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LOCAL DOCTOR RETURNS FROM WEST AFRICA
Dr. Steven Douglas is no stranger to traveling abroad. But where he goes and why he goes are much
different than what most of us do on vacation. He just completed his seventh Missionary trip.
After spending the last six in Ecuador, his latest trip was to Senegal, West Africa.
In addition to Dr. Douglas, three other individuals made the trip as well – Dick Smith and Cindy and
Kenny Bollinger. All are members of several local churches, such as First Baptist in East Prairie,
Minor and Morley, who have come together for the purpose of providing regular mission trips to areas
such as Senegal.
One priority for this trip was to meet with members of the Mandinka tribe to discuss the possibility
of future medical care trips for the village. Currently no medical care is available at all, because
the villages in the area are so isolated. The only mode of transportation is by donkey, so the distance
to facilities is a major obstacle. Imagine no electric, no running water, no phones, and few dirt roads.
It took Dr. Douglas and his group 17 hours by plane, and 10 hours drive time to reach their destination.
“The biggest medical need is simply “access” to care”, says Douglas. Malaria is a huge problem because
of all the mosquitoes, and dysentery is common. Clean food and water are desperately needed, and childcare
is an issue.
Most of the villagers live in small adobe huts or one-room cinder block & tin homes. They are subsistence
farmers and fishermen, so their livelihood is greatly affected by the weather. The villages have no
commerce, so with no rain since last October and Temperatures during the day reaching into the 112-degree
range, and humidity at 8-10%, it is difficult to imagine how they are able to survive. Some of the villages
have schools, some don’t. Most have a Mosque since almost all of the Mandinka are Islamic.
The group met up with another couple that has been living in West Africa for the past eight years, Richard
and Fran Kelley. They have learned the language and were able to help communicate. But, since the
language is very difficult to learn, it will be somewhat of a barrier for the future medical mission
trips. “That’s not going to stop us from going, because they need our help,” says Douglas. “It’s
definitely an issue we will have to address, but I’m confident we will be able to manage,” he adds.
After visiting with the tribe and seeing first hand what conditions there are to contend with, the group
is even more determined and focused to make regular mission trips to Senegal, as well as other similar
areas, a priority.
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Dr. Douglas is a Family Practice physician at Ferguson Medical Group in East Prairie, and has been with
FMG since 1998. He became interested in Mission work when he met a very influential physician during his
Resident training. “I have been very fortunate to be able to follow my passion and plan to make many more
Mission trips in the future. There will always be others in need of help. I am happy to do what I can,”
says Douglas.
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