Galmi Hospital
Galmi, Niger
- Hospital Website
- www.galmi.org
- Mission Organization
- Serving in Mission (SIM)
- Language Requirement
- French is greatly appreciated as translators are limited.
- Minimum Time Requirement
- One month normally required, unless surgical subspecialties Ophthalmology/long term only
- Profile
- Galmi is a 184-bed hospital, located in a remote but well-traveled area at the edge of the Sahara Desert. The hospital has a total staff of around 200, including 20 to 30 missionaries that live on the mission compound. Galmi has inpatient medical, obstetric, and surgical services and runs a PAACS Surgical Training Program. The occupancy rate varies between 70% and 150%, and admissions range from 10 to 50 per day, depending on the epidemic season. The hospital has specific under-5s, antenatal, HIV, and dental care as well as general medical and surgical clinics. There are between five and 10 major surgeries performed daily. Evangelists assist in the hospital's holistic care and visit with each patient. The hospital also has a very busy outpatient department, with 200 to 500 people seen daily. Galmi Hospital primarily serves settled farmers, traders, and nomadic people of the Hausa, Fulani, and Tamajeq tribes of Niger, although some of the patients come from surrounding countries for care.
- Travel
- Volunteers fly by commercial airline into the city of Niamey. The next morning you will take a SIM mission flight to Galmi. Volunteers must arrive in Niamey Monday-Thursday. The volunteer will take a SIM flight the day after arrival in Niamey. The SIM flight does not go out on Sundays and is not always available on Saturdays.
- Time Difference
- +5 hours Daylight Savings Time (EST), U.S.A.; +6 hours Eastern Standard Time, U.S.A.
- Location
- The hospital is located 500 km east of Niamey in a remote Hausa area at the edge of the Sahara Desert. The village of Galmi is in the southern part of Niger and has a population of 8,000 to 10,000 people. Though situated on the main road that runs east and west across the country, Galmi is still a “bush town.” It consists of a dry landscape with rocks, sand, and scrubby bushes for scenery.
- People
- Ninety percent of Niger's citizens live in a narrow grain-producing strip of savanna along the southern border. The local tribes around Galmi include the Hausa, Fulani, Tuareg, and Djerma, with Hausa being the most prominent.
- Language
- French, but Hausa is the language of most patients.
- Religion
- About 95 percent of the patients at Galmi are Muslim. Islamic beliefs are blended with traditional religious practices.
- Climate
- The cool season runs from December to February, with temperatures ranging from 55F (middle of the night) to 95F (middle of the day). The hottest months are April, May, and October, with temperatures ranging from 90F––110F (often higher in April and May). The rainy season is from June to September, with temperatures between 80F–100F. It is moderately humid in the rainy season. Homes in Galmi have evaporative coolers or air conditioning.
- Housing
- The housing units range from a single, one-bedroom apartment to houses with three to four bedrooms. These are simply furnished with a bed(s), stove, small refrigerator, minimal furniture, evaporative coolers, and flush toilets. Blankets and quilts are available for the cold season.
- Food
- Volunteers are responsible for preparing their own meals. There is a food co-op open on Wednesdays located on the missionary compound. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available according to season (December to March is the peak season; few are available during the summer months). Many items are available in Niamey, but trips are rarely made due to the distance.
- Charting
- English or French. Translators are available for patient interaction.
- Surgery
- There are (3) operating rooms with a total of (4) tables. Anywhere from five to twelve major surgeries are performed daily averaging 9,000 surgeries per year. A large number of emergency C-sections are performed each year. There is basic surgical equipment and some orthopedic equipment. There are electrocautery machines and suction machines. Minimal laparoscopic equipment is available. Galmi is a Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons or PAACS program participant. PAACS has established surgical training programs at Christian hospitals across Africa. PAACS residents rotate working under the surgical sub-specialists. Short-term volunteers in both general surgery and sub-specialties (including anesthesia and radiology) should understand that teaching and not doing cases is their primary goal. The curriculum is similar to the United States with both formal lecturing and hands-on. Volunteers should be in direct contact with hospital field staff prior to departure to prepare for their teaching role. For more information on PAACS, visit http://www.paacs.net.
- Anesthesia
- The majority of cases are done under spinal anesthesia. Ketamine, local, and general anesthesia (using halothane) are also available.
- Radiology/Ultrasound
- No radiologist currently on staff. Basic X-rays and several small ultrasound machines are available. A radiologist volunteering short term would work with current staff to improve their ultrasound techniques and interpretation of X-rays.
- Laboratory/Pathology
- Lab is capable of basic serology and limited chemistries, including malaria smears, HIV testing, CD4 counts and urine/stool examination (see Galmi Protocol booklet for details). No bacteriology capability or pathology (except GRAM stains). All pathology specimens are sent to the United States.
- Pediatrics
- Average of 50 children seen each day in the pediatric clinic, but varies greatly from season to season. Hospital is full with over fifty children. Niger has the world’s highest birth rate and the fourth highest infant mortality rate. The majority of Galmi’s inpatient medical population is pediatric.
- Dental
- The dental clinic is equipped with chair, suction, and autoclave instruments for doing extractions and restorative work and prosthesis equipment. Medicines include lidocaine with epinephrine dental cartridges.
- Common Diseases/Trauma
- Common diseases seen include malaria, typhoid, obstetric complications, meningitis, hypertension, heart disease, TB, pneumonia, severe burns, orthopedic problems, urological emergencies, and malnutrition.
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