Mandégan-Bignona: a medical caravan addresses the urgent needs of the population

In the remote villages of Casamance, access to healthcare remains a daily challenge. To break this isolation, Ziguinchor Medical Assistance (ZAM) organizes a ten-day medical caravan each year, mobilizing doctors and specialists to meet the urgent needs of the populations of Ziguinchor, Kolda, and Sédhiou.

Dr. Bigué Séne, a general practitioner, reiterates the initiative's philosophy: "Educate, treat, and cure." Therapeutic education is central to this mission, ensuring patients understand their illnesses and adhere to treatment. A wide range of specialties are represented: general medicine for men and women, cardiology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, urology, dental care, and nursing. Consultations reveal a high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and skin conditions in children, as well as lower back pain and digestive disorders.

Dr. Monique Badji, a pharmacist and phytocosmetologist, emphasizes the human dimension of this campaign: “We are children of Casamance. We are here to help our relatives who do not have access to certain medical care.” She points out that cardiology, ophthalmology, and dentistry are the most requested services, proof that the needs far exceed the capacity of local health centers.

For the residents, this mobile clinic is a breath of fresh air. Salimata Bodian, who came to see an ophthalmologist and a dentist, testifies: "The service offered is very good. There is a health post here, but it's not developed enough. Many suffer from eye problems because of our work. This visit is a real opportunity."

Beyond consultations, ZAM's medical caravan embodies concrete solidarity. It serves as a reminder that health is a fundamental right and that every diagnosis made in these remote villages is a victory against healthcare injustice. In the patients' eyes, one can see gratitude and hope: the hope of no longer being forgotten.