The humanitarian hospital ship arrived at the Douala Port in Cameroon on August 16, 2017 to begin a 10-month healthcare campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health.
By George MBELLA
Over 5000 patients with rare diseases will for the next ten months receive free medical care from the Africa Mercy hospital ship. The vessel owned by the US-based humanitarian organisation, Mercy Ships, arrived the Douala port on August 16, 2017 and was treated to a euphoric reception by the population and authorities led by Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda. The medical mission comes to Cameroon at the invitation of the Head of State, Paul Biya.
During the ten-month campaign, the medical crew will lay emphasis on pathologies which are often debilitating and disabling, for which the local technical facilities and expertise have limited solutions to offer. Surgical services will include general and orthopedic surgery, maxilla-facial surgery, reconstructive plastic surgery, gynecological surgery, ophthalmological surgery and dental care.
Prior to the ship’s arrival, Mercy Ships and the Ministry of Public Health had selected patients from all health districts throughout the country from April 17 to May 17, 2017. While all major surgical operations will take place onboard the hospital ship, the Ministry of Public Health has requested the Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, the Laquintinie Hopital and the Nylon District Hospital to support the mission.
All patients are currently being received at the Party House in the Bonanjo neighbourhood before they are distributed to the three hospitals. The ship’s medical crew will also provide training courses in surgical skills, obstetric and pediatric anesthesia, trauma care and pain management, amongst others.
“With the ship’s arrival in Douala, we celebrate the commencement of a field service that has been years in the making,” said the Managing Director of the Africa Mercy ship, Warrie Blackburn, during the welcome ceremony at the Douala Port.
The Africa Mercy hospital ship is the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world. Its state-of-the-art facilities include five operating theatres, recovery, intensive care and low dependency wards, totaling 80 patient beds. It was acquired in 1999 and built specifically for Mercy Ships which was founded in 1978 with the primary mission to improve access to medical care for people living in abject poverty through a fleet of Hospital Ship services.
The mission arrived Cameroon after spending nine months in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
