Visiting the Programs Sites

MERCY SHIPS HOSPITALITY CENTRE
During our vacation time we have been able to spend some time seeing first hand more of what Mercy Ships is doing here in the country of Benin. This morning we joined a group of crew who visited 3 locations where our fellow crew members are working. Our eye team, dental team and our team working at what we call the "Hospitality Centre" which is a land based extension to the Africa Mercy Hospital. The Hospitality Centre (HC) - a converted warehouse facility, is located about a mile from the ship and a constant shuttle service by Land Rover is available throughout each day. This is a non-medical, temporary housing unit for approximately 38 national residents who will have a stay prior to hospitalization for an in and outpatient surgical procedure(s). Pictured above is the housing area. You'll notice each bed has a full mosquito net that goes floor to ceiling and the beds are designed so that the patient sleeps on the bed and the caregiver (usually a family member) sleeps on a mattress on the floor under the bed.
This unit is also used by national residents who have had surgery on the Ship and for logistical reasons may need non-medical housing in between outpatient visits to the ship, therefore freeing up ship hospital beds. Also housed in the same facility are what were formerly known as the Dockside Eye & Physical Therapy Units which cannot operate dockside due to lack of dock space here in Benin. The picture above shows an eye test in progress at the unit. The goal of the HC is to provide a clean & safe environment for pre & post-op patients. The unit is staffed by 8 Day Volunteer Centre Assistants, 4 generator operators / security guards & 4 professional contracted security guards. In addition there are 2 crew members managing the site as well as the crew who make up both the eye and physical therapy units on location.

MERCY VISION FIELD EYE CLINIC
Our eye field team go out 4 days a week to 4 different locations to screen eye patients. Today the clinic was based out of a local church - Action Chapel International in Ganhi. They are able to screen between 300-400 patients each day out of the many hundreds that show up at these locations. Approx 25% of those screened are scheduled for surgical procedures, the others are given medications or reading glasses where appropriate.

In the pictures above we see the crowds waiting to be seen by our eye field team and also on the right Dr. Bob Hicks is performing an eye examination. The goal is to evaluate and treat 20,000 patients. This will include 3000 specialized surgical procedures to remove cataracts, replacing the lense and therefore restoring sight. A further 250 surgical procedures for strabismus, pterygium & eviscerations/enucleations in addition to the distribution of 5,000 pairs of UV blocking sunglasses and 5,000 pairs of reading glasses. Our goal whilst here is also to train 2 local eye surgeons in cataract removal and 10 community eye care workers in ophthalmic care.

BENIN SMILES DENTAL CLINICOur Dental team are using a very nice local medical facility for the Dental Clinic. They have recently received some much needed upgraded dental equipment which includes Dental chairs, auto-clave machines for sterilization of dentistry instruments, new air compressors and generators for the equipment requiring electrical supply.

Pictured left new dental chairs and adjoining equipment and right the two new generators. Jessica Campbell Dental Team Coordinator is stood next to the very old unreliable and very noisy old generators! In front of her are the two new generators.

Our Dental team focus on reducing the incidence of dental disease by providing basic dental education and treatments such as restorations, extractions and cleaning. The target is to provide dental care for approx 12,900 people (approx 19,00 procedures) affected by tooth decay, infections of the mouth and small oral lesions.To provide dental hygiene services to 1,400 people. To provide basic dental health to at least 1000 elementary and secondary school students. In addition the goal is to train 20 teachers to teach oral health in their classrooms and to train 2 Beninese with the skills to be Dental Assistants and Dental Hygiene instructors.