Niger sees the light

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Together with doctors from Turkey, we went to Niger, where there is one oculist per a million people. Witnessing the joy and gratitude of Nigeriens whom we brought to the light, we are now waiting for new journeys.

In a hot summer morning, the whole health team gathered at the headquarters of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation in Fatih district of Istanbul. We all were quite excited and nervous at the time when the preparations were completed and the time of departure arrived. On one hand, we were getting to know new members of the team; while on the other hand, we were growing the hope of ending the journey safely. We left Istanbul for a different continent for our brothers and sisters we don’t know but who needed our help, feeling the excitement of traveling long distances to help those who needed us.

After arriving at the Nigerien capital of Niamey, we went for a tour around the city to observe locals, their life, the country and its nature since we had to wait for the scorching equatorial weather to ease down to make a land trip. The capital city of Niamey is like a huge town. Avenues, stores and immense buildings we had expected to see were almost nonexistent here. Several official buildings, small makeshift stores, markets place where grains, rice and onions were sold and the river, the main source of water, flowing through the city were signs that it was the capital city.

We arrived in the town of Tessou, where we would perform cataract surgeries, after a 16-hour land journey in yellow desert lands with sparse flora spanning on both sides of the road. Here was small and impoverished African town where everywhere was sandy. In this country where there is one oculist per a million people, it is so hard to meet simple and basic needs such as food, water and personal cleaning materials let alone undergoing treatment.

Locals provide their two-liter daily water need from water wells which they can reach after walking long distances on foot. They live on a kind of grain mash resembling millet, grasshopper meat and rarely goat meat. Although we were staying in one of the most comfortable place in the city, we couldn’t get rid of lizards on the walls and mosquitoes flying on our meals.

Extreme weathers rule here; apart from shortage of water, locals are suffering from widespread poverty. However, Nigeriens are smiling, optimistic, cordial, contented with what they have and behave resignedly despite all the problems.

As soon as arriving in Tessou, we organized the room that would be used as the operating room and set up our equipment inside the room. As we were making necessary preparations, hundreds of Nigerien men and women were waiting in the sandy garden for their turn. The hope reflected on the faces from clouded eyes; waiting in the sun the whole day and on the sand till morning with no complaint; smiling faces of people whose eyes were brought to the light the other day; restless lips thanking and reciting prayers incessantly; glitter and happiness on the black faces… The situation in the garden of the hospital was proud-inspiring. We were feeling the pride of telling our poor African Muslims brothers and sisters who were living in resignation, submission and peace “We are at your side; we came to help you;” witnessing light in their eyes, happiness and smile on their faces and prayers on their lips…

While preparing to return to Turkey, feeling the aspiration to help more people and peace of heart to have helped some, I remembered one of my relatives, who had thrust some money into my hands to be donated to the IHH, saying, “Treat a patient on my behalf with this money and tell him/her my greeting; God is contented with what man is contented with.” As I felt the harsh conditions of Niger even within 10 days, I remembered the charitable Turkish citizens who stayed out of their country blessed with countless bounties for months or years to help people living in Africa or other impoverished regions worldwide.

On our way back to home, we hoped to set out again for our African brothers and sisters who are hopefully waiting for us, who smile in happiness when bandages on their eyes are removed and candidly pray for the help they get…