Douala, Cameroon

Capital

Yaounde

Area

474’442 km²

Poverty rate

37.5 %

UN Development Index

Rank: 150 out of 189

Population

25’220’000

Languages

French, English

Physicians per million inhabitants

77 (in Switzerland: 4’200)

The Africa Mercy sailed away from Cameroon in June 2018, after a ten-month field service in the country.

While the ship was docked in the port city of Douala, our volunteer experts completed 2,746 surgeries, transforming the lives of 2,508 patients, their families and their communities.

The Mercy Ships capacity building team trained and mentored 1’564 local health professionals in a variety of specialisms. A total of 764 of these people received training in the WHO’s Surgical Safety Checklist in 37 hospitals across Cameroon, and Mercy Ships distributed 74 Lifebox Pulse Oximeters.

The Africa Mercy was guided into the port of Douala, Cameroon with assistance from the local Pilot.

André Mama Fouda, Cameroonian Minister of Health and Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo'o, the Cameroonian Minister of Transportation sign the Africa Mercy guest book.

Our hospital ship was welcomed on August 17 with an official ceremony.

The entire crew gathered in front of the ship for a group photo.

Our first Cameroonian patient, Justine, is carried on the ship's gangway because she can't climb these steep steps herself.

Dr Kolbe, orthopedic surgeon, is mentoring a local surgeon, Dr. Nzouango Ma Ndigo.

Local nurses participate in an Obstetric Anesthesia Course.

Five Swiss volunteers are part of the dental team!

Paul Bernard is playing basketball during rehab after his plastic reconstructive surgery.

Visit of the Swiss Ambassador in Cameroon (in the middle); he is welcomed by the Swiss crewmembers.

The Minister of Health and other Cameroonian officials visit the HOPE Center.

Home visit to Salamatou and Mariama, two sisters who benefited from orthopedic surgery.

Captain John Borrow participates in a dress ceremony. Women, previously rejected because of urine loss following difficult childbirth, are honored and restored in their honor and feminity.

The dental clinic is celebrating its 9000th patient!

Last week surgical operations in Cameroon. Dr. Urs Diener, a Swiss surgeon, is on board the ship: he is performing some of the last operations and helping to prepare the operating theater for departure!

The ship leaves Douala, Cameroon, after a warm goodbye from day crew and some former patients.

The following trainings and courses have been offered to Cameroonese health professionals:

• Essential pain management
• Essential surgical skills
• Primary Trauma Care
• Pediatric and obstetric anesthesia
• Neonatal resuscitation
• WHO surgical safety checklist
• Anesthesia training

Mentoring has also been offered for the following professions:

• Surgeons in multiple specialities
• OR nurses
• Maxilofacial OR teams
• Plastic reconstructive surgery teams
• Intensive care unit teams
• Anesthesia providers
• Clubfoot care with Ponseti method

Sustainable renovations

Mercy Ships renovated an unused building at the Central Hospital Laquintinie to serve as its dental and eye clinics during the field service. This renovated building was returned to the hospital at the end of the field service. Mercy Ships also identified and renovated facilities adjacent to the Nylon District Hospital to serve as its outpatient facility, the HOPE Centre. This collection of buildings, which had formerly been used as a business development centre and warehouse, were given to the hospital at the end of the field service. They will now serve as an extension of the Nylon District Hospital.

In addition, Mercy Ships also renovated and refurbished the biomedical storage facility at the Central Hospital Laquintinie. This provided Mercy Ships with a suitable facility to support its biomedical training project, and also left behind a safe, secure, highly functional and hygienic workspace for the Cameroonian biomedical technicians working at the hospital.