Site Information Sheet
Bère Health Center
Bère, Tchad
Program location
Béré Hospital is a 50-bed hospital in Béré, Tchad, in the sub-Saharan south of the country. It is the district hospital and referral centre for 13 health clinics and a 140,000 population. The paved road ends 25 miles away and there is no electricity or plumbing in the village, except at the hospital and two other small mission stations. The village has about 20,000 people that live in mud huts and grow rice, peanuts, and millet.
Climate/weather
The town of Bère is located in hot, dry, flatlands with mango and other trees dotting the plains. The rainy season is from May to September, during which everything turns green and the crops of rice, millet, corn, and sweet potatoes are planted and harvested. Sunrise and sunset occurs around 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. year round with a slight variation of half to one hour.
Mailing address
Hôpital Adventiste de Bère, BP 52, Kélo, Tchad, Africa
Program description
While at Bère, participants will learn about the huge differences between bush/tropical medicine and medicine in a developed country by actively being involved in laboratory diagnosis, consultations, hospital rounds, surgeries, and chaplaincy work.
Site size
Bère Hospital is a small hospital with 50 beds of which 50 percent are regularly occupied. The hospital sees 15-20 outpatients per day and doctors perform 0-2 surgeries per day.
Services offered at site
- Primary surgery
- Basic laboratory including blood transfusions
- Pediatrics
- Med-Surgery
- OB/GYN
- Tuberculosis wards
- Radiology/Ultrasound (in near future)
- Labor and delivery
- Dental extractions
- Operative obstetrics
Program details
Languages
Chad is a very culturally diverse nation. Among the manifestations of this diversity is the extremely large number of languages spoken there. Although the only official languages in Chad are Arabic and French, there are also more than 100 tribal languages spoken. Participants are not required to speak French or Arabic to go to Chad. However, students with a working knowledge of either French or Arabic will have more opportunity to participate in hospital activities.
Accommodations
The hospital will provide free lodging for participants. However, participants are encouraged to bring sheets and mosquito nets. With regard to food, participants will be responsible to prepare their own breakfasts and dinners. Lunch will be prepared for hospital staff, and participants will be expected to contribute a small amount to a general "pot" which will cover the costs of lunches. The hospital encourages participants to bring rice, beans, peanut butter, and other staples from home to supplement foods in Chad. Pasta and canned products are available for purchase in N’Djamena, but options are limited. Other amenities at the site include running water and a few hours electricity during the day.
Transportation to Site
The only international airport in the country is in the capital N'Djamena. It is a 6-8 hour long ride on mostly paved road. For a $100 gas fee, the hospital truck can be sent to pick you up. If you arrive at night, arrangements can be made for you to stay at a $10 per night mission guesthouse in N'Djaména.
Eligibility
This site recruits students and professionals in all of the health professions.
Program fee
Program fees include food, lodging, and transport from the arrival airport to the site. Program fees do not include air travel or personal travel while in the country. The following costs are based on a four-week stay and subject to change in conjunction with the site.
| Housing cost: |
Free |
| Food cost: |
$5.00/day |
| Transport to site fee: |
$100.00 each way |
| Estimated total cost: |
$250.00 |
Comments/Suggestions
Here are some suggestions from previous students on what to bring: Camera, reading material (evenings can be quiet), portable music device, power plug adapters (we're 220), batteries/rechargeable batteries, a flashlight, rain jacket with hood or even an umbrella in the rainy season, photos of where you're from to show curious locals or to console yourself with if prone to homesickness, toiletries--are available only in the capital and are rather expensive (soap for dishes, laundry, and shower are available locally). Some people bring clothes that they don't like or that are getting old (but are still usable) to wear while they are here and then give them away when they leave, thus helping another person as well as creating room in their bag for souvenirs. Definitely bring clothes that are easy to care for and you don't mind getting a little travel worn. Food/snacks that you might miss. A solid pair of sandals. Copy of passport and visa.
Dress code: Scrubs. No shorts or "spaghetti-straps" for girls, tank tops and loose pants are accepted, but skirts are more appreciated.
Equipment to bring: Stethoscope, torch flashlight, own gloves if possible.
Recommended reading: apart from a high incidence of malaria, HIV/AIDS, we see a lot of hernias, hydroceles, and TB cases so you might want to read up on those before you arrive.
Emailing / calls home: The hospital does not have electricity except the few hours a day when the generator is on. There are no phones or Internet. There is cell phone coverage at the hospital. If you are staying for a long time you might consider getting a local "pay as you go" cell phone.
Country information
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cd.html
Entry requirements
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html#p
