Wards Filling Up

As surgeries begin onboard the Africa Mercy, the wards are once again filling up. The atmosphere is inviting, almost cheerful. Bandaged patients chat quietly with translators. A young woman scheduled to have a free surgery on her baseball-sized thyroid goitre joins in conversation. Nurses work efficiently in the background, administering medicine, checking patient vitals and smiling throughout their work.
Patients with various afflictions, consisting mainly of maxillo-facial tumours, hernias and goitres occupy the general wards. Another ward is dedicated solely to care for women who receive fistula (VVF) surgeries.

Various crew can be found in the wards with their ‘adopted’ patient. This programme gives an opportunity for non-medical crew to get involved with the patients. They visit and encourage patients throughout their stay onboard. The Adopt-a-Patient programme greatly improves morale of those in the ward while they await or recover from surgery. Most of the patients have never been on a ship before and often have never had access to health care. Everything is new and can be frightening. A friendly face brightens their day and helps alleviate fears.

Liberian translators help in all of the wards as many tribal dialects are spoken in Liberia. Translators play a vital role assuring patients understand pre- and post-operative care and instructions. One translator helped her niece, Diana, receive eye surgery. Twelve-year-old Diana Freeman had a cataract that had steadily worsened for three years.

Children at school made fun of the young girl whose vision had continued to deteriorate as she got older. Every day she came home crying in shame and embarrassment due to their cruel teasing. By the time she was admitted for a free onboard surgery, Diana could only see bright lights with her affected eye. After surgery, she immediately recognised the colour of her nurse’s shirt. She was excited and expressed a desire to study to be a nurse so she could also help others!