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The Advanced Medical & Public Health Internship recently hosted an illuminating session where interns had the privilege of learning from three distinguished medical professionals from Nigeria: Dr. Aishatu Adamu, Dr. Aminu Abba Yusuf, and Dr. Fatima Damagum. This session focused on the four major diseases affecting the developing world: typhoid, anemia, malaria, and ARIs (Acute Respiratory Infections). The expertise and personal stories shared by these doctors provided a deep and engaging learning experience for the interns.
Dr. Aishatu Adamu, a renowned public health expert, began the session with an overview of the four major diseases. She emphasized the impact of these diseases on global health and the importance of early diagnosis and effective treatment.
Dr. Fatima Damagum, a primary care physician, captivated the interns with her storytelling approach. She shared the historical account of “Typhoid Mary,” a cook in the early 1900s who became infamous for unknowingly spreading typhoid fever to numerous people. Her narrative not only highlighted the historical context of typhoid fever but also underscored the ongoing challenges in controlling its spread.
Intern Marisa Aguirre enjoyed the story about Typhoid Mary, saying, “I really enjoyed learning about typhoid mainly because of the Typhoid Mary story. This story got me hooked on the topic and I discovered that the transmission process is super interesting.”
Dr. Aminu Abba Yusuf, a hematologist and passionate advocate for malaria prevention, shared his personal journey and how his struggles with malaria inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. “Growing up, I struggled with a lot of malaria,” Dr. Aminu recounted. “My own experiences with the disease and talking to a lot of doctors inspired me to be one.” His story resonated deeply with the interns, illustrating the profound impact that personal experiences can have on professional choices and advocacy.
Dr. Aminu’s story resonated with intern Nimret Sarao who said, “I think malaria was my favorite disease to learn about because out of all of them it was the one I heard of the most. My mom and dad are from India so I have been there many times and it is kind of common in some parts of there. I did not know a lot about it before so I liked learning about it.”
The session also included detailed discussions on the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these diseases. Dr. Aminu, Dr. Aishatu, and Dr. Fatima emphasized the importance of community education and preventive measures. They discussed strategies for reducing the incidence of these diseases, such as vaccination campaigns, improved sanitation, and the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets.
The interactive nature of the session allowed interns to ask questions and engage in discussions with the doctors. Interns were particularly interested in the challenges of implementing public health initiatives in resource-limited settings and the innovative solutions being developed to overcome these obstacles.
One of the highlights of the session was when interns got to put this knowledge to use and brainstorm for their public health campaigns focused on the prevention and treatment of the four major diseases. Working in groups, they brainstormed ideas and presented their campaigns to the doctors, receiving valuable feedback and suggestions. This hands-on experience not only reinforced their learning but also encouraged creative thinking and collaboration.
Intern Daniel Jackson said, “Disease overviews were my favorite presentations because they taught me about the diseases I will need to know in order to accurately diagnose a patient. It was also interesting to learn about how these diseases affect people in Africa and to understand how they can be prevented.”
In conclusion, the session with Dr. Aishatu, Dr. Aminu, and Dr. Fatima was a transformative experience for the interns. Their expertise, personal stories, and engaging teaching methods provided a comprehensive understanding of the major diseases affecting the developing world. The insights gained from this session will undoubtedly inspire and guide the interns in their future careers in global health.
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