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finding an english-speaking doctor in bouaké (and why it felt like a scavenger hunt)

@Olivia Dawn2/8/2026blog


i landed in bouaké with a suitcase, a laptop, and a sinus infection that felt like someone was inflating my head with a bicycle pump. i wasn't here as a tourist. i was here to shoot a documentary on local artisans, and i needed to find a doctor who wouldn't just nod and prescribe me whatever was on the top shelf.

*bouaké* isn't exactly known for its english-speaking anything. french is king here, and if you're rolling in with zero french, you're in for a ride. the city's population is around 750,000, and it's the second-largest in côte d'ivoire, but it's not exactly a medical tourism hotspot. rent here is cheap-like, $200 a month for a decent place cheap-but that doesn't mean healthcare is easy to navigate.

the search



i started with the obvious: google. typed in "english-speaking doctor bouaké." got nothing useful. then i tried "médecin qui parle anglais bouaké." still nothing. so i did what any slightly desperate freelancer would do-i asked strangers.

i hit up a few local facebook groups, including the bouaké expats group and even the côte d'ivoire digital nomads subreddit. one guy, who claimed to be a retired diplomat, messaged me saying, "there's a dr. amani at clinique la providence. he studied in the uk. but he's always booked." another person warned me, "don't go to the public hospital unless you want to wait 8 hours and leave with a mystery prescription."

the visit



i finally got an appointment with dr. amani. the clinic was clean, but the air conditioning was fighting a losing battle against the heat. he spoke perfect english, but he looked at me like i was the third person that day to complain about sinus issues. he prescribed antibiotics and told me to avoid the street food for a while. easy for him to say-he wasn't here to film a documentary about local cuisine.

cost? about 15,000 cfa ($25) for the consultation, plus another 10,000 for the meds. not cheap by local standards, but i wasn't about to argue with someone holding a prescription pad.

the verdict



finding an english-speaking doctor in bouaké is possible, but it's not plug-and-play. you need patience, a bit of french, and a willingness to ask around. if you're coming here for work or travel, don't assume you'll find one easily. and if you do, book early.

nearby cities like yamoussoukro (about 2 hours away) or even abidjan (4-5 hours by car) have more options, but that's a whole day trip for a checkup. and let's be real-when you're sick, you don't want to be on a bus for 5 hours.

if you're planning to stay in bouaké, learn a few key french phrases. even "je ne me sens pas bien" (i don't feel well) can go a long way. and maybe pack some of your own meds, just in case.

quick tips



- ask in expat or digital nomad groups before you arrive
- bring a local friend or translator if possible
- clinics are better than public hospitals for speed and cleanliness
- cash is king-most places don't take cards
- don't wait until you're really sick to start looking

final thoughts



bouaké is a city with heart, hustle, and a lot of dust. it's not set up for english-speaking medical tourists, but it's not impossible either. just be prepared, be polite, and maybe don't eat that third plate of alloco if your stomach is already iffy.

and if you're wondering, yes, i finished the documentary. no, i didn't avoid the street food completely. and yes, i got sick again. but that's a story for another day.

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About the author: Olivia Dawn

Writing with intent and a dash of humor.

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