A Progress Report from the

Guyana Adventist Medical Aviation Service

Sewing Machines and Netting in Kaikan

MALARIA EPIDEMIC RECEIVES ADRA/CANADA FUNDING: The Adventist Development and Relief Agency of Canada made available emergency funding through ADRA/Guyana for the purchase of materials for 200 treated mosquito nets to be used in Kaikan and Arau. Four sewing machines were also purchased and transported with ADRA funds for use by the community in making the nets. Due to the volume of materials and equipment, Director of GAMAS, David Gates opted to utilize a larger aircraft for transportation. The ASL Cessna 206 was piloted by Gates to Kaikan. From there the finished mosquito nets will be distributed with the organization's own small bush plane, a highly modified Cessna 150/150.

Due to the malaria outbreak in the larger village of Phillippi, additional emergency funding has been sought and should be forthcoming within the next few weeks from ADRA/Holland and ADRA/Washington. In preparation for the Phillippi project, the council selected Mrs. Hope to be flown by GAMAS to Kaikan where she received training in the sewing of mosquito nets for both beds and hammocks. She was returned home with hands full of pre-cut material for 25 nets, which the ladies of Kaikan shared from their own stock. Phillippi's larger population will require extra amounts of materials as well as sewing

Painful Snake Bite

machines to be transported in during the manufacturing process. Thank you ADRA!

In an attempt to strike at the heart of the Malaria epidemics in Kaikan and Phillippi, Dr. Lloyd Validum, well-known Guyanese Malariologist, working together with Mr. Gates, who is also a Registered Nurse, have designed a project which would utilize the OptiMAL testing kits to provide immediate diagnosis followed by treatment. Valuable medical data regarding treatment and response in Guyana's hinterland will also be forthcoming for academic study. Funding for this project is also being provided through emergency ADRA funding. Dr. Validum is currently working out some of the details with the Ministry of Health.

CHINOWIENG RESIDENTS CALL FOR HELP: Though isolated by time and distance, Chinowieng residents know they have an aircraft available when serious illnesses strike. Young 15-year-old Malachi George, suffering from severe Asthma was carried on shoulders along the long path to the runway. Malachi was flown to Kamarang where he received expert attention.

Ardene is flown to Kamarang Hospital

Today he runs to meet the plane along with the other children. Other medical evacuations included three malaria patients and one severe snake bite.

WARAMADONG LOSES YOUNG LADY: Living in the small Venezuelan village of San Juan (down river from Kaikan), young Waramadong lady, 22-year-old Ardene Joseph, suddenly became unconscious and began suffering seizure-like activity. She was carried in a hammock all day long to Kaikan where family and friends waited for the plane which was on the ground in Paruima due to bad weather. There was a lot of tension wondering if the plane was going to make it in time. Taking advantage of a break in the clouds the plane arrived in Kaikan with barely enough time to load the patient and her brother, and fly to Kamarang before nightfall. Mrs. Joseph was immediately admitted by Medex Willie for treatment. By 7:30 am the next morning, just before take-off for Kaikan, Mr. Gates was notified that the patient's condition was deteriorating. By the time the plane landed back in Kaikan, the sad news of her passing away had already arrived by radio. She was buried in her native village of Waramadong. We grieve along with her family and friends.

Dr. Whiting and Community Health Worker Florencia

DAVIS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CMO SERVES AS VOLUNTEER: Dr. Faye Whiting, Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Chief Medical Officer at Davis Memorial Hospital responded to an urgent radio call for help from Kaikan and Paruima. Her only time off duty was on Sunday, so our aircraft left Kaikan at daybreak. By 10:00, Dr. Whiting was back in Kaikan seeing patients, many of which were obstetric patients suffering pregnancy complications from malaria. Working together with Kaikan's Community Health Worker, Florencia Peters and Mrs. Gates, a Registered Nurse, Dr. Whiting made home visits to almost every home in Kaikan. Later in the afternoon, Dr. Whiting flew with Mr. Gates to Paruima to examine a family suffering the severe effects of having drunk water contaminated with insecticide. Two of the patients were identified by Dr. Whiting as needing immediate hospitalization. The two patients, Van Thomas and Leland Williams, were flown to Georgetown over the next couple of days by GAMAS, where they were interned for several weeks at Davis Memorial Hospital. Both have been released and flown back at no charge to themselves. Leaving Kaikan at daybreak on Monday, the kind doctor was back in her office at DMH by 8:30am. During a second visit to our region, Dr. Whiting spent a full day at Kaikan and another full day in Arau taking care of medical needs. Thank you Dr. Whiting

Arau students love June, their teacher

for your willingness to take of your time off to assist the people of our region.

