Migrant to Migrant – How A Guinean Doctor in Morocco Gave Aicha a Future

Aicha, a young woman from Kankan in Guinea's Kindia region, has faced unimaginable hardships since birth. Orphaned and raised by her visually impaired grandmother in abject poverty, Aicha endured severe joint pain from childhood.
Diagnosed with sickle-cell anaemia and rheumatoid arthritis, she recalls, “I've always had pain, ever since I was little. But in Guinea, there weren't many resources to treat me properly.”

In 2022, at 22, Aicha embarked on a hopeful journey to Morocco, invited by a cousin who promised to support her surgery. She carried 65,000 dirhams (USD6,500) painstakingly saved in Guinea. Upon arrival, her cousin vanished with the money, leaving her destitute in a foreign land.

Lost and abandoned, Aicha resorted to begging to survive. “When I arrived in Morocco, I didn't know a soul. I was lost and alone without any means of support,” she said.

For six months, she lived in dire conditions, despite the sporadic help from sympathetic neighbours. “Every day, I wondered how I was going to survive. The neighbours were kind, but it wasn't enough,” she recalls.
During this tumultuous time, Aicha met Dr Paul, a Guinean doctor specializing in trauma surgery at the Rabat military hospital. Moved by her plight, Dr Paul and his wife provided shelter, food, and medical care. “I am infinitely grateful to Dr Paul. Without him, I don't know what would have become of me,” she says.

Recognizing the limits of his own resources, Dr Paul sought assistance from local associations and a church in Rabat, eventually connecting with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). With IOM Morocco's support, Aicha received a prosthesis for her leg, marking a turning point in her journey and a sense of security in a time of great need.
Aicha dreams of a better life, far from the suffering she has endured. While she longs to return to Guinea, her health needs and lack of family support there would make living independently extremely challenging and make this an unviable option. “I'd like to go home, but without help, I couldn't survive there” she says.

Now, she hopes to find refuge in a specialized centre where she can receive necessary care and perhaps learn a trade. “I'd like to learn something new, like pastry-making, to have a future,” she confides.

Dr Paul, who is set to return to Guinea in 2025, is actively seeking a permanent solution for Aicha. His dedication underscores the profound impact that solidarity and humanity can have on a person's life. Aicha's story is a poignant reminder of the challenges migrants face and the miracles made possible by compassion and support.
            

The assistance Aicha received was made possible by the “Comprehensive Protection Program For Vulnerable Migrant Populations And Host Communities In Morocco (CPP)” funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The overall objective of the program is to contribute to Morocco's efforts to strengthen access to integrated protection services for migrants and host communities. The assistance Aïcha received falls within the specific objective of strengthening the protection and well-being of migrants in vulnerable situations through the provision of direct assistance, including healthcare, legal and administrative assistance.

In 2023, IOM Morocco assisted 5,345 people with medical care, including consultations and medicines.