midwives obstetrical vacuum extraction using a vacuum donated by the University Medical Center of Princeton (New Jersey.)

In 2008 through the active intervention of IOWD, and Dr. Eder's dedication and incredible persistence, laparoscopic equipment was donated by Stryker and Storz for use by the residents. Despite being trained in laparoscopic technique during their clinical rotations in Tunisia laparoscopes were non-existent in Niger. We are very proud to have initiated this wonderful new program for laparoscopic surgery at the Maternity Hospital. Throughout 2009, IOWD physicians are committed to continue working side by side with Nigerien doctors in laparoscopic procedures.

During January 2009 mission, a group of doctors and nurses spent time assisting the physicians at the Maternity Hospital in Niamey. We were proud to train them to perform their first laparoscopic surgery, using equipment donated by Stryker. We spent a considerable amount of time instructing the staff on the proper installation and maintenance of the equipment, as well as teaching and demonstrating the proper techniques for laparascopy to the residents. We held lectures to ensure that the residents understood the indications and the risks for laparascopy. Introducing and implementing this new equipment for laparascopic surgery at the Maternity Hospital was a major accomplishment for the IOWD and one we feel will have a lasting impact on the care of the women of Niger.

Dr. Eder and Nurse Kathy Raney		Dr. Eder delivering a baby
Dr. Holden, Dr. Madi, Nurse Holly Rae Stone and Nigerien staff.		Dr. Jacquin Matthews supervising as the Nigerien residents use the new laparoscopic equipment.
Dr. Holden teaching laparoscopic surgery to Senior Residents at Gazobe.		Dr. Josh Holden teaching residents at Gazobe Maternity Hospital
Surgical Tech, Angie Slagle, teaching Maternity staff how to set up monitor for the Stryker laparoscopic equipment.