Mercy Ships volunteers screen almost 2500 people at Benin screening day
Mercy Ships held its general screening day on Thursday, 19th February 2009, in Cotonou, Benin. At the Hall des Arts, Mercy Ships volunteer nurses, doctors, and support staff screened 1,952 patients. The number was so large a second day of screening took place on Friday, and over 500 more patients were screened.
Over two hundred people were already waiting when Mercy Ships security arrived at 3:30 am on Thursday, and they continued to flow through the afternoon. 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, orthopedics, releases for burn contracture, and vesico-vaginal fistulas will take place over the next few weeks. Mercy Ships plans on providing 7,000 free surgical interventions over the next 10 months.
The Junior High and High School students were released from school for the day to be involved. They had a great time playing with children and keeping them entertained as they waited to be seen. Josh tells a great story of his interaction with one little boy who was about 3 yrs old. The little boy was very serious and wouldn't smile or join in with the play, but Josh persisted in trying to get a smile and to include him. Eventually Josh said to him in the local language of FON "A fong en gia?", "Eh a fong en gee" which basically means "how are you? I am well...." The little boys face little up in to a huge smile and he promptly "went ballistic" (quote by Josh) so excited, jumping around and laughing and had a wonderful time playing with Josh. It made Josh's day!
"There was a joy, and a peace, and a comfort in that place," said Ans Rozema, Patient Services Coordinator. "With family members included, there were close to 4,000 people that came to us. It's really amazing what we can do together."
And to make the surgical procedures of Mercy Ships accessible to the people of North Benin, Mercy Ships volunteers also screened in the provincial capitals Parakou and Natitingou between the 11th and 15th of February. Sponsored by the Ministry of Health of Benin, the North Benin screenings were a range of conditions, including cleft-lip and palate revisions, orthopaedic treatment, and tumor removal.
Don Stephens - Founder of Mercy Ships flew in for a couple of weeks and was therefore in attendance at screening. Brenda can be seen in the bottom corner of this picture below (in blue, back to camera). Brenda and her HR team have been responsible for the registration of the patients for the last few years. The patients were pre-screened outside and then sent inside. Registration is the first station the patients come to. With the help of translators we asked for the patients name, age and basic contact details and then we weighed them. Benin is a French speaking nation, but in addition to French, the people speak a whole range of local languages as well including Fon, Mina, Yorouba.... From registration they move on to the next station for medical history details and basic obs, blood pressure, pulse etc and then on to several other stations before their examination by the surgeons/doctors
Between the two locations, 63 patients were scheduled for surgery, mostly for maxillo-facial or general surgery. Eighteen more were referred to the ship for orthopedic and VVF assessment. Eye candidates were given referrals to Mercy Ships eye clinics in Cotonou.
But for 17 year old Gyslain, who has had a large tumor hanging from his jaw since birth, those numbers aren't as important as the change in his own life and the lives of others he saw waiting around him in the Hall des Arts.
"I am very happy that Mercy Ships wants to help me to remove my tumor," 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."
