Reserve medics rely on Nigerien help with translation

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chance Babin
  • 926th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CAMP TONDIBIAH, Niger (AFPN) --  A medical humanitarian mission can have all the doctors and medicines in the world, but the mission may not be successful without good translators.

This was true for a group of Air Force Reserve medics who treated more than 6,000 patients in the African nation of Niger.

The team deployed here with Marines who were training Nigerien soldiers in basic infantry, as part of the Trans Sahel Counter Terrorism Initiative Mobile Training Team.

Although Niger’s official language is French, the medics quickly found out the majority of their patients spoke Zarma, Housa or other regional dialects. This required translators with a broad knowledge of all the languages in the area.

“It would be practically impossible to do any type of quality care without them,” said Maj. (Dr.) Keith Schlechte, a physician with the 85th Surgeon General at Keflavik, Iceland. “Their service is invaluable.”

For many of the translators, it was their first time to work with Americans.

“It’s been very marvelous,” said Moussa Tankari, one of the seven civilian translators. “It’s the first time I’ve worked with an American doctor and the population in such a direct way. It’s something that’s benefiting the population and the translators. We are discovering new things, and my lexis is getting wider and wider, which is good for a teacher.”

Mr. Tankari, who is working with optometry doctors, said getting to witness people’s lives being improved on a daily basis is gratifying.

“I feel morally satisfied, like a miracle is being done,” Mr. Tankari said. “They would have lost their vision if nothing was done. It’s good to know that people from the other side of the world care for a poor nation and take care of the people of Niger. I’m very proud to be helping.”

Besides the Nigerien translators, the Marines have two French translators assigned to their team. The day before the rest of the medical team got started, Capt. (Dr.) Steven Tittl, 439th Aerospace Medical Squadron optometrist from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., saw more than 130 Nigerien soldiers for eye care from the unit the Marines are training. Marine Cpl. George Kelly, a French translator assigned to the Marine team, was Dr. Tittl’s translator that day.

“It was satisfying to be able to fit quite a few members of the unit we’re training,” Corporal Kelly said. “It can only help their training and combat readiness after training is over.”

“Corporal Kelly did a great job translating and helped support me with technical duties,” Dr. Tittl said. “If it wasn’t for him, we never would have been able to treat the entire company in one day.”

For the medics, good translators translate to more patients treated, which for a two-week mission is critical.

“(The translators are) invaluable for the performance of this mission,” said Capt. Andrew Gibson, a physician assistant assigned to the 6th Medical Group at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. “(Their) broad-based knowledge of culture and language translates directly to my efficiency in diagnosing and treating patients. (They are) absolutely indispensable.”

For one translator, the opportunity to work within a Nigerien community allowed him to learn a little more about his country and America.

“It’s been enriching to me,” said Ibrahim Boukary, a translator. “I think it’s a good experience in terms of practicing this kind of translating. It’s helped me discover some aspects of my community that I didn’t fully grasp until now.”