Day 13

One Minute Translation at the Doctor's for Refugees in Germany

Understand better, get well faster Understand better, get well faster Understand better, get well faster Understand better, get well faster

One Minute Translation at the Doctor's for Refugees in Germany
Day 13
Medical care for refugees without German language skills

There is a model of a spine on the table. The doctor shows Nabil how a vertebra is constructed and where the stabbing pain in Nabil's back comes from. Nabil listens attentively. When the doctor is finished, they both look expectantly at Bassem, who is sitting next to them and has made a few notes. Bassem translates the doctor's words for Nabil into his native Arabic. At his first doctor's appointment because of his increasingly worsening back pain, Nabil hardly understood anything. He speaks good German and can communicate without any problems in everyday life. He only had great difficulty at the doctor's: he had never heard terms such as intervertebral discs or vertebral blockage in everyday life. So that Nabil understands exactly where his back pain comes from and what he can do about it, Bassem is accompanying him on a voluntary basis this time. Bassem translates between Nabil and the doctor to ensure that the two understand each other correctly.

Medical care for refugees without German language skills
need
Translations for refugees at doctor's appointments.
activity
Volunteer interpreters accompany refugees to doctor’s appointments to translate for them.
Measurable performance
Number of minutes or doctor's appointments during which refugees are supported by volunteer interpreters.
Result
It is ensured that the refugees understand all information about their health.
Systemically relevant impact
Refugees have unrestricted access to health care and can make independent decisions about their health.
background

In September 2015, Munich made headlines around the world: 20,000 refugees reached Munich Central Station in just one weekend (ZEIT ONLINE, 2015). Today, over 6,000 refugees live in the city (State Capital of Munich, 2021). They come from all over the world - from Afghanistan to Syria to Sierra Leone - and speak a wide variety of languages (German Bundestag, 2020). However, the German language is a hurdle in the integration process that often remains for a long time despite numerous offers of support. Even if refugees have been living in Germany for several years and can communicate well in everyday life, technical discussions in German are a challenge for many. When important topics are also involved - such as when visiting a doctor - misunderstandings can have fatal consequences: medication can be taken incorrectly or even a wrong diagnosis can be made. Some refugees prefer not to go to the doctor at all for fear of not understanding something or making the wrong decision. Professional interpreters who could help them are usually too expensive and difficult to find for many languages. This is where volunteer interpreters come in: They are trained in various medical topics, accompany refugees to doctor's appointments free of charge and thus ensure that there are no misunderstandings or crucial information is lost.

 Munich Germany
Day 13 Day 13
The good deed

With your good deed today, you are enabling a refugee in Munich to have a doctor's appointment translated into their native language. Even for refugees who already speak good German, complex medical topics are often difficult to understand. Volunteer interpreters therefore accompany the refugees to their doctor's appointments and translate between the patient and the medical staff. The volunteers are specially trained by specialists for their interpreting assignments. They learn strategies and techniques of interpreting as well as important terms and procedures in various medical disciplines. Most of them have a migration background themselves and can use not only their language skills but also their cultural knowledge in their commitment. They ensure that patients and doctors understand each other. This enables refugees to make independent and well-informed decisions.

AboutGermany
Berlin
Berlin
Capital city
83 240 525
83 240 525
Population
45,723.6
45,723.6
Gross domestic product per capita per year
Rank 6 of 189
Rank 6 of 189
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

Around 1.2 million refugees live in Germany (UN Refugee Aid, 2021). Around 17 million people are involved in voluntary work in the social sector (Statista, 2021).