Operation Binti:

The Marara Island Children’s Health Clinic

In Memory of Binti SwarePediatric medical diagnosis, screening and treatment by the AfricaWrites medical response team for the children of Marara Island and surrounding Island communities of Kankan, Guinea.

By Patrick Gorham, Robert Saa Millimono & Dr Faya Siaka Koundouno On Feb. 11th, while returning from a successful mission to document the rituals, ceremonies and traditional fishing practices of the Baga people of Marara Island, our research vessel was met by a small boat carrying two adult males, two adult females and three children. Among the children was six year old Binti Sware. Dangerously ill and unconscious from anemia and severe symp-toms of malaria, Binti's small frame was gently lifted and passed to her relatives now onboard our boat. With Binti onboard, the boat captain restarted the engine and we hurried towards port at Boffa as AfricaWrites Senior Physician Dr. Siaka Faya Koundouno worked quickly to stabilize her. Tragically, nearly half an hour later and just a short distance away from port and evacuation

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to the nearby hospital in Boffa, little Binti Sware died. Later, the AfricaWrites staff met with Binti’s parents, community leaders and government officials to discuss the cause of her untimely death, the availability of urgent medical care for children living in the outer island communities and the prevention of infant death from preventable and treatable illnesses.

Operation Binti: Mara Island Children’s Free Health ClinicOn June 26th, 2011 The Africa Writes Medical Response Team led by AfricaWrites Senior Physician Dr. Koundouno, Dr. Kamano and Dr. Tolno returned with medical supplies and equipment to Boffa to coor-dinate efforts with the Prefectural Director of Health and Public Hygiene, Dr.Balla Traore. On June 27th, the AfricaWrites medical team arrived at Marara Island (met by Dr. Sylla of Boffa Hospi-tal) and began immediate diagnosis of all children living within proximity of the Marara Island commu-nity. Those children and families unable reach Marara island were visited by the AfricaWrites medical response team by fishing boat with the assistance of Marara fishermen. The AfricaWrites medical re-sponse team worked for three days among the Marara community. During that time the team examined 130 children, including 72 boys and 58 girls. In addition, 40 adults, including 25 women and 15 men were also seen. Medical records for each child and adult were established for additional follow up by Guinean Health officials at Boffa. Following diagnosis, children and adults requiring urgent medical care for typhoid, gastrointestinal parasites, malaria and severe infections were transported to Boffa Hospital for additional care.

More work remains to be done. Boffa Hospital is currently in need of medical supplies, additional rescue boats, life vests and EMT kits, microscopes and trauma bags and radios for first responders deployed to the various islands in response to medical emergencies. For more information about what you can do to assist the people of Marara, Guinea, please contact AfricaWrites.

On behalf of the entire AfricaWrites staff we would like to offer our thanks and appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Sware and extended family for their kindness and assistance. We will never forget Binti or the courage of her family and the hope she inspired. May she rest in peace.

AfricaWrites Director Mr. Patrick Gorham Lanfia Toure AfricaWrites: Research, Exploration & PreservationKankan University - African Cultural Studies Center (CECA)http://www.africawrites.comemail: info@africawrites.comTel. USA +1-646-338-7239Tel. Guinea +224-6464-0200

AfricaWrites Field CoordinatorMr. Robert Saa MillimonoAfricaWrites: Research, Exploration & PreservationKankan University - African Cultural Studies Center (CECA)http://www.africawrites.comemail: millisarobert74rm@yahoo.frTel. Guinea +224-6464-0200Tel. Guinea +224-675-83128

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