The Challenges of Practicing Medicine In Africa

(Submission by Dr. Nicolas Cominellis, visiting doctor to CEML Hospital) "This morning I arrived to the CEML Hospital find this man, who arrived with a history of weight loss (check out the cheek bones), abdominal pain, and cough for three months.  One of the greatest challenges of 'practicing medicine' in this setting is the lack of testing available.  In North America, he would immediately have a CT scan, abdominal ultrasound, chemistry 100, and a host of bacterial cultures. But out here, where most people earn in the range of $50-$100 per month, such special exams are unaffordable and non-existent except for the rich who live in the cities.  So we virtually rely on history and physical exams, which are quite limited, but just the way medicine was practiced before the 1960s.  One of the greatest challenges for healthcare professionals who come out to such low-resources communities is learning to work with very little!"

The CEML Hospital is aiming to expand its medical services and equipment to meet these medical needs: planned additional medical services would include a state-of-art ICU unit, pathology lab and examination equipment.