AFRICA MERCY MEDICAL PRE SCREENING-TOGO

One week after our ship sailed into Togo, the Africa Mercy's medical pre-screening team, crew and local day volunteer/translators set out before dawn on February 16th to begin the first day of a ten week process of medical screenings.  Non medical crew assisted with security, crowd control and escorting patients from the long waiting lines into the pre- screening grounds. Prayer was provided for those who were unfortunately not eligible for surgery.
(photo: Liz Cantu)


Thousands of people waited outside the screening gate, pushing and shoving for a chance to be seen.  Watching those that were not eligible, slump away in despair was the most heart breaking part of the screening process for me.  The medical need is extremely great in West Africa, my heart wept for those that were turned away.  But for those eligible, I thank God for and pray we can make a difference in their lives...one patient at a time!  It was however a blessing to witness a mood of despair transform into a spirit of joy on the faces of patients we scheduled for surgery. Their happiness shed a whole new light on my purpose in why I serve in this ministry.  

The children tug at my heart strings.  There are so many in need of specialized surgical care. 

During the first week of pre-screening (Feb 16th-18th) combined crowds of 3,100 people were seen with over 700 examined by the medical crew.  A total of 126 people were scheduled for surgery and another 121 were given appointments for doctors pre screening back on the Africa Mercy moored in Lome port. Specialized surgeries performed this field service will include Maxillo-facial, orthopaedics, plasitcs and VVF.
The Togo field service medical pre-screening is being conducted significantly different this year in comparison to previous field services.  Rather than screening the masses in one day at one location, Mercy Ships is holding several pre-screenings in various locations around the Lome community over a ten week period.  This change is due in part from the Togolese government in order to maintain a greater level of  safety, security and crowd control during the Presidential election campaigns. (Election day March 4th) as well as Mercy Ships effort to

schedule more surgeries per patients screened. 

According to our screening coordinator, the new screening process should reduce the number of no shows as well as enable Mercy Ships to accommodate more people. In addition to the various pre-screening coastal locations in Lome, the capital of Togo, Mercy Ships has a mobile screening team in various regions upcountry near the Burkino Faso border, approx 14 hr drive from Lome,  the interior plains and regions within a 2-8 hr drive from the coast.  Accepted patients will be transported to the port of Lome where the ship is moored for a second physicians screening aboard the ship. Those that are accepted and scheduled for surgery the next day, will be admitted to the hospital ward.  Patients who's surgery is scheduled later in the week will be housed at The Hospitality Centre, a buidling provided for Mercy Ships to house those out of the Lome region or upcountry patients until their surgery date.

Ans Rozema pre screens a lady with a very large Maxillo Facial tumor. She was accepted for surgery.

Me bonding with the women, sharing a few laughs together.  This woman breaks out with the biggest smile as she proudly displays her surgery appointment card.  For years she has suffered with the large neck tumor, hiding it in shame. Now after her surgery, she will have an opportunity for a greater quality of life and acceptance amongst her family and community.

A Young mand with a large tumor to his right cheek  

Dr Gary Parker examines a man with a large keloid behind his right ear.  He was accepted for surgery!

THE AFRICA MERCY SAILS INTO TOGO, WEST AFRICA: Welcoming Celebrations

FEB 10, 2010:  Hurray we are back in Africa! The Africa Mercy cruised into the port of Lome, Togo, West Africa, February 10th after a ten day sail from Tenerife of the Canary Islands, Spain.  This is Mercy Ships fourth field service in Togo.  In fact Togo was Mercy Ships first field service in West Africa from 1990 to 1991.  (previous years-1995 & 2003).  The Africa Mercy and our crew will be serving the forgotten poor of Togo until August 2010.

As the bow nosesd her way into the new port of call, I became very emotional knowing that within the next 6 months 1000's of patients will be impacted and transformed bringing hope for a better future to their lives.

The dockside was buzzing with people waving, shouting and entertaining us with African drum rhythms, traditional dance and song.  The Assemblies of God brass band marched along the dockside as the hull of the huge hospital ship sailed in.

Our Advance Team, dignitaries, invited guests, friends and local media waved us into port.

As the deck officers and port workers secured the lines, the crew of the Africa Mercy joined in the celebrations from the decks above and burst into song and dance to the cultural rhythms from below. Everyone anxious to put their feet on the ground and begin the next months serving the people of Togo.

Once the gangway was lowered and secured, myself and our Communications and PR team were first down the ramp to capture the events on the ground.

Clementine Tenge from Togo, a long term volunteer crew member of Mercy Ships, carried the Togolese flag down the gangway, followed by Mark Thompson (Vice President of International Programs and Interium Managing Director).
Mr. Biyao, Cabinet Director of Ministry of Health) greeted Mr Thompson with a welcoming handshake.

Mr. Biyao expressed his appreciation and support for Mercy Ships.  He spoke on behalf of the government of Togo welcoming Mercy Ships to the country and wished us an excellent stay.  He said the whole organization of Togo is mobilized to make everything easier for Mercy Ships...He wished us a very blessed mission in Togo.

Pastor Diakouti, the President of the Council of Churches in Togo welcomed Mercy Ships on behalf of the whole church of Togo. " Just like in the past the churches mobilize again to welcome you, the body of Christ is happy to welcome you", said Pastor Diakouti, " and I am very sure together that we are going to pray for the souls in Togo".

In response, Mark spoke of the importance the Togolese people are to Mercy Ships and how dear they are to the hearts of the Africa Mercy crew as this is Mercy Ships fourth field service in Togo. He expressed expectations for the Togo field service by quoting Florence Nightingale, the famous English pioneer of modern nursing. "Ones feelings wastes themselves in words they need all be distilled into actions which brings results", Thompson said, " Mercy Ships is confident today that our good relationships with the government of Togo will see many good results of our time here".   

