Benin Screening Day

Mercy Ships held its general screening day on Thursday 19th February at the Hall des Arts, in Cotonou, Benin.

Volunteer nurses, doctors, and support staff screened 1,952 patients, but the number was so large, a second screening day took place on Friday, with over 500 additional patients seen.

Seeing that many patients in one day is challenging, even for Dr. Gary Parker, Chief Medical Officer and maxillo-facial surgeon with Mercy Ships, who has worked at nearly fifty screening days.

“We see these thousands of people,” Dr. Parker said. “Each one of these people is a fellow human being, and they all have their story, and they all have their hopes and dreams. We have to see them in such a way that respects them and their dignity as a fellow human being.”

Patients received appointments for maxillo-facial and general surgery. Secondary screenings for eyes, orthopaedics, releases for burn contracture, and vesico-vaginal fistulas will take place over the next few weeks.

One person seen was 17 year old Gyslain, who has had a large tumour hanging from his jaw since birth.

“I am very happy that Mercy Ships wants to help me to remove my tumour,” Gyslain said smiling. “In my village, many people would laugh and say bad things. I will be really grateful if they can help me and I can live normally among other people…and if Mercy Ships can help other people that will be very good.”

But more than simply attending to medical needs, Mercy Ships volunteers showed love in action, serving water and food to the patients, playing with the children, and counselling anyone that could not be offered treatment.