Mercy Ships – New mission in Benin – Hospital opening

On 18 August 2016, the Africa Mercy and its crew docked in their new home country for the next 10 months – Benin, in West Africa.
Mercy Ships chose Benin because of its very limited access to medical care – the country has only 10 hospital beds and 1 doctor for every 20,000 inhabitants. The country’s health care system is in crisis.
During its mission in Benin, more than 1,700 operations will be performed on more than 835 adults and children, around 8,000 people will be treated at a land-based dental clinic, and holistic health care training will be provided to local health professionals.
The first few weeks were given over to meeting potential patients at the patient screening centre set up in Cotonou. The five operating theatres on board the Africa Mercy opened their doors on 12 September to welcome the first patients.
Mercy Ships can’t wait to see all the lives transformed by surgery and training during its mission in Benin!

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