The Statistic that Sticks with You

One afternoon while in Portland, Oregon, I had some time to waste, so I headed into the well-known Powell's City of Books with a friend. I wasn't really looking for anything in particular, so I wandered up to the travel section to seek out a guide for West Africa. I opened a thick Lonely Planet book to a very thin excerpt on Guinea (because, let's be honest, this country is not a tourist hotspot - at least yet!). I stopped on the healthcare section. It stated something along the lines of: "The healthcare system in Guinea is dismal. If you need anything more than a malaria test or some basic medication, it's best to get yourself out of the country." Yikes!

On Saturday we docked at the port city and capital of Guinea, Conakry. We were greeted by our advance team, music and dance presented by some of our local crew, and a brief downpour of rain (ready or not, rainy season is here). Those who sailed with the ship from the Canary Islands were lined up outside on decks 7 and 8, flying flags from their home nations, waving to those below, and soaking up this special moment. Once the Africa Mercy was firmly tied up, the gangway was lowered thus solidifying our arrival and commencing our field service in Guinea. The afternoon was marked by celebrations with government officials - including the First Lady of Guinea - and other partners. It was a joyous day. We even had salmon for dinner, which is one of my favorite meals on the ship. 

In the evening, the crew gathered for a briefing by our advance team. They did wonderful work preparing for this field service - everything from forming partnerships, to registering vehicles, to sorting out immigration requirements for crew, to finding patient screening sites around the country, to starting renovations on our Hope Center (where some patients stay as they recover), to ensuring the ship had a place to dock and so much more. They also hired around 225 local day crew. But what struck me profoundly during the briefing was a single statistic. 

Someone on the advance team had heard that there are only 10 anesthesiologists in the country. A few days ago she confirmed the number with a local contact. In fact there are currently only 6 anesthesiologists because some have retired and others have moved. Most, if not all of the them, work in Conakry. To be honest, I can hardly fathom a healthcare system operating with just 6 anesthesiologists; many hospitals in the USA employ more than that. 

Having only been in the country for a few days, I obviously have a lot more to learn about Guinea's healthcare system, and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge. However, what I can surmise is that Lonely Planet's description is at least on the right track. Also, even if people live near a clinic or hospital, adequate care might not be available. And lastly, despite the fact that Mercy Ships has served Guinea 3 previous times, there no doubt remains a substantial need for specialized surgical care. 

And so, I leave you with this. Our primary day for screening in Guinea is August 20th. We are expecting around 8,000 people to show up, each one holding on to hope that this floating hospital will offer them the chance at healing and a better life.

More on that later.

Becky

Watching the gangway as it is lowered in Conakry