Close to 4,000 free surgeries are planned during 10 months there, where Mercy Ships will also work to improve the healthcare-providing capacity of the country through training and mentoring.
According to the World Health Organization, 48% of Cameroon's population lives below the poverty line on $1.90 a day. It is a young country that has yet to establish adequate infrastructure or a healthcare system for the population.
Surgical procedures planned include correcting maxillofacial deformities, reconstructive plastic surgery, corrections to vision impairments, obstetric fistula, orthopedic surgery and dental treatments. Other work will include palliative care and training courses in surgical skills, obstetric and pediatric anesthesia, trauma care, pain management and more.
Africa Mercy's crew hopes to foster transformational development within the host nation's healthcare structure, according to Mercy Ships' Russ Holmes, director of development/corporate relations.
Currently Africa Mercy is coming to the end of its time in Cotonou, Benin, where the all-volunteer crew have provided more than 1,900 free surgeries and healthcare training courses to over 1,800 participants.
This has been Mercy Ships' fifth stop at Benin in recent years.
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