Our guest today is a Beninese female Doctor working in Gabon, who gave us the honor to respond to our questions regarding her job who is regarded as prestigious by many people throughout the world.
The Cotonou Times: Can you please introduce yourself?
Dr Àyìnkẹ́ F. Tidjani: My name is Àyìnkẹ́ Faissolath Tidjani. I am 32, I am from Porto Novo in the Benin Republic where I grew up, I am the mother of two children and I am a physician practicing medicine in Gabon for the past five years.
The Cotonou Times: Why did you choose to study medicine?
Dr Àyìnkẹ́ F. Tidjani: This was not actually my choice. It was the will of my parents, especially my father who considered that I was still young to start medical studies. This was not my dream; it was guidance from my father.
The Cotonou Times: How many academic years did you study before graduating?
Dr Àyìnkẹ́ F. Tidjani: It took me approximately eight years, while I was supposed to study seven years. I actually had to repeat one academic year.
The Cotonou Times: Please give us an approximate idea of the cost of medical studies in the Benin Republic?
Dr Àyìnkẹ́ F. Tidjani:: The cost of medical studies is on a case by case basis. As far I am concerned, I had to pay 100,000Fcfa per year for a period of seven years, which means that the total cost was approximately seven hundred thousand francs (700,000) Fcfa. And we are only talking here about tuition fees. It does not include copies, housing, transportation charges etc.
The Cotonou Times: Did you have the financial backing of the Benin Government and your family while you were studying Medicine?
Dr Àyìnkẹ́ F.Tidjani: I had no financial support from the Government since I did not qualify for a scholarship. I however had the financial backing of my parents.
The Cotonou Times: What was the main difficulty you were confronted to, while studying medicine in the Benin Republic?
Dr Àyìnkẹ́ F. Tidjani:: The main challenge was the lack of financial support. My parents were assisting, but it was not enough. Since I was studying in Cotonou, the pocket money I was receiving from my parents could hardly cover the transportation charges and the copies. My parents were helping as much as they could.
The Cotonou Times: You have been working in Gabon for some years now, what is the difference between working as a physician in Gabon and in Benin?
Dr Àyìnkẹ́ F. Tidjani: There is a huge difference in terms of wages, the consideration given and the workforce of physicians in the Benin Republic and in Gabon.There are only a few medical doctors here with respect to Benin, where we are many. A physician in Gabon is better paid than a physician in the Benin Republic.
The Cotonou Times: Please indicate if being a woman makes it more difficult to perform your duties as a medical Doctor?
Dr Àyìnkẹ́ F. Tidjani:: I do not think so as far as I am concerned, while some male patients may be reluctant to deal with a female doctor, I have never been personally confronted to this phenomenon.
The Cotonou Times: What is your advice for young people who want to study medicine?
Dr Àyìnkẹ́ F. Tidjani:: I urge them to be committed, resilient, persistent and have this valuable asset which consists in being helpful and keen on helping people. I think that it it is thanks this quality that I was able to become a medical doctor as it was initially not my choice, but rather my father’s decision.
