Clinical Traineeship in West Africa: PMU students share their experiences from Togo

Marie, Lisa-Maria, and Emanuel, medical students at PMU’s Nuremberg campus, completed their clinical traineeship in Togo, West Africa, as part of a pilot project—an experience that profoundly shaped them both professionally and personally. Rotating through the pediatric ward, operating theater, and gynecology clinic, they encountered a healthcare system fundamentally different from Europe’s.

During their stay, the students were integrated into daily clinical routines in pediatrics, surgery, and gynecology, assisting with examinations and treatments. Throughout their internship, they developed essential skills to provide the best possible care for their patients, even when resources were scarce and options limited. Their work focused on prenatal care, gynecological cancer screening, urological prostate examinations, and the treatment of children with a wide range of symptoms.

What will stay with the students most vividly are the moments when the lack of resources and poverty were acutely felt:

“In Togo, health is always tied to money. Many people only come to the hospital very late—sometimes too late. This showed us how privileged we are with our healthcare system.”

This experience prompted deep reflection, especially when compared to the Central European healthcare system, where medical care is accessible regardless of immediate costs.

Fundraising Success

Even before their departure, the fundraising goal of €10,000 was met. With these funds, the University of Kara organized two days of free medical examinations and treatments for people in the region.

Many Highlights—Medical and Human

“We had the chance to meet many wonderful people who spent time with us, welcomed us, and from whom we learned so much. The Togolese staff from the FiBassar association, who looked after us on site, became like family to us.”

Medically, the encounter with diseases rarely seen in Central Europe, such as malaria, was particularly impressive. The students also assisted in complex procedures, including a thigh amputation, and were able to practice suturing and refine their clinical examination skills.

The traineeship in Togo powerfully demonstrated how enriching international medical experiences can be—for both the students and the local community.

translated by le Chat