Medical Mission Story: Providing Essential Healthcare In Nigeria

Athletico clinicians are passionate about providing quality care that often extends far beyond the clinic walls and communities we serve. The Athletico Cares Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is proud to support clinicians in their pursuit to make a difference at home and abroad.

Hear from Kristi Van Ham, PT, DPT, about her recent medical mission trip to Nigeria with ImaBridge Africa. As a volunteer, Kristi used her training and skills as a physical therapist to provide essential healthcare services to Nigerian people living in rural communities.

What inspired you to participate in the mission trip to Nigeria with ImaBridge Africa?

I had heard about ImaBridge for a couple of years through my church and never thought much about the organization beyond donating. After I got to know some of the people involved in the organization, they planted the seed for potentially going on a future mission trip. When a couple board members found out that I was a physical therapist, they worked to convince me to go on the trip this year. They told me about the life-changing opportunity to make connections with the people in Nigeria and how much of a difference I could make. After thinking about the trip, I decided to take the opportunity, and Athletico supported me in this venture.

What are some of the healthcare challenges Nigeria faces?

Nigeria faces a myriad of issues related to healthcare, many of which are systemic within the country. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of corruption within the Nigerian political system, which means resources often do not find their way to those who need them most. The divide between urban and rural Nigeria is very stark, whereas Lagos is a major city with a decent number of resources, and the areas I was in are left wanting.

Another major issue facing Nigeria is healthcare access. Healthcare providers are few and far between outside of major cities. For many of the people we provided services to during our mission, which is the only contact they have with medical professionals all year. The population of Nigeria is one of the fastest growing in the world, so it is challenging to train enough providers to provide care for an expanding population.

Outside of access issues due to a lack of providers, poverty is the other barrier to healthcare. Over 60% of Nigerians live in poverty, which leads to various negative health implications. Many healthcare providers require payment for service, which is beyond the means of the average Nigerian. Again, due to the issues within the Nigerian political system, the government does not step in, to the degree necessary, to assist the poorer members of its populace to support healthcare access.

Can you share more about your volunteer experience?

The overall experience was amazing. The people of Nigeria are so friendly and welcoming despite many of them having very little. Nearly all the people with whom we interacted genuinely appreciated the work we (the ImaBridge team and organization) were doing to help.

ImaBridge opened a 50-bed hospital two years ago and in June 2023, they opened a physical therapy clinic. I had the opportunity to work with the physical therapist and medical director to ensure patients have carry over in their healthcare. We provided over 5,000 people with free healthcare during the three weeks we were in Nigeria. There was a young man with cerebral palsy who was provided a scooter to allow him to get around his village. Another patient was a 3-year-old female with congenital deformities in her legs, and I taught her mother exercises to help the child as she grows.

What did you take away from your trip?

On the positive side, it reinforced for me that regardless of where people are from, they are very much the same. People are proud of where they are from and want to share their culture with you. I learned so much about Nigeria and the culture that I would never have known had I not gone on this trip. I also traded contact information with a few of the people I met, and we have stayed in touch, which is very rewarding.

The most heartbreaking part of the trip was seeing firsthand the utter poverty in which many people live in Nigeria. Even though we see those struggling economically in the United States, the scope of Nigeria’s poverty is difficult to describe. As a caring person, it was difficult to know that I could not help even a small percentage of the people because there was not enough money or time. I had to learn to be happy with the small differences that we made each day and the continued difference that the ImaBridge organization makes.