Program location
The program takes place in Ile Ife, Nigeria, approximately three hours north northeast of the capital city of Lagos.
Climate/weather
Although Nigeria lies wholly within the tropical zone, there are wide climatic variations in different areas of the country. Near the coast, the seasons are not sharply defined. Temperatures rarely exceed 32°C (90°F), but humidity is very high and nights are hot. Inland, there are two distinct seasons: a wet season from April to October, with generally lower temperature and a dry season from November to March, with midday temperatures that surpass 38°C (100°F) but relatively cool nights. Average rainfall along the coast varies from 70 inches in the west to about 170 inches in certain parts of the east. Inland it decreases to around 50 inches over most of central Nigeria and only 20 inches in the extreme north.
Mailing address
Ile Ife Seventh-day Adventist Hospital, PMB 5513, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
Program description
Within the first days of arrival, participants will receive a brief in-country orientation, providing basic information and background of the health care and the medical education system of the country. Participants are asked to bring an adventuresome spirit and represent a Seventh-day Adventist Christian lifestyle during their time on site.
Participants will be under the direction of Dr. Herb Giebel at Ile Ife Adventist Hospital. The hospital is both a community-based and hospital-based, full-service hospital with 155 beds. Services offered include primary health care (outpatient clinic), public health, and general surgery. Rotation availability may vary depending on the time of year, the number of SIMS participants at one time, and local conditions.
Rotation activities may include working with physicians and hospital staff at the hospital, patient education in the community, and assisting staff during community health mobile clinics.
Mobile clinics
Participants will participate in community health mobile clinics organized by the Hospital. There are as many as three mobile clinic sites. Areas of focus include maternal and child health, immunizations, and health education--all are essential components to health care.
Depending on a variety of factors, participants may participate in health-care activities at Jengri Adventist Hospital, a rural hospital towards the North. The hospital in Jengri has up to 10 rural health clinics.
Languages
English is the official language of Nigeria. However, Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, and a number of indigenous languages are regionally important.
Accommodations
Lodging will be either in a guest room in a dormitory-style building located one block away from the hospital or with a homestay family. Guest rooms have one or two single beds with community bathrooms and a kitchen located down the hall. Rooms with private baths are available but are more expensive.
Participants are welcome to purchase vegetarian meals at hospital's cafeteria or buy food at the local supermarket. Participants may arrange to eat lunches with missionary families but will be responsible for providing their own breakfasts and dinners. Oatmeal, cold cereals, whole wheat bread, peanut butter, granola, pasta, rice, potatoes, and a range of fresh vegetables represent a sampling of the food items that are available for purchase at a local supermarket located two miles from the hospital.
Participants have the option of hiring local help to cook meals and do laundry for a cost of $50.00 per month.
Transportation to site
Participants are responsible for arranging their own air travel to Lagos, Nigeria. From there, participants will either be met at the airport by hospital staff or will have to stay overnight at a local hotel in town until the following day. They will then be transported to the site.
Eligibility
This program is open to all levels of medical students, residents in training, and/or board certified physicians. Public health students and allied health professionals are also welcome to participate.
Program fee
The program fee includes pre-departure orientation materials and guidance, round-trip airport transportation, and hotel accommodation upon arrival and departure from site, food, and lodging. The program fee does not include airfare to Lagos, Nigeria, international health and evacuation insurance, passport or visa fees, and other expenses of a personal nature like weekend activities. The following costs are based on a four-week rotation and subject to change in conjunction with the site.
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Housing cost: |
$40.00/week |
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Food cost: |
$8.00/day |
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Transport to site fee: |
$50.00/ride (to and from airport upon arrival and departure) |
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Add. in-country fees: |
$10.00/night (hotel in Lagos upon arrival and departure) |
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Estimated total cost: |
$600.00 |
Country information
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ngtoc.html
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
Entry requirements
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html#p
Comments from former student interns
After one year of medical school I spent a month at the Ile Ife Seventh-day Adventist hospital. This month was packed with learning. Though I'd never entered an operating room, the surgeons, both LLU alumni, immediately taught me to scrub in. I retracted and even learned to tie knots and suture. In the outpatient department, I watched both American and Nigerian physicians examine patients. I was also allowed to participate in the physical exams. When outside the hospital, I was with the American doctors' families. They adopted me, housing me in their homes, doing my laundry and providing delicious vegetarian meals and purified water. The trip was also spiritually rewarding. Seeing doctors pray with dying patients, participating in daily family worships, and even preaching in a jungle village church reminded me that God's presence knows no boundaries.
I would encourage other students to be involved as much has possible. There is great opportunity for learning and personal growth. Plan in advance and investigate the trip and site so as to be as prepared as you can be. Expect surprises.
I was gone for four weeks and ran through the gamut of reactions to missionary work. Slowly, I got used to bathing from a bucket and the overwhelming smells on the wards. As I got used to the accents, I could discuss cases with the Nigerian doctors as well as discover their means of treatment for everything from HIV to infant malaria.
Last Revised: Mon, Jan 08, 2007
