I spent the last 3 weeks and a half in Niamey, Niger. Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa. I worked under the supervision of Dr. Susan Beebout in the Clinique Olivia, a clinic in a poor part of the city associated with Evangelical Church of Niger. During my time in Niger I had the unique opportunity to work with an underserved population and with limited resources. I had the opportunity to see and help a broad spectrum of patients with a broad spectrum of pathologies, including diabetes and hypertension, typhoid, tuberculosis, sickle cell disease and many more. I would see around 10-12 patients daily with the help of a medical assistance that will also serve as translator. Most patient speak only their native language (Hausa, Zarma) and only around 20% speak French. Only very limited labs were available and most patients were not able to afford extensive diagnostic work up.
Practicing in an environment where laboratories test and imaging are not readily available I learned to trust my history taking and physical exam, and to formulate a clinical assessment with just limited information. Having to serve a population with limited resources strengthen my resourcefulness and taught me about cost-effectiveness in a very direct and practical way.
During my rotation in Niger I had the opportunity to spent one week at the National Hospital of Niamey, where I was part of the team taking care of 32 patients in the women general ward. I learn about the logistics of patient care and education in a teaching hospital and the day to day life of my colleagues residents in Niger. Even though the National Hospital is one of the main three hospitals in Niamey, the capital of Niger, there are no ventilators, angiography or MRI, and most medications routinely used in US are not available there, at all. Being able to see the highest level of care that is available in one of the poorest countries in the world, compared with United States, was a humbling and enlightening experience that I feel fortunate to have had and I m positive it has enriched me no only professionally but personally.