Medical Resident
4-month internship at Madda Walabu University and Goba Referral Hospital, Ethiopia
I am Manuela Cammelli, a fourth-year resident of General Surgery at the University of Milan. During my training I had the opportunity to participate in a four-month international collaboration experience at Madda Walabu University and Goba Referral Hospital, in Ethiopia, located in the Bale Mountains National Park area.
This period was meant to foster the sharing of skills, the mutual exchange of knowledge, the strengthening of local medical training through the learning of advanced surgical techniques – in my case laparoscopy – and the promotion of collaboration between professionals from different cultural and health backgrounds.
“This opportunity has represented an important opportunity for me to grow, both professionally and personally”.
I was welcomed by a dynamic and stimulating environment, characterized by a high degree of motivation, spirit of collaboration and strong dedication by the local health staff. This experience taught me the importance of adaptability, the quality of teamwork and the many positive effects that the ability to make the most of available resources can generate. I believe that the possibility of living and dealing with different health realities with limited resources is useful and valuable for a young doctor.
Day after day I had the opportunity to work closely with surgeons, doctors in training and university students, actively participating in daily clinical activities: operating room, ward visits, outpatient activities and emergency room. In this context, general surgery encompasses a broad spectrum of disciplines, in particular abdominal and oncological surgery, proctology, urology, pediatric surgery, senology, endocrine surgery, neurosurgery, traumatology and orthopedics.
The experience was not limited to the care activity but also included moments of teaching and discussion with students and postgraduates, in a continuous exchange of knowledge and skills. I participated in university exams, refresher meetings, some research activities and laparoscopic training sessions contributing to the creation of the Laparoscopic Skills Laboratory, a project aimed at improving and making practical training in minimally invasive surgery accessible.
I was also invited to hold a workshop on the opportunities and challenges of studying medicine, during which I recounted my training experience, sharing the goals achieved and the difficulties faced along the way. The meeting represented an important opportunity for discussion with the participants and allowed me to encourage, in particular, girls to undertake a course of study in medicine.
Laparoscopy in Ethiopia is still not widespread and mainly concentrated in the capital, Addis Ababa. Thanks to the commitment of the Ethiopian surgeon Kebebe Bekele, the network of international collaborations built over time (via LinkedIn) and the numerous donations received, the Goba Referral Hospital has managed to equip itself with two laparoscopic towers and to organize training programs with groups from different countries, including Spain, France, Greece, Italy and England. Currently, Ethiopian surgeons operate laparoscopic cholecystectomy independently. In addition, funds from various local and international associations have enabled local doctors to carry out training periods abroad.
During this time in Goba I breathed a very rich atmosphere both from a professional and human point of view. I met extraordinary, competent and passionate people, with a great desire to get involved, grow and open up to the world. I was struck by their enthusiasm in building new opportunities for their territory and the strong desire to contribute to the development of the local health and university reality.
I found a community that believes in the value of investing in people, training and health. A community that looks to the future with determination and that wants to improve its hospital and the services offered to citizens, aware that the growth of these realities represents a fundamental resource for everyone.
This trip also allowed me to discover an Ethiopia that I did not know. A country rich in potential, culture, traditions and extraordinary natural beauty. Among the most vivid memories I will certainly take with me the Bale Mountains National Park: breathtaking landscapes, unique fauna and flora, immense silences and a still authentic nature, capable of surprising and leaving people speechless.
I have learned to appreciate even more the richness that comes from the encounter between different cultures. Through the food, traditions, stories and everyday life of the people I met, I had the opportunity to get in touch with a way of life different from mine, but surprisingly close in fundamental values: the sense of community, hospitality, resilience and the desire to build a better future.
I return from this experience with new professional skills, but above all with a broader view of the world. I carry with me the memory of people who through their testimony in the workplace and in the various community contexts have taught me a lot. In particular, I take away the awareness of the value of collaboration and the certainty that the exchange between different realities represents an extraordinary opportunity for mutual growth. Ethiopia has left me much more than I imagined: it has given me encounters, emotions and teachings that will continue to accompany me over time.