After a few hours of speeches, formalities and protocal in the midday sun, the ceremonies came to a closure. The Captain invited Mr Biyao and guests aboard the ship for cool refreshments and to meet some of Mercy Ships leadership. 

Note: Discovery Channel Canada joined the ship in Tenerife, sailed to Togo and will stay until Feb 25th.  The production will be aired on a program called 'MIGHTY SHIPS'.  Please check your TV schedule for viewing dates and times. 

TENERIFE COME PARNTER WITH HAITI

January 29th, Santa Cruz, Tenerife organized a  benefit concert for the Haiti earthquake victims.  As soon as I heard about the earthquake I was glued to CNN and BBC the only two stations that spoke English in a Spanish country.  My heart cried out for this nation. My first thought was...I need to be there...but I knew the timing was wrong under the circumstances.  Instead I was blessed to be a blessing at a benefit concert hosted by some of Tenerife's TV icons, comedians, pop, rock and jazz stars, opera and gospel artists.  Two Spanish disaster rescue workers attended the benefit and shared a bit about their experience in Haiti and the great needs for the people.  Canary Islanders seem to have a community atmosphere in whatever function they attend including festivals, concerts, parades and even the opera theatre.  The artists interact with the audience most of the time which brings a warm, family flavour to the event. Please consider praying and donating to the cause of rebuilding Haiti.  

TENERIFE STORM: I find this so heartbreaking. Tenerife just hosted a benefit concert for a nation that was destroyed by a natural disaster and three days later, in the location in which the Haiti benefit was held in Santa Cruz, a huge storm hit the island and caused severe damage to the infrastructure. (see more info below-AFM departs Tenerife for Togo)

MERCY SHIPS & HAITI: Tonight during our Thursday evening community meeting aboard the AFM, we took an offering for Haiti.  The monies will be sent to Tear Fund.   Please help in whatever way you feel lead.  "Mercy Ships is committed to doing what we can to help address the great need in Haiti without loosing the focus on our upcoming Field Service in Togo", said Sam Smith - Mercy Ships CEO.  MS Assessment Team is on the ground in Haiti and in regualr contact with our Disaster Response Team at the International Operatons Center (IOC) in Texas.

DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS:   I had experienced the Tsunami disaster in South East Asia a few years back, which is one of the reasons I felt lead to assist in the Haiti relief effort.  YWAM Media Village in South Africa (where I served for three years) collaborated with various churches in the country and sent our media production team including myself as the photographer, to Shri Lanka and Indonesia.  We connected with various disaster relief teams and for three weeks we assisted where we could, documented the distructive events and reported the rescue and relief efforts back to various TV and Radio stations in South Africa. Financial aid and support were raised through the churches. My heart wept especially for Indonesia, half a nation that was basically wiped off the face of the earth.

Please keep both Haiti and Tenerife in your thoughts and prayers. 

THE AFM DEPARTS TENERIFE FOR TOGO, WEST AFRICA

Jan 31st we departed Tenerife for our 10 day sail to Togo, West Africa our next nation of service from Feb-Aug 2010.  Our original departure was delayed by 1 1/2 hrs. After a month and a half of beautiful sunny weather, this day we awoke to dreary rainy skies. I wasn't looking forward to sailing out in the rough seas just yet.  Thank God, the rain stopped and by the time we were to depart, the skies had cleared. God's timing was perfect..

TENERIFE STORM: but less than 24 hrs after departure, Tenerife was hit by a major storm causing torrential down pours that resulted in some sever flooding, mudslides and damage to several roads and caused serious problems to the islands infrastructure. The last sever storm was March 31st, 2002.  Please keep the Canary Islands in your prayers.  Estimated cost of damages up to11,300.00 Euros in Tenerife alone.

Sailing away from the island we could see the beginning stages of the billowing cloud formations building up over the land.  It looked very beautiful but little did we know that 24 hrs later the island would be hit by a damaging storm.

Our first evening at sea, the sky was lit up by a full moon.  Moonlight refelctions bounced off the sea creating brillant amounts of light that guided our path south.  The first four days of sailing were pretty rough, the ship was performing her rock and roll dance as we headed south.  The captain had to make a slight course change as the swells were getting fairly large sailing over the continental shelf.  We are back on course and the seas are calm and some of the crew are able to get a decent nights sleep.  The bow has been open during the day and we can enjoy the whales, dolphins and flying fish as they join us along the way for short spirts at a time.
Pictures
1,2) AFM in Tenerife Port, Santa Cruz
3) The crew wave goodbye to our Spanish friends
4) The last views of the port from the Stern
5) Santa Cruz sky line, Opera house (white building)
6) Billowing cloud formations build over the island
7) First evening sunset
8,9) Sunset during Harmattan season
10) Me sunset gazing

HARMATTAN HAZE:  Have you heard of Harmattan?  Well we are in the middle of it as we sail.  The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African trade wind.  It blows from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the beginning of March.  On its passage over the desert it picks up fine dust particles.  When the Harmattan blows hard, it can push dust and sand all the way to North America. In some countries of West Africa, the heavy amount of dust in the air can severely limit visibility and block the sun for several days, comparable to a heavy fog.  However during our sail the Harmattan haze has created some decent sunsets.  Although at the horizon there seems to be a fairly thick wall where the sun has difficulty penetrating its beautiful rays.  In the past four years aboard the ship, I have experienced the thick haze  and the dust that builds up on the ships decks.  There have been times when we haven't seen the sun for weeks.  The ship also goes through a transformation...The bright white hull takes on a grayish tone and for weeks the deckies begin the endless repetitive task of scrubbing the decks until the season ends and they can begin repainting.