PFP Team Explores Mission Possibilities in Niger State

NORFOLK, VA (11/03/2010)(readMedia)-- A team of healthcare professionals leaves the U.S. on Nov. 4 for a Physicians for Peace (PFP) mission to Niger State, Nigeria. The mission is a fact find expedition, conducted at the invitation of Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, the state's executive governor. Niger State is the largest state in Nigeria.

"Physicians for Peace conducts fact finds to confirm both needs and proposed areas of collaboration with our in-country partners," said longtime PFP volunteer Dr. Edward Lilly, the mission leader and a retired gastroenterologist from Norfolk, Va. "We've assembled a first-rate team that's well qualified to assess needs and make recommendations on how to best serve the needs of patients and healthcare professionals in Niger State."

During the mission, the PFP team will review health needs and mission logistics and meet with representatives from other established NGOs and healthcare providers. If the team's findings confirm the detailed assessment already provided by the state, PFP will likely implement maternal and child life-focused programs, including training in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and midwifery, on future missions.

The fact find is an important step forward in the developing relationship between PFP and Niger State. In September, PFP partnered with the governor's office to ship the state a container of medical supplies, including crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and reading glasses.

Other PFP team members on the mission this month include Robin Jones, a nurse and midwife from Chesapeake, Va., and Dr. Richard Brown, a retired medical missionary and a specialist in infectious diseases and preventive medicine from Norfolk, Va.

In October, PFP recognized Jones with one of its 2010 Medical Diplomat Awards for her work on previous missions to Nigeria in both 2009 and 2010. At the same time, PFP presented a special Presidential Award to Gov. Aliyu to acknowledge the developing collaboration between Niger State and PFP.

The PFP team will be back in the U.S. by Nov. 14.

ABOUT PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE

Physicians for Peace is an international non-profit organization that mobilizes volunteer healthcare professionals to assist developing nations with unmet medical needs and scarce resources. Through effective, hands-on medical education and training, clinical care and donated medical supplies, Physicians for Peace develops long-term, sustainable, replicable, and evidence-based programs to help partner nations build medical capability and capacity to help themselves. Since 1989 Volunteers for the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization have conducted medical missions in more than 60 countries.

With its headquarters in Norfolk, Va., Physicians for Peace has programs in 22 countries and offices in Manila, the Philippines and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In 2009, the organization celebrated its 20th Anniversary. For more information, go to: www.physiciansforpeace.org

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