Ophthalmologist

Bongolo Hospital - Gabon — Bongolo Hospital is a 158 bed hospital located in Labemba, Gabon. Bongolo is family friendly with a mix of national and expatriate staff. There are (2) operating tables with Zeiss operating microscopes in (1) large operating room thus permitting (2) procedures to be performed simultaneously. The OR is tiled and air conditioned. There is a clinic area for consultations that is also air conditioned and has 4 slit lamps, applanation tonometry and indirect ophthalmoscopy. There is a functioning Diplomax phacoemulsification machine with anterior vitrectomy capability, though usually MSICS is the preferred technique. After devotions at 7:30 am, there are grand rounds M-F. The workday typically ends at 5:00 pm with an hour lunch break. Mondays and Fridays are clinic visits only. Tuesday through Thursday is a combination of clinic and surgery. Surgeries average anywhere from 4 – 8 per day. Surgeries are currently being scheduled nine months out. There is a morning session on Wednesday for the eye clinic for an hour of teaching related to ophthalmology. There are 4 Gabonese nurses and (1) Gabonese nurse’s aide. All speak primarily French but understand some English. An optical shop with own edger will be operational soon. It is important that short term volunteers feel comfortable doing extracapsular or MSICS cataract surgery. Bongolo has instituted a three year training program in ophthalmology (currently have one 3rd year Congolese resident) and thus welcomes the help of short term ophthalmologists with a passion for teaching.

The long term expatriate ophthalmologist at Bongolo will be in the United States from approximately June 6 - September 21, 2012.

It is preferred that short term volunteers have at least 19 days, including travel, available for service. Fluency in French is preferred but there are translators available. The individual volunteer is responsible for the costs associated with the trip. World Medical Mission personnel will provide assistance in arranging international flights, in-country travel, visas, permits and/or medical licensing.

If you are a Protestant Christian physician currently licensed in the United States or Canada and are interested in filling this need, please contact or by phone 828-278-1144.