Home > The Story So Far
In November 2006, Siobhan D’Arcy-Bewick travelled with seven doctors from New York and two from
Chicago who spent two weeks operating on these women. Barbara Margolies, founder of IOWD,
organized these doctors to travel and operate on a voluntary basis.
In addition to the medical staff, two architects Fran Whelan and Ciaran Corcoran (directors of Whelan,
Corcoran, Smith, Swords, Co. Dublin) accompanied Siobhan on a voluntary basis to draw up plans for the
new hospital. This group, together with representatives of IOWD, New York met the Hospital Director, the
Minister for Health, the wife of the President and the Prime Minister, all of whom are supporting the
project. The architects were able to complete a basic design on-site and have since submitted a detailed
design for The Women’s Hospital, which will be attached to The National Hospital of Niamey in Niger.
Siobhan returned to Africa in February 2007, with boxes of medical supplies and other much needed items.
The medical team who came on this trip operated on over 60 young girls. Siobhan and Barbara Margolies,
founder of IOWD presented the architectural plans to the Hospital Director, the President and the
Minister for Health. Official staffing commitment has been granted by government with the Hospital
Director. We are presently working closely with the staff concerned.
>>
Click here to view details of the latest visit to Niger, October 2007
