The Africa Mercy is in the West African nation for a 10-month assignment.
In addition to the potential patients, the men, women and children were accompanied by a similar number of family members, many of whom had spent more than 24 hours in the queue hoping to be seen. Teams of doctors and nurses decided which patients were suitable for surgery.
Crew members involved in the two days of screening described some of the things they saw – facial tumours completely obstructing vision, goiters the sizes of melons, bow legged children who could barely walk, men and women badly disfigured by burns, children aged five with cleft lips, club feet, bone deformations. Smiles were seen on faces when people were told surgery could be provided to fix their problems.
Surgeries commence next week in the ship's 78-bed hospital which has six operating theatres.
Benin is ranked 163rd out of the 177 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index, and is described as one of the world's poorest countries. Nearly half of the population is under 15 years of age and average life expectancy is 54.
Doctor Keith Thompson, who regularly volunteers with Mercy Ships, said, "These two days are the most harrowing time onboard the ship as we can only treat a certain number of people in the next 10 months, yet many more turn up looking for help. At the same time, they are extremely rewarding days as we meet the patients whom we are able to help and whose lives will be transformed in front of our eyes."
People in the developed world cannot imagine walking for hundreds of kilometres and queuing for two days for the chance to see a doctor, but that's what many of these people do and their stories never cease to amaze us."
Large-scale screening days only take place once a year at the beginning of the ship's outreach, but they are complimented by smaller screening held throughout the country, or for specific types of surgery. Free surgeries provided on the Africa Mercy include maxillo-facial (usually the removal of large benign tumours), cleft lip and palate, flesh-eating noma, release of burn contractures, cataracts, obstetric fistula and orthopaedic issues.
Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor. www.mercyships.org.au