The ARC medical mission team of twelve arrived in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea, on December 5, 2013. After a night's rest, we visited the Dean of the University of Conakry Medical School and two other administrators. We reiterated our purpose to assist in health development in Guinea through medical education while providing oversight to CEH. They expressed gratitude for ARC's support of the Medical Education Seminar in Mamou to commence December 8th.

While still in the capital city, we visited the National Reference Laboratory for Guinea directed by Dr. Lamine, a viral hemorrhagic fever researcher and special Christian friend of CEH, who is now the national director of the ministry of public health, a CDC equivalent in Guinea. We greatly appreciate his guidance and ongoing support of our presence in Guinea.

We also had the opportunity to visit the publically owned University Teaching Hospital of Donka built in 1959 just before Guinean independence from France.  The conditions in this hospital are bleak; the hospital receives a priority supply of electricity, but blackouts are still quite frequent. Sanitation is a significant unmet need. The hospital is crowded and the medical equipment appears to be in disrepair.

Dean and Directors of the Medical School meet with the team from Rochester

West Africans suffer from blindness at alarming rates due to cataract formation, trachoma, river blindness and other eye health issues. There is an urgent need for more eye doctors in Guinea. One bright light we found at the University Teaching Hospital of Donka was a two-year, post graduate training program in ophthalmology. This program is directed by a Christian Ethiopian physician, Dr. Michael, whom we were privileged to meet. While touring his department we learned that it is his goal to train qualified eye specialists with surgical skills who are willing carry out their eye work in rural areas of Guinea, like Mamou, saving more people from blindness. His trainees are qualified to treat most eye diseases and perform cataract and glaucoma surgery. Treatment of eye disease is a very critical need for CEH, and we felt the Lord specifically led us to this Christian physician.

Following that busy day, we traveled to Mamou. The trip was long but uneventful and after settling into the CEH Guest House, the radiology team began unpacking the portable x-ray machine and the associated digitizer, which we shipped in the container ARC members packed in September which will process and store x-ray images. The equipment was moved into its new home in the newly completed emergency, dental, and x-ray building. A series of very helpful x-rays were taken over the next two days before the machine unexpectedly stopped working. Diagnostics run on the machine have localized the malfunction to a repairable electrical problem.  Our ARC radiographers are currently working to identify a GE technician who can travel at reasonable cost to Mamou, Guinea to repair the machine. 

Charlotte B. moves uncrated portable x-ray machine into the radiology room

The four-day Medical Education Seminar commenced Sunday night with a clear message in French on the vital role of Christian medical providers in Guinea delivered by Dr. Phil. He emphasized the need for healthcare providers to remain spiritually healthy and to carry out their work as men and women of Christ being sent to evangelize and heal through the power of the Holy Spirit. Medical subjects presented by ARC physicians and translated into French included EKG interpretation, oral surgery, cause and treatment of cervical cancer, orthopedic surgery, management of acute urinary retention, and pediatric emergencies. This medical conference was well attended and course evaluations were very positive.  Another seminar in Mamou is being planned for 2015.

Dr. Joel, and Dr. Kpowomou, our new CEH dentist, extracted over 100 chronically infected teeth in about that number of patients using the dental chair and dental equipment sent in recent containers. They scheduled many patients for return visits and on-going care with Dr. Kpowomou. There were many happy patients receiving much needed dental care.  

The optical ministry of Dr. Bill assisted by Bob,  Julie,  and other members of our team blessed nearly 400 men, women, and children by examining and prescribing corrective eyewear over a four day period. Donated eyewear was appropriately distributed based on visual testing. After they were provided eyewear, each recipient was individually prayed for in their own language asking God to go with them and give them eyes to see the Lord. There were dramatic responses from individuals who regained the ability to see images and details lost long ago due to age related visual impairment.

Jeff B. prays for patient after glasses prescribed

Prior to our arrival, CEH administrator, Mr. Etienne, publicized our visit on national radio, so many hundreds of patients came for specialty care in Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Cardiology, and Gynecology.  We saw many of these patients with our three Guinea physicians, Doctors Jean Paul, Amos, and David during periods of time when we were not speaking at the Medical Seminar.

Overall, this was a most successful mission trip focusing on ways to walk alongside our Guinean Christian colleagues in healthcare. We discovered opportunities for medical education at a national level, and opportunities for further development of specialized areas, i.e., ophthalmology, radiology, orthopedic surgery, infectious disease, and cancer prevention to mention a few.  

There have been remarkable advances in the quality of care being delivered at CEH. We are grateful to God for this, and yet, there remain many unmet needs and opportunities to bring health development and the salvation message of faith in Jesus Christ to the people of Guinea.