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Finding an English-Speaking Doctor in Brazzaville: Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You

@Aria Bennett2/7/2026blog
Finding an English-Speaking Doctor in Brazzaville: Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You

okay, so, like, Brazzaville. right? it’s… intense. i’m talking humidity that feels like a wet towel permanently glued to your skin, and the air smells like diesel and something vaguely floral - probably a million hibiscus bushes trying to survive. i’ve been here three weeks, fueled by lukewarm coffee and a growing suspicion that everyone is judging my French (which, let’s be real, is atrocious). the mission? find a doc who actually understands me when i’m complaining about my back. it’s been a journey, a real odyssey.

a view of a bridge over a body of water


seriously, the map looks like a spilled inkwell. it’s a sprawling, chaotic mess of streets and waterways. you could spend a week just trying to navigate. i’m pretty sure i accidentally drove into a market selling live chickens yesterday. it was… memorable.

First off, let’s talk logistics. Rent’s cheap, like, really cheap. I’m paying $250 a month for a studio apartment in the Tertre neighborhood. It’s… rustic. Think exposed brick, questionable plumbing, and a resident family of spiders. But hey, it’s a place to crash, right? According to Numbeo, the cost of living is roughly 30-40% lower than in Paris. That’s insane. You could basically live like a king (or at least a very comfortable backpacker) here. But don’t get too comfortable.

Okay, the job market? It’s… patchy. Mostly NGOs and some small businesses. English speakers are in demand, especially in the humanitarian sector. I’ve been hitting up LinkedIn like a maniac, but so far, nada. I’m thinking of trying my hand at freelance translation - my French is terrible, but maybe someone needs a brutally honest, slightly panicked translator. [Check out this Reddit thread about jobs in Brazzaville: https://www.reddit.com/r/Brazzaville/comments/1z9q93j/looking_for_work_in_brazzaville_any_advice/]

Now, the real challenge: finding a doctor who speaks English. This is where things get… interesting. I’ve heard whispers. Rumors. Drunk advice, mostly. My friend, Leo (a session drummer who somehow ended up in the Congo after a particularly disastrous gig in Berlin), told me to avoid the clinics near the central market. “They’ll try to sell you a cure for everything,” he slurred, “and probably charge you double.” He also suggested Dr. Mbemba, but warned that he’s “a bit of a character.”

I also overheard a conversation at a bar in la Douane - seriously, the noise level is insane - about a British expat who’s been running a private clinic for years. Apparently, he’s brilliant, but incredibly expensive. Like, seriously expensive. Around $150 a consultation. [TripAdvisor has some reviews of clinics, though they’re mostly in French: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298488-Activities-Brazzaville_Republic_of_Congo.html]

Then there’s Madame Sylvie. A local woman, a retired nurse, who “knows a guy.” She said, and I quote, “He speaks English… mostly. And he likes to tell stories about his goats.” I’m not entirely sure what that means, but I’m willing to investigate. She pointed me towards a small practice in the Béké neighborhood. Let’s just say, the building looked like it was held together with duct tape and hope.

*Safety First: Brazzaville isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Petty theft is common, and there’s a higher risk of crime in certain areas. Stick to well-lit streets at night, and don’t flash expensive jewelry. I’ve been using Uber consistently - it’s surprisingly reliable - and I’m trying to avoid walking alone after dark. [Here’s a travel advisory from the US State Department: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Congo-Republic-of/SafetyAndSecurity.html]

Weather Update: It’s currently raining. Like, really raining. It’s the kind of rain that soaks you to the bone in five seconds flat. It’s a constant drizzle, punctuated by torrential downpours. It’s… atmospheric, I guess. Just a short flight away, in Pointe-Noire, it’s noticeably drier, but the humidity is still oppressive. It’s like the weather is actively trying to kill me.

cars and motorcycles on a street


Neighborhood Vibes:* La Douane is a chaotic, vibrant hub of activity - street food, music, and a general sense of controlled mayhem. Tertre is quieter, more residential, and slightly more… beige. Béké is a bit rough around the edges, but has a real local feel. I’m currently based in Tertre, but I’m planning on exploring more of the city soon.

Okay, that’s it for now. I’m going to go find a strong coffee and contemplate the existential dread of searching for a doctor in a city that feels like it’s actively trying to swallow you whole. Wish me luck.

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About the author: Aria Bennett

Believer in lifelong learning (and unlearning).

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