ESL Classes
Two ESL students take a picture with ESL Professor Megan at the Healing Center, Cincinnati. Top block, from left to right: newly arrived Souleymane Ba, seen here in class, with professor Terri and classmate. Top right, Haby Diop who has been taking classes since early 2018. For more on ESL Classes and locations, please check the Links above.
Cultural Program
Our cultural program is a learning experience in which we encourage mutual understanding, and openness. Here, at our Columbus General Assembly on September 2, 2018, where we did an exhibition of art crafts: calabashes, strip weaving textile, hat straw, wooden bowls and grass baskets.
Fula Girl
Fulani Culture
A Fulani woman from Mali
Columbus 2018
At Columbus, people from Maghama came to meet to celebrate together their culture, their achievements and discuss their challenges.
Health Program
Our organization donated $1000 in two stages ($500 on February 19, 2017 and another $500 on February 20, 2017) to the health and assistance program for Maghama populations. And, for the first time in the history of our city we have been able to purchase an ambulance for 14,000 euros, with the help of the Maghama diaspora, including Maghama Community of Ohio.
Medical Equipment
We lack medical equipment and will accept donations or any medical equipment for ambulance. We are in desperate need of medical transportation because many pregnant women die on their way to the hospital. Our city Maghama has no hospital. Patients in emergency care have to be transported to Kaedi, the regional capital, and those happen to be mostly pregnant women.
The Health Caravan
We lack medical staff in the city and these do not stay usually long when they are assigned the city by the government, poor working conditions helping. The Caravan of Health is the only way we have at the moment at our disposal to help treat people, but it lasts only two days and it is expensive.
At the ophthalmologist
A lady being examined by an eye ophthalmologist at the temporary ophthalmology service.
Nurses
Women in the health profession play a key role in the success of medical operations.The Caravan of Health is now in its 4th edition. At the first one, in 2016, they have had 2,652 consultations and medical acts or interventions with a staff of 35 doctors including specialists. The following year, in 2017, 30 doctors and specialists consulted 1,935 Maghama patients and surrounding villages belonging to the commune. Nurse Houleye Thiam is one of the health professionals committed to helping our populations each year.
Medical Doctors
In 2018, 35 doctors have volunteered to come with the convoy and have consulted 2,153 persons. In March 2019, 21 doctors saw a total of 1,604 patients coming from Maghama or neighboring villages. The patients received treatment and prescriptions for the drugs. The 2019 edition although with a smaller number of doctors, has been very beneficial for our populations. One can take as proof, the Report Caravan of Health has just published: among the patients examined, 528 children were seen in pediatrics, 157 in ophthalmology, 262 women in gynecology, and 75 people consulted at their home. Dr. Amadou Tidjane Anne is one of the committed volunteers to the mission of the Health Caravan.
Engineers
Since its beginning the Caravan has been able to consult a total of 8,344 people who all received free care. To prevent the elderly from getting tired and to treat them better, doctors and specialists went to see them at home. Old men who could not have moved on their own or who, if they had been able to come, would have jostled themselves in the melee and under the heat of the sun, were treated at home. If all these people had to take care of themselves, to pay their transport to Nouakchott, the capital, or to go to Kaedi, the regional capital, for treatment, and buy the drugs; the estimates would amount to 177 million Ouguiyas, or $4,838,709,53. Compared to all the caravans combined, the total of 4 years will have cost us only 12 million ouguiyas, or $328,048.10. Electrical Engineer Ly Abdoul Dakel is one of the main organizers of the Caravan. He has participated in all expeditions since the beginning.
Dr. Kebe in a meeting
It is virtually impossible to assign doctors to the city of Maghama, take care of them, pay their salaries, housing and food. It would require at least 3 million Ouguiyas (Local currency) per month and per doctor, or $82,012.03. Even at the Mauritanian State level it would be unthinkable. We are hopeful our interest and financial support for the annual Caravan of Health will only increase as one of the major problems the medical volunteers face is money.
Dr. Kebe
Our organization has just sent $ 1,000 to support this humanitarian effort. The staff and medical team is urging us to carry out the mission and to give even more for the coming years, for always better results. Dr. Mariem Kebe is a dermatologist who is committed to helping the populations of Maghama, in particular the women who suffer the most. She has been with the program since its start and we need more volunteers like her.