Screenings

Mercy Ships holds screenings for surgeries every weekday at different locations in and around Lome, the capital city which we're docked in. Teams will soon be travelling to the northern part of Togo to conduct screening clinics. This Thursday I will be working again with the screening team leaving at 6am for a clinic outside Lome. I have had the opportunity to participate in these screenings which is a great experience and can be a mix of emotions. It's really neat to see them on their first contact with the ship and the hope in their faces when they are told 'yes, we can help you'.

Because Togo health is a fee for service many do not have the means to receive health care, or are unable to receive the help needed for their particular condition. The specialty surgeries the ship provides are most often not provided in many West African countries. The health conditions seen at these clinics just seem so surreal! It's hard to fathom that people live like this for years. Repeatedly we hear how they are ostracized by their community and family, are viewed as cursed, or are receving a form of punishment for their lives. No one wants to do business with these individuals thus they also suffer economically. Many of them walk around with cloths covering their deformity.

On the flipside, it's difficult to say no to many more people then we can say yes too. Although there are posters around Lome and outside the screening gates with information of what we can and cannot do, many people still come hoping to receive any form of free medical care. In comparison to working triage back home, it's so sad to have to say no we cannot help you when at home this would not have been an issue.

Screening crowd

Boy with bow legs

Lady with a maxillo-facial tumor

Children with bow legs

Cleft lip/palate. Although we do many of these surgeries on board the ship, the incidence is higher in the West then in Africa. They just receive surgical treatment much sooner in developed countries.

Showing our posters to explain what conditions we can and cannot treat.

The 'Golden Ticket', a date for surgery.

When given a date to come for surgery, or to see the surgeons for a more detailed history and physical exam the patients are given multivitamins and iron tablets to prepare them for surgery.

For the first 8 weeks we are doing maxillo-facial, pediatric orthopedics, and eye surgeries. Pediatric orthopedic surgeries are being done now so the children will not be having casts during the rainy season. Most of the surgeons are short term and come for the period their specialty is schduled for.

Registering the patients into the system, then Operating room slate.

Pictured below is Dr. Gary Parker (maxillo-facial surgeon) examining a patient. Gary has been with the ship for over 22 years, is the Chief Medical Officer, and lives with his wife and children on board. I have much respect for this man who, even after all these years is still so passionate about the work he does, not burned out or bitter. He is a role model in how he treats his patients, coworkers, and staff, as well as his love for Jesus. He is also an expert surgeon, pioneering different max-fac's surgeries as many of them have not been seen or researched in the West.

Ortho surgeons examing a patient - notice how her legs are different lengths.