On Monday, September 3rd, more than 4,300 people waited in anticipation, forming a long queue outside the People’s Palace in Conakry, Guinea. They were looking for help from the Africa Mercy. It was screening day.
Some waited through the night, but most started arriving from 5am. A few crew members from the Africa Mercy walked the line, gently dismissing those we clearly could not help. Over 3500 were allowed inside the gates and queued to see experienced nurses who further screened out conditions we could not help. Around 1000 people were allowed entry to the building and registered. Contact details recorded, histories taken and finally examination by a surgeon. All specialties were represented in the long lines of people desperate for help: Orthopaedic, Maxillofacial, Plastics, General, VVF, Eye and Dental patients.
For those turned down for surgery, the disappointment was tangible. Hopes raised over the hours of queuing were then shattered. But African culture values the community over the individual. So, most people seemed grateful we there, because even if we could not help them, we might be able to help the person sat next to them. It was humbling to witness this selflessness.
Some patients required biopsy or blood tests before a final decision on surgery was made. Those with end stage cancer (on biopsy) were refused surgery and instead referred to our palliative care team, who will follow up and visit the patients in their homes.
Finally, the lucky ones, went to the scheduling station. Here they received an appointment for either surgery or further investigations such as x-ray or CT scan, on board ship. For these ‘chosen’ ones, their appointment cards are treasured possessions, reflecting hope, where previously there was none.
By 6pm it was growing dark and there were no lights in the building. We continued working using head torches but by 8pm there were still 100 patients still waiting for biopsies/review by a surgeon. We decided to stop, and bring the remaining patients to the ship a two days later to finish the assessments. BY the time we packed up it and returned to the ship it was 9.30pm. Over 200 patients had been scheduled for surgery, with nearly 1,000 others scheduled for further evaluation or treatment. This represents our first few months of work. Later on, we have an ‘up country’ screening for patients from the northern and eastern regions of the country. And constantly throughout our time in Guinea we will receive referrals from local hospitals, government officials, and simply word of mouth as desperate people turn up at the dockside seeking help.
On Wednesday September 5th, the remaining patients were assessed and by the end of the next day, 3 babies had had their cleft lips repaired, other children had burns contractures released, and several young men had hernias repaired…… hope and healing truly was on its way.
It is a privilege to be able to help, but I am so aware that the need in Guinea far exceeds our capacity to meet it. As surgery began in the hospital on Thursday, a mother came to the Dental Clinic for treatment. She brought her one year old daughter with her who had bilateral club feet. Why, oh why had she not brought her daughter to screening on Monday? Our orthopaedic surgery schedule is full……we cannot help her daughter now. If only, she had turned up at screening on Monday, then we could have helped her……if only…if only… if only. That is the harsh reality here. Thousands queued on Monday, desperate for treatment, desperate for hope, desperate for someone to care. More went away disappointed, then we were able to offer surgery to. But I hope we reflected care and compassion to every person we saw. The mission statement of Mercy Ships is:
Mercy Ships follows the 2000-year-old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor
Guinea is over 95% Muslim, but Jesus is mentioned over 90 times in the Qu’ran. To Muslims, Jesus is ‘the greatest healer’, as he acted with compassion and actually healed people. So Jesus is a good example for all doctors and nurses to follow, whatever your religious beliefs. So that is why, even in a Muslim nation, the mission statement of Mercy Ships remains entirely appropriate.
The vision of Mercy Ships is:
Mercy Ships seeks to become the face of love in action, bringing hope and healing to the poor
I believe we embodied that this at screening on Monday and I believe that is why the Guinean government have invited us here. I pray for the strength to hold true to the vision.
