Here in Lome, Togo we have a couple dockside units/tents set up on the dock and that is where our admissions to the hospital are taking place. This is a photo of a boy Refino along with his mother as he was admitted to the hospital. I visited with him last Saturday – he is learning a little bit of English and I used a little bit of my French.
Author Archives: Keith Brinkman
Pediatric Orthopaedic Screening
Pediatric Orthopaedic Screenings March 7, 2010
For our Togo ’10 Field Service, the hospital staff are trying a different approach to identify potential patients for orthopaedics, plastics (burn contractions), maxilo-facial and general surgerical patients. Instead of the larger mass screenings (usually done only for two days) and in cooperation with the Togolese Ministry of Health, the hospital have planned many smaller screenings her.JPG)
e in the Lomé area and also in the central and northern regions of the country. On Monday, February 22nd, I joined the team as we went to the CNAO facility – our focus was for pediatric orthopaedic patients. I worked with Nick from Australia who is our physical therapist; we were at the second pre-screening station. I assisted with patient escort and crowd control as they came to be checked out by Nick. I used my limited French to talk with the child and the parent or caregiver. In addition, some of the parents knew some English as we are close to the Ghanaian border. A mother carried a small girl and when she put her down, I went down on my knees and the girl took a few stumbling steps and just fell into me with arms open wide and gave me a hug – she did the same for the entire team – regretfully she had a condition that we are not able to assist.
During the day, approximately 300 people came to the screening and about 200 made it through the pre-screening (others may have been referred to the eye or dental clinics). For this year in Togo, we are only focusing on pediatric patients for orthopaedics, those under the age of 15. In addition, this year the orthopaedic team will be conducting training and demonstration of the ponseti casting method, intended to care for children with club feet without the need of surgery. You can read more about it at www.ponseti.info. One of our patients was Romeo who .JPG)
was just five days old and has club feet and so he is an excellent candidate for the ponseti casting. Another mother brought her two baby twin girls – Ann and Annie – one has club feet and they have done her casting and she is being cared for in B ward.
Many of the patients we saw on Monday are right now on board the ship. Today, many of them attended the optional Sunday morning service in the wards, the first for this year. Plus some of them were up on Deck 7 this afternoon and I was able to visit them. In addition, I spent time with two boys, Kojo and Kokouvi, who both had cleft lip/palate surgery – they were going back and forth on the small ride-on-toys that are available for them to play on.
I would ask for your prayers for: *continued screenings for potential patients *patients we are caring for now in the hospital and will be caring for this year *all of our healthcare professionals who are providing for them.
Caribbean Mercy Reunion Group Shot 03Mar10
On March 3rd, all those who served on the Caribbean Mercy were invited to Town Square/Cafe on the Africa Mercy for a reunion. We enjoyed times of sharing memories together. In the photos you will see (back row – left-right) – Juan Jacinto, Tim, Udo, Eric, Kathy, Marianne, me, Tom (front row -left to right) Alicia, Josephine, Joycee, Caleb, Jana, Ines, Jan, Megan, Charles, Shelly and Luke. Others on board but not pictured, Dr. Glenn & Kim, Ken Kronester, Ben, David, Tim, Ananda & Lia and their boys, and Joseph & Agnes.
Caribbean Mercy Reunion 03Mar10
Last night, we had a mini reunion for all crew who ever served on the m/v Caribbean Mercy. We had over 20 individuals who are now serving on the Africa Mercy that served previously on the Caribbean Mercy during it’s 11 year history. We told stories and experiences from our time and of course enjoyed some good food – thanks to Joycee who brought muffins and Charles who made bagels.
Open Hospital Togo 10
During our Open Hospital night, one of our activities was in the ward – crushing a pill and putting it in the liquid and then feeding the ‘patient’ (a CPR dummie) through a tube. Little Luke is finding it a bit difficult to get the pile crushed, but he got it.
Open Hospital Togo ’10
Before the Africa Mercy hospital opened for the Togolese people, the crew of the ship were invited to visit the hospital, including those areas that are normally off limits, like the operating rooms. There were activities for adults and children – in this photo, Megan Davies is being dressed as a surgeon and does surgery on a stuffed monkey.
Togo Day Volunteer Interviews
Our short term and long term including our children may number close to 400 people. We also recruit local people to assist us for the field service – they serve in many departments. Currently we have around 200 local people who are starting their service with us. In this photo, Ines Kronester our Mercy Ministry Coordinator is interviewing to find the right ones to assist us with the mercy ministry sites. Those sites are being investigated and soon we will be made available for the crew.
Prayer at the screening sites
During our screening process for potential patients for surgeries on board the ship, there are many people we are not able to assist with surgery. Prayer is offered to those individuals if they so desire. Ellen is in this photo on the right – she normally serves in our Hospitality Center offering literacy courses and basic math for those desiring to participate.
Screenings has begun in and around Lome
Our screening process for potential surgical patients began last week here in and around the capital city of Lome. This photo includes my friends Joy Taylor and Ans Rozema with an orthopaedic patient. This year instead of two days of mass screening with thousands of people, we are conducting various smaller screenings over several weeks in partnership with the Ministry of Health. I will write more about screenings in future KRB Updates.
Ship Arrives in Lome, Togo
The ship safely arrived in the Port of Lome in the nation of Togo on February 10th. My dear friend Clementine Tengue who is from both Togo and Ghana had the privilege to carry the Togolese flag down the gangway. Due to still being in the hospital when the ship sailed, I travelled instead by air from Europe and overland from Ghana. I arrived three days after the ship arrived. I spent a lot of time here in Togo last year with assessment and advance. Togo was the first nation in Africa that Mercy Ships visited – back in 1990.