Screening Days

February 19th and 20th were Screening Days for surgical candidates in Cotonou, Benin at the Hall des Arts stadium. People waited in long lines in the hot sun to be screened. Over 2,000 patients were screened for the different surgeries performed aboard the Africa Mercy Ship including cataract removal, cleft lip and palate repair, removal of facial, head and neck tumors and goiters, repair of club feet and other orthopedic complications, hernia repair and vesicovaginal fistula repair (featured in the film, "Walk to Beautiful"). We distributed information regarding weekly eye and dental clinics held throughout Benin at local churches and clinics by Mercy Ships staff. Individuals were pre-screened by experienced Mercy Ships nurses outside the stadium and if they were considered surgical candidates, they received a ticket to enter the stadium where they circulated to different stations to complete patient interviews, assessment by physicians, laboratory blood work and to receive iron and multivitamin tablets to take for 1 month prior to surgery. I was so encouraged seeing hundreds of patients being scheduled for surgery. If it was determined during the pre-screening or screening inside the stadium that a person was not a candidate for surgery, he or she could receive prayer at a prayer station. Translators who spoke French, Fon and other dialects of Benin were essential. On these screening days I participated as a patient escort, bringing patients from pre-screening outside the stadium into the stadium or to the prayer station. I also participated in praying for patients. Quite a moving experience to observe both the accepting and turning away of patients. Many people reported feeling loved, respected and treated with dignity whether or not Mercy Ships was able to offer them a surgical resolution. These were days of hope, relief, joy, gratitude and sadness.