CHILDREN OF ARAU LEARNING ENGLISH / HOUSE BURNS: Earlier this year, children and youth of the small village of Arau, 15 miles North of Kaikan, received their first volunteer teacher, Miss Beverly Godette from Linden. Miss Godette served as a volunteer for 3 months, teaching English and other basic subjects to Arau's younger ones who primarily have been exposed to Spanish education. While progress is being made toward the acquisition of their own primary school through SIMAP, it is not yet a reality. Volunteer teachers are thus playing a crucial role in keeping the children exposed to English while attracting back those that have left to seek education.

Learning to trust God for their needs, Arau residents began praying for another teacher when Miss Godette left.

Displaced families in front of their burned house

Their prayers were answered when Miss June Fiedtkou, from the Esequibo coast, felt impressed by God to seek a volunteer position with GAMAS. Miss Fiedtkou enjoys living in Arau and plans to serve for an undetermined period of time. Living arrangements are a bit scanty at present while residents finish a teachers' residence with GAMAS providing the fuel, oil, and supplies. We honor our volunteers as true pioneers.

The Joseph and George families of Arau recently suffered the complete destruction of their home by fire. Kaikan residents immediately sent over some emergency clothes. An application for assistance has been submitted to the Guyana Relief Council, headed by Mrs. Yvonne Hinds, wife of Prime Minister Hinds. Transportation of relief materials will be provided by GAMAS.

George and Miriam visit from Alaska

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES BRING ALASKA NURSE TO VISIT KAIKAN/PARUIMA: Captain Miriam Lancaster, Registered Nurse, and Coordinator of Indigenous Medical Services in Alaska, in the United States, returned to Guyana accompanied by her husband George. Mrs. Lancaster's father, who had served as a missionary physician in Davis Memorial Hospital some 40 years ago, had also spent some time in Paruima. "It was one of the high points in my life," stated Mrs. Lancaster, after flying over to Paruima from Kaikan. When they arrived in the interior, they donated a beautiful electric planer which is being used in the construction of the Industrial College in Paruima. They are currently looking for funding to assist GAMAS in purchasing a portable well-drilling outfit that would be used to provide pure drinking water for local villages. During their visit in Kaikan, George, an Archeologist and expert carpenter, refurbished the Community Health Center with new steps and locking cupboards. George, your absence is acutely felt by us. Thank you so much!

Uncle Claude Anselmo "Terminates" insects

By personal invitation, Capt. Lancaster and her husband had lunch with our President, Mrs. Janet Jagan in Georgetown. She wrote back from Alaska to report a lovely visit with the President, which included handing her a copy of GAMAS' latest Flight Log. Thank you Madam President for your kindness to these two GAMAS volunteers.

MINISTRY DONATES ANTI-MALARIA FOGGER AND TRAINING TO KAIKAN: Mr. Lloyd Andrews, Principal with the Ministry of Regional Development working with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, arranged for Kaikan resident, Claude Anselmo, to receive training on the use of a new fogger machine which was donated by the Ministry to the village of Kaikan. GAMAS provided the transportation for Mr. Anselmo and equipment, as well as the purchase of chemicals and fluids necessary to fog every home in Kaikan and Arau. We express our gratefulness to the Ministries involved in assisting with our continuing fight against Malaria.

Malnutrition & malaria disable Phillippi mother & son

MERCY FLIGHT SUMMARY: Drought conditions caused by the El Niņo phenomenon, have not only increased the incidence of malaria, but countless other health complications as well. Diagnosis besides malaria have included typhoid fever, amebic dysentery, malnutrition, dehydration, spontaneous abortions, and viral infections. Just in Kaikan alone, three female residents have suffered the loss of their pregnancies due to disease complications. Though saddened at the prospect of so much disease, GAMAS is happy to be a key provider of assistance during times of such great need. During these last two months, Chinowieng has received two mercy flights, Phillippi 4, Paruima 2, Arau 1, and Kaikan 4. As an assistance to the community, malaria worker Mr. Jeffrey and family were transported to Phillippi. They as well as Chinowieng received medications, supplies, and salaries. In addition to medications and food supplies, 100 lbs of mangoes were flown into Arau to assist with the dietary lack of vitamin C, and Kaikan received medications, and food supplements for their teachers.

GAMAS is a faith operation that continues to be made possible totally by unsolicited funds which come in each month. We therefore give God the full credit and thanks for keeping the program in the air.

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