Mercy Ships Offers Free Medical Screening and Surgeries in Lomé

Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Feb 07, 2012 at 02:14 pm

Mercy Ships medical professionals recently held free screening consultations at Kegue Stadium in Lomé, Togo, after the Africa Mercy recently docked in the West African port.

Consultations were open for people with facial tumors, cleft lip/palate and burn contractures. The goal was to select patients who are in critical need of the specialized treatment offered onboard the state-of-the-art hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, which will be in port until June.

Appointment cards were given out to those who could be assisted medically during the Togo Field Service. The ship’s director, Donovan Palmer, emphasized that Mercy Ships offers its services for free, and those selected do not pay for any assistance.

“I am pleased that for the fifth time Mercy Ships is coming to Togo and helping with their humanitarian mission. This helps the Ministry of Health and the Government to help the Togolese, especially those who do not have means,” stated His Excellency, Mr Charles Kondi Agba, Minister of Health.

The Ministry of Health has also arranged with Mercy Ships to conduct additional screenings up country at selected locations. This partnership will ensure that 50% of the surgeries conducted onboard the Africa Mercy are benefitting up-country patients, those with the least amount of access to medical care.

Mercy Ships is also helping to build capacity for the people of Be-Kpota Anfamé by upgrading their health center building, which will be used for out-patient services for those receiving surgeries onboard the ship, according to His Excellency, the Minister of Health.  

Adding to the capacity-building programs offered by Mercy Ships, Dr. Abram Wodome, a Togolese ophthalmologist who previously received specialist training through an Alcon Fellowship onboard the Africa Mercy, will train a Togolese eye surgeon in these same techniques during this visit of the ship to Togo, according to a Mercy Ships spokesperson.

During the five-month port visit, volunteer professional medical crew onboard the Africa Mercy hope to provide more than 1,250 free surgeries, 11,000 dental procedures and the training of 900 local representatives.

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