Caring for Nomads

Mobile health clinics in Niger

By ALIMA

May 30^th, 2017

In northeastern Niger's Tchintabaraden region, access to health care can be difficult for nomadic populations that live in the desert.

Camels rest in the shade of a nomadic camp, some 30 kilometers outside of Tchintabaraden.

To help provide medical services to people who have little to no access to health centers, ALIMA (The Alliance for International Medical Action), in collaboration with their national NGO partner BEFEN (Bien-être des Femmes et des Enfants au Niger), created a mobile health clinic, which travels each month throughout the area with a team of doctors and nurses, to provide care to nomadic populations.

The mobile health clinic consults patients at a nomadic camp in Tandarboka, 40km from Tchintabaraden.

"Many of them are pastoralists, always moving from place to place in search of food and water for their animals, with little or no access to medical care. We have therefore adapted to these local realities by creating mobile clinics that go to meet people and not the other way around. For most people, this is the first time they are receiving care like this."

- Doctor Aziz Abaradine Almoustapha, a medical supervisor for ALIMA in Niger

The mobile health care teams travel as far as 80 kilometers from Tchintabaraden, the department capital, into the desert to provide both preventative and curative care.

A vehicle from the mobile health clinic heads out to find nomadic camps.

When a vehicle arrives at one of the nomadic camps, the team sets up a small, temporary treatment area and begin consultations.

Members of the mobile health team arrive at a nomadic camp in Inamo, 30 kilometers from Tchintabaraden.

Mobile health teams talk with nomads who have set up camp in Inamo.

Care for pregnant women and children under the age of five is free. Kids receive routine vaccines, vitamins and de-worming medication, depending on their needs. Patients requiring specialized care are referred to the nearest hospital or health center.

Health workers register patients at a mobile health center.

Dr. Oumarou vaccinates a young patient at a nomadic camp.

Each time the mobile health clinic team arrives at a camp, medical staff distribute and update health cards, in order to keep track of each patient's medical history.

"These books allow the patients to carry with them their medical history from one migration zone to another, which results in better care."

- Dr. Abdul Azizi

Dr Abdoul Azizi updates a patient's medical records.

Fatimatou, 28, carries her son's vaccination card to his consultation.

In addition to the mobile health clinic, there is also a mobile phone health care service in place since February 2017. ALIMA/BEFEN has trained 48 community liaison agents, and given them mobile phones and a stock of basic medications. The nomads can come to the community agents when sick and the agent will call a doctor in Tchintabaraden to describe the symptoms and issue a suitable course of treatment.

Mariama, currently camped out in Inamo, describes the symptoms her son is suffering from to a doctor in Tchintabaraden.

"Before we had to bring the children to Tchintabaraden for medical care, but now we no longer need to travel that far. In addition to vaccination and medication support from the mobile clinic, there is a community liaison agent who gives us information about general health and prevention."

- Almadinatou, mother of 2-year-old Mohamed Ghaliou

Moutou Tonka, 30, holds her child during a vaccine injection.

Thanks to funding from the European Union, ALIMA/BEFEN teams have consulted more than 5,000 patients since the mobile health clinic project began in May 2016. Around 350 people have benefited from the mobile phone service.