Surgical Screening Guinea

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Identification of candidates to receive life change surgeries by Mercy Ships doctors is always a challenge. Very often the medical staff says that it is the most difficult task of the whole field service. For this reason the mass medical screening day, designed to identify those who will receive surgery at the Africa Mercy, the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship, is so important.

 On Monday September 3rd, while the Africa Mercy waited at the docks the surgical screening took place at The Palais du Peuple, “the People’s Palace”, in Conakry, Guinea. The three-story public building was renovated in 2008 for the celebration of Guinea’s 50th Anniversary of independence. The medical team screened more than 3,450 patients, many of them stayed all night on the line for the chance to receive a surgery.

The big turnout only confirms the medical needs of Guinea a country that has 1.3 medical workers for every 10,000 people, the lowest ratio in West Africa. Even though the majority of Guinea’s population lives in the Conakry area Mercy Ships is partnering with local NGOs and the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene to screen patients in remote parts of the country.

Three other screenings is planned for other areas of the country as the government requested that approximately 50% of the patients come from the interior regions. In his Gospel, Matthew states that Jesus also went to remote areas in order to reach those in need:

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35-38) NIV.

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