Operation Doctor board hears about new operating room in Sierra Leone

Highlight of the year was the opening and dedication of the new operating room.

INDIANAPOLIS - The directors of Indiana Area United Methodist Operation Doctor applauded the work of Hoosier supported Dr. Dennis Marke, head physician of the Kissy United Methodist Health and Maternity Center in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Marke gave his encouraging annual report during the Oct. 5 meeting of the board at the Indiana Area office in Indianapolis.

Highlight of the year was the opening and dedication of the new operating room by Bishop J. C. Humper of Sierra Leone in April 2005. Marke said The Wagners Surgical Operating Room, named in honor of the Rev. Joe and Carolyn Wagner, co-directors of Operation Doctor, has been used to date to perform 20 surgeries.

"During the first two months, we were blessed with the services of a volunteer surgeon from Virginia, Dr. Walter Beasley, who set up and kick started the operations of the O.R.," he said.

Marke explained that surgeries at Kissy are one-third to one-half the cost of surgeries in other Freetown hospitals, making it affordable to lower income families who make less than $15 a month.

Currently, construction is underway on the much needed surgical ward for pre- and post-operation patients. Board member Doug Ahlfeld of the North Indiana Conference said the construction team will be leaving for Freetown Oct. 27 to finish the project hopefully by the end of the year. They will be taking $35,000 with them, the projected construction costs to finish the project. (Those wishing to contribute to the construction project, can send a tax deducible check marked "Kissy Construction" to Operation Doctor at the address listed as the end of this story.)

Continuing with his report, Marke said the hospital staff cares for an average of 65 patients daily, six days a week. He reported the wards are filled 70 percent of the time. Prenatal clinics, open Wednesdays and Fridays, see an average of 170 pregnant women each clinic day.
In addition to surgery and outpatient care, Kissy serves various communities through its HIV/AIDS, nutrition and well drilling programs, all under the umbrella of Community Based Healthcare. The clinic also provides an HIV/AIDS (Friends') Program that includes voluntary confidential counseling and testing. Kissy provides for community and high schools sensitization education, home based care for HIV positive clients, Anti-Retro Viral treatment and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Kissy is active in a nutrition program that serves an average of 30 to 60 clients a month at a cost of a dollar-a-day to care for each malnourished child.

To assist in the work of the clinic, Marke presented to the board some challenges facing Kissy including: medication drugs, space, need for addition staff, equipment and grants. Some of the greatest needs for the hospital include an x-ray unit, an industrial food grinder, plus computers and software for staff.

In other business, Wagner reminded the directors that Marke is an employee of Operation Doctor. His salary is sustained by a four-year commitment that will run out next year. Operation Doctor seeks those willing to commit $1,200 a year at the rate of $100 per month to support Marke. Those wishing to support Dr. Marke are encouraged to send a tax deductible check marked "Salary Dr. Marke" to the Wagners at Operation Classroom, PO Box 246, Colfax, IN 46035.

Work teams are scheduled to leave this month and next month for Sierra Leone. Teams are scheduled to go Oct. 20 to Nov. 5; Oct. 30 to Nov. 12; and Nov. 6 to 22. For more information, contact Bob Coolman, First United Methodist Church, 359 Franklin St., Valparaiso, IN 46383-8055, or e-mail him bcoolman@coolmanbuilt.com.

For more information, log on to www.gbgm-umc.org/operationclassroom.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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