A testimonial from Danielle Back, an

American volunteer: This past month, I have

been working at the Promotion and Human
Development (PDH) social centre in Lome,
Togo. During my time here, I have learned an
incredible amount about public health, human
rights, and the many individuals working at a
grassroots level to support real social change in
Togo.

My first hospital visit with PDH was to visit Afi

Apenou, a two-year old girl who was
hospitalized from an infected abdominal
abscess. After emergency surgery, Afi remained at the hospital for nearly a month with her doctors
worrying that her wound might become reinfected. Following Afi's case, advocating for her patient
rights, and seeing her slowly heal made me realize how important medical advocacy is; this
experience humanized the theoretical and often detached scientific field of medicine. In fact, because
of my experiences here, I am now certain that I will attend medical school after I graduate from my
undergraduate studies in the United States.

Not all of the stories at PDH are happy ones. In fact, Afi's
story itself explains some of the difficulties that PDH
encounters when working in a developing country.
Because Afi's parents are very poor, they waited for
three weeks after Afi developed the stomach abscess
before bringing her to the hospital. Thus, by the time Afi
reached the hospital, she was in critical condition and
required an emergency operation. Additionally, during
her stay at CHU-Tokoin, one of the main hospitals in
Lomé, Afi contracted malaria because the hospital lacks
window screens and mosquito nets (even though
hospital patients are more susceptible to falling ill to
malaria due to their weakened immune systems).

These social constraints (poverty, lack of development, lack of adequate government support) are the
same constraints that PDH faces when the centre works to
support HIV/AIDS individuals and their children, those with social
difficulties, and homeless and impoverished children.

Although it has been a difficult experience, working and living in

Togo, it has also been a very rewarding journey. I have met some
of the most inspiring people through my work at PDH, traveled
around Western Africa (Lac Togo, Togoville, and Ghana), and
have learned a great deal about myself and my aspirations. I
would encourage any future volunteers to step outside their
comfort zones and confront the beautiful tragedy that is Togo.
(Togo Monde 76, January 2011